GOODlife Magazine June 2017 - Steven Curtis Chapman

Steven Curtis Chapman Something Important About Remembering

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CONTENTS

Publisher

Kristen Bland

10 STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN Something Important About Remembering 6 GOODlife EVENTS

Check out this month’s list of local events.

8 COMPLACENT CHRISTIANS

“My friends, spiritual complacency and pollution are a problem. What’s the answer?”

12 FEARLESSLY FACING ANXIETY

“Unchecked fear has kept me in bed for hours... I hate anxiety, and I want to know how to slay it.”

Managing Editor

14 DIVING IN AGAINST CANCER

Malena Hankins is making a splash in the battle against cancer with a 42 mile aquatic relay.

16 GOODlife Travel

With a bit of a throw-back feel, Wild Adventures is an amusement, water, and animal park with a concert venue all rolled into one.

18 GOODlife RECIPES

Sloppy Joe Pot Pie A comfort food pairing you won’t forget!

Gabriel Bland Editor

Autumn Burr Advertising

info@goodlifemagazine.org 770.656.4400 Contributing Editor Krista Messic

Article Submissions submissions@goodlifemagazine.org 1582 Williams Dr, Suite 250 Marietta Ga 30066

facebook.com/goodlifemonthly @goodlifemonthly

Cover Credit GOODlife Magazine features Steven Curtis Chapman, the most awarded Christian artist to date.

For the full story, see page 10.

Image(s) taken from Between Heaven and the Real World by Steven Curtis Chapman with Ken Abraham. Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, © 2017. Used by permission

GOODlife Magazine is a monthly publication distributed throughout Atlanta and Metro Atlanta. Entire contents, including design elements and logos, are copyrighted and may not be reproduced in any media without the express written consent of the publisher.

GOODlife Magazine, LLC reserves the right to edit or reject any editorial or advertising content. Advertisers assume liability for content of all advertisements.

All information herein has been checked for accuracy to the best of our ability.

Not responsible for deletions, omissions, errors and/or inaccuracies. © 2017 GOODlife Magazine, LLC. All rights reserved.

A GOODlifethe Starts with Dad Winner!

Announcing GOODlife Starts with Dad WINNER! Congratulations Christina Rollo!

Christina Rollo

Winner

“What did you learn today in school?” Dad always asked us during dinner. The family dinner table was where Dad raised us. We told him about our day, and he dispensed counsel and wisdom.

Over time, we noticed that in Dad repeated several themes.

For example, “Fiscal Responsibility” warned of the danger “What did you learn today school?”

Dad always asked us during dinner. of credit card debt table and the a good rating. were Th e family dinner wasimportance where Dadof raised us.credit We told him We about ouryears away from our first credit card, but whenand thehe time came, we were preprogrammed day, dispensed counsel and wisdom. to do the responsible thing.

I blewtime, it. I made manythat badDad decisions.

I will probably make (Sorry, Dad.) However, he did succeed in leading Over we noticed repeated several themes.

Formore. example, by example, and these life lessons continue to shape my life.

“Fiscal Responsibility” warned of the danger of credit card debt and the importance of a good credit rating.

Weitwere away from our“Itfirst “Who did this?”

Dad asked.

He asked a lot.years We never replied, was me.” We also didn’t volunteer a sibling. credit card, but when the time came, we were preprogrammed to do the silence. “Well, it must have been Grace,” Tattling was forbidden. So, Dad was often answered by a general squirmy responsible thing.

Dad would sometimes conclude. “It couldn’t have been any of you because you wouldn’t be jumping on the sofa.”

Grace,many ” we hurriedly agreedI and the joyous the reprieved. Grace was the invisible child in I“Yes, blewitit.was I made bad decisions. will felt probably makerelief more.of (Sorry, our family and responsible for allinunsolved mysteries. as anlife adult did I begin to recognize that grace was what Dad.) However, he did succeed leading by example,Only and these lessons we had been given.myNow, continue to shape life. when I want to assign blame, I try to remember, it might have been Grace.

Dad kept promises—all them foritover years.

Even when“It hewas didn’t how he would do it, he worked to “Who didhis this?”

Dad asked.ofHe asked a lot.50We never replied, me.know ” make it happen.

Paying college tuition was one of the promises.

We also didn’t volunteer a sibling. Tattling was forbidden. So, Dad was often answered by a general squirmy silence.

“Well, it must havepencil been sketch Grace,”that Dadhe had unearthed from the basement.

“Do you know what this is?” Dad held up a dusty framed would sometimes “It couldn’t“Th have anyTh ofisyou you piece of art.” Dad continued, “So, don’t He pointed out theconclude. signature—Picasso. at’sbeen right. is abecause very valuable wouldn’t beabout jumping on the sofa. ” “Yes, it of was ” webelieve hurriedly ever worry tuition.

I’m taking care it.”Grace, I didn’t him.agreed I was too old, almost 19, to have blind faith. and felt the joyous relief of the reprieved.

Grace was the invisible child That sketch could not possibly be some lost art treasure worth millions.inI looked from the drawing back to Dad and our and me responsible for all unsolved mysteries.

Only an adult didon my wall with my diploma. saw family he wanted to believe—believe in him.

I did, and theas sketch hangs I begin to recognize that grace was what we had been given. Now, when I “Never check your brain at the door” was Dad’s motto when it came to faith. We always went to church as a family, want to assign blame, I try to remember, it might have been Grace. and when I grew up, I still went—not out of habit or tradition, but because of belief. My belief. As Dad always said, Dad kept promises—all of them for else’s over 50 years. he didn’t “Know forhis yourself.

Don’t take anyone word, notEven even when the pastor’s. ” know how he would do it, he worked to make it happen. Paying college Great lessons on how to live life. Thanks, Dad. tuition was one of the promises.

“Do you know what this is?” Dad held up a dusty framed pencil sketch that he had unearthed from the basement. He pointed out the signature— Picasso. “That’s right. This is a very valuable piece of art.” Dad continued, “So, don’t ever worry about tuition. I’m taking care of it.” I didn’t believe him. I was too old, almost 19, to have blind faith. That sketch could not possibly be some lost art treasure worth millions. I looked from the drawing back to Dad and saw he wanted me to believe—believe in him. I did, and the sketch hangs on my wall with my diploma.

“Never check your brain at the door” was Dad’s motto when it came to faith. We always went to church as a family, and when I grew up, I still went—not out of habit or tradition, but because of belief. My belief. As Dad always said, “Know for yourself. Don’t take anyone else’s word, not even the pastor’s.”

Great lessons on how to live life. Thanks, Dad.

GOODlife

EVENTS

Acworth Slide Now through September 4 Dallas Landing Park, Acworth The world’s largest inflatable water slide, located at Acworth Beach. acworthslide.com Glover Park Concert Series Now through September 29 (last Friday each month) at 8pm Glover Park on the Marietta Square Free outdoor concerts by local and national acts. mariettacalendar.com First Quarter Moonrise Campfire and Night Hike June 2 from 8-10pm Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, Cochran Shoals unit, Sope Creek entrance A great adventure for the entire family!

Maker Fun Factory Vacation Bible School June 5-9 Living Hope Church, Kennesaw Ages 3 through those having completed 5th Grade. Free Family Dinner begins at 5:45pm each evening, followed by VBS from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.

For our FULL VBS list:

See our May issue or visit our website at www.goodlifemagazine.org!

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“Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” Presented by the Atlanta Lyric Theatre June 9-25 Jennie T. Anderson Theatre, Marietta Based on the Academy-Award winning animated feature atlantalyrictheatre.com AtlantaFest June 15-17 Strong Rock Christian School, Locust Grove Three days of top Christian artist performances, including Newsboys, Building 429, 7eventh Time Down, Tenth Ave North, Sidewalk Prophets, and many more! atlantafest.com

Preschool Adventure Quest – Summer Camp June 26-29 from 10am-1pm NorthStar Church Ages 2 through 5 For more info: courtney.miller@northstarchurch.org or visit the EVENTS page at northstarchurch.org Star Spangled Spectacular July 1 Campus Green at Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw 10th annual event, including familyfriendly festival and concert, followed by fireworks finale. kennesaw.edu

Senior Lunch June 21 at 12pm Roberts School Community and Education Center, Acworth Come join us for lunch, bingo, and more. Free to all senior citizens.

Freedom Celebration July 3 at 7:30pm Mount Paran North Church, Marietta Come celebrate with food trucks, kids zone with inflatables, live entertainment, and fireworks. mtparan.com

Forward Conference June 22-24 Infinite Energy Arena, Duluth Each year, 13,000 students gather for an incredible weekend of worship and fun. Presented by Free Chapel and featuring the best worship artists and guest speakers in the world. The lineup includes Hillsong United, Christine Caine, Andy Mineo, Bethel Music, and more! forwardconference.org

July 4th Concert and Fireworks July 4 Cauble Park, Acworth Live music starts at 4pm. The Paul Hand Band will take the stage at 5:30pm, leading up to headliners “FLASHBACK” at 7pm. Fireworks will begin at approximately 9:30pm. acworthparksandrecreation.org

Know of any upcoming events? If so, let us know!

Send information to submissions@goodlifemagazine.org

MOUNT PARAN NORTH - MARIETTA August 10 - 11, 2017

Join us for this global leadership event!

Thursday & Friday, August 10 & 11, 2017 Mount Paran North - Marietta 1700 Allgood Road • Marietta, GA 30062 REGISTER TODAY

www.mtparan.com/GLS

Complacent Christians

By William Graham

A

fter 70 years of captivity, one would think the people of Israel had learned their lesson. The exiles had returned, the temple was rebuilt, and Jerusalem had returned to some degree of normalcy. However, it didn’t take long for complacency to set in, bringing with it spiritual pollution.

Unfortunately, this is somewhat similar to many Christians today. They believe, but live like God doesn’t exist. They go through the motions, undistinguishable from the world around them, compromising the truth for worldly pleasures.

In light of this, perhaps it’s worth examining the spiritual pollution of the Israelites—and, in particular, their priests— in their attitude toward God, found in Malachi 1:6-14.

Disrespect (Verses 6-7): First, we need to realize that spiritual pollution causes us to serve God in a disrespectful manner. God asks a question, “Where is my honor?” The priests were cutting deals, accepting blemished animals for selfish reasons. They disrespected the Lord because they allowed spiritual pollution to cloud their spiritual sight.

What about us? Because of Christ’s finished work on the cross, we no longer offer blood sacrifices, but do we truly honor God with our lives, praise, time, and treasure, or are we offering disrespectful cast-offs on our own terms?

Don’t disrespect God by offering Him second choices and halfhearted service.

Unfit (Verses 8-9): Next, we realize that spiritual pollution causes our services to be ineligible unto the Lord. The Lord will not accept them. Deuteronomy 15:21 says, “But if it has any blemish, if it is lame or blind or has any serious blemish whatever, you shall not sacrifice it to the Lord your God.” This is exactly what the priests were doing. Not only did God reject their offering, but twice in verse 8 He referred to the offerings as “evil,” because the offerings were unfit.

When we allow spiritual pollution to remain in our lives, we offer God disqualified service, and He will not accept it.

Sin keeps us from fully participating in God’s plans.

Apathetic (Verses 10-14): Finally, when we allow spiritual pollution to remain in our lives, we develop disdainful attitudes. In verse 13, the priests referred to their calling as “weariness.” They would “snort” at the work. They—the priests—were bored with serving the Lord. Their attitudes were so bad that God wished that they would shut the doors to the Temple.

Again, this is similar to us, and it’s an easy trap as you slip into spiritual complacency. The creator of the universe calls us to worship Him, and yet we struggle to attend church or spend time in Bible study and prayer. We cling to the things of this world. We take what is holy and treat it as mundane.

My friends, spiritual complacency and pollution are a problem. What’s the answer? We must confess our sin to the Lord and allow Him to purify us of that which taints our lives and souls.

James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” This promise still holds true. Repent, break free from complacency, and bring honor to God!

W

ill is the third generation of Grahams to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ under the banner of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA). He also serves as vice president of the BGEA, and as executive director of the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville, N.C.

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Summer is an exciting time for kids...

A break from the school-year routine gives them time to play and learn in new ways. Camps are a wonderful place for children to practice new skills and make new friends. But families need to prepare for camp just as they do for a new school year. At Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta we’ve found that prevention is best. If your child is attending camp this summer, it’s important to educate yourself and your child on how to help ensure a safe and healthy camp experience. Take precautions and set your child up for success by preparing him or her for some of the typical camp events that may lie ahead.

3Tips

for a Great (and Safe)

Summer Camp Experience

1. Do your research and keep an open line of communication

Learn the camp’s training requirements and screening policies before deciding if it’s right for your child. Make sure the camp does background checks for all staff and volunteers. Feeling confident about your child’s care and wellbeing is the first and most important step to helping ensure your child has a safe and rewarding experience. Once you do select a camp, you will want to update and share your child’s medical history and conditions, including all known allergies, with camp administration.

2. Teach water safety Water activities are often a favorite pastime at camp, but can be dangerous. Enroll your child in swimming lessons before camp. Teach him or her to never run, push, or jump on others around water. Children shouldn’t be in or around any open bodies of water without adult supervision. Only swim in designated safe areas of rivers, lakes, and oceans. Swimming in open water is not the same as swimming in a pool. Nobody should dive into oceans, lakes, or rivers because there is no guarantee for how deep the water is or what might be hidden under the surface.

3. Practice outdoor safety It’s important to practice safety habits when spending time in the great outdoors. Kids should apply sunscreen and lip balm specifically made for children with an SPF of at least 30. The label should say “broad spectrum coverage,” meaning it gives protection from both UVA and UVB rays. Kids should also use insect repellant that contains 10 to 30 percent DEET (N-N-diethyl-metatoluamide). Follow the instructions carefully. If hiking, children should wear comfortable boots to protect from blisters and support their ankles. When in wooded areas, kids should tuck in clothes and remain as covered as possible to avoid bites or stings. If children go into heavily wooded areas, be sure to check frequently for ticks. Most importantly, kids should always stick with a group when in the woods. Everyone should carry a whistle and use it if they get separated from the group.

If kids do get lost, they should wait in a safe, sheltered place until an adult can find them.

Visit choa.org/summersafety for more safety tips from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. june 2017

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Something Important About

Remembering

With Steve

n Curtis Cha

p

-by Gabriel B man Land

“It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.” It’s a quote most of us recognize from Charles Dickens’ novel A Tale of Two Cities. But it’s also how renowned Christian music artist Steven Curtis Chapman begins characterizing his life to this point.

He continues, “It’s a journey. It’s been an amazing journey— mountaintops beyond anything I ever imagined, and valleys deeper than I ever could have imagined—and God has been faithful every step of the way. And that’s the best I can explain it.”

Being in the public eye for over 30 years as a singer, songwriter, record producer, and more, many of Steven’s personal highs and lows unsurprisingly are not so private. Some of his experiences, like winning 5 Grammy awards and 58 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, are probably pretty easy to celebrate with the masses. Others, though, like the tragic loss of his youngest daughter Maria in a driveway accident involving his son Will in 2008, can make living in the spotlight a little more difficult and painful.

Ever since Steven’s wife, Mary Beth, published her book Choosing to SEE: A Journey of Struggle and Hope in 2010, countless people have come forward to thank her for her openness, saying things like, “Man, I’m really not alone. This is a person that I would have thought had it all together, and she is sharing that she has to daily say, ‘God, I believe. Help me with my unbelief.’ That’s a journey I can relate to!” Seeing the ways that Mary Beth’s testimony has touched so many lives, as well as having God’s continual guidance, encouraged Steven to overcome self-consciousness and doubt that were keeping him from what the Lord was calling him to do—record his own story.

In his new book Between Heaven & the Real World, Steven hopes to encourage others through his personal reflections on his life journey, but also by emphasizing the importance of remembering.

Image(s) taken from Between Heaven and the Real World by Steven Curtis Chapman with Ken Abraham. Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, © 2017. Used by permission 10

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The Lord’s plans for calling Steven to write this book go far beyond the profound impact it is sure to have on the lives of innumerable readers. When people reflect upon their lives with the leading and guiding of God and His word, they cannot help but to find ways to grow and learn from their past, Steven being no exception. By looking back on his life, he gained deeper understanding of the patterns in his life, one being his tendency to be a fixer: “I’ve always tried to fix the things that are broken, in a very broken world. And in the book, I share in great detail that there have been many places in my life that I encounter unfixable things, unfixable people, and unfixable situations.

Those—over and over again—I have discovered, have been the places where I have experienced God in the most profound ways.

It may not take a theologian to figure that out, but it was a bit of a surprise as I began to look back and realize it.” Steven went on to elaborate about specific areas he’s realized he has been unable to “fix” and instead has had to rely on God. “It would probably be my marriage that would be the biggest one. Because I came in

thinking, ‘Hey I just need to fix whatever is wrong in this, go to the right counselor if need be, read the right book, pray harder….‘ And you begin to realize that these are two broken people that bring all this [their individual problems] into a marriage, and yeah, you continue to try and make better those things that are broken. But there’s a reality that until heaven, it’s not all going to be fixed. And it was like, what do you do with that, how do you live with that, how do you keep going in that reality?” Steven further explains about “getting involved with and into the world of adoption, entering into that space of seeing brokenness for so many children globally; the losing of our youngest daughter, and the ‘unfixable-ness’ of that— all of those places are where God has made himself the most real, and I’ve experienced him in the most changeable ways. And I hope that by sharing my journey that it will encourage people in the ‘unfixable’ places in their lives.”

Looking back at your past can also refocus you on where you are wanting to go— contemplating the dreams God has placed on your heart and remembering the reasons for which you press on in those areas. For Steven and his family, reflecting back, they see God’s hand in their lives as they sought to step into facing the global issue of orphans and to become a voice for the many who don’t have that voice. Steven’s wife Mary Beth often says, “Not everyone is called to adopt, but everyone is called to do something.” And that is the heart of Show Hope, the non-profit organization the Chapmans founded back in 2003 to help give grants to those who want to adopt but cannot financially afford to do so. They developed a great passion for breaking down barriers between waiting children and loving families. The Chapmans themselves adopted three children from China— Shaohannah, Stevey Joy, and the late Maria—who were welcomed with open arms by Steven and Mary Beth’s biological children Emily, Caleb, and Will. Now grown and with a family of her own, Emily, who was the one who had prompted her parents to adopt in the first place, was just named Vice President and Assistant Executive Director of Show Hope on May 8 of this year.

For more information about Show Hope, visit ShowHope.org

While Show Hope will continue to receive much of the Chapmans’ time and attention, Steven has made a personal commitment not to step into too many new ventures going forward. This decision came after looking back over the recent few years and realizing how busy his schedule had become, running from one project to the next. He wants to be more intentional about his time with his family, particularly in spending time with his wife. As he has learned through this process, reflecting on our past allows us to see not only where we want our priorities to be, but allows us to step back and evaluate how well our actions are lining up with those desires, so we then can make the necessary changes for our future.

“There’s a lot driven in us to worry about, think about, and plan for the future. And certainly that is something that is important as human beings and believers on this journey, but I think that there is something really important about remembering.” Steven’s hope is that people will gain insights from his own journey, but also that through looking back at their own past, they will be able to recall and then retell the stories of God’s faithfulness in their own lives.

For Steven’s full story and more insights in light of his experiences and testimonies of God’s faithfulness, be sure to grab a copy of Between Heaven & the Real World in stores or online.

Facing Anxiety without Fear

-By Ryan Shelton

A

nxiety is a squirmy, restless dragon. Most of us have felt this scaly monster making its den inside of us at some point, settling somewhere between our racing heart and our wrenched gut. Unchecked fear has kept me in bed for hours past what is healthy or wise, like a chilling paralysis. But anxiety can also show up as a fiery anger, in unkind speech and hurtful attitudes. I hate anxiety, and I want to know how to slay it.

If your anxiety is anything like mine, you might already wear some scars from vain attempts to address this beast head-on without a plan or an effective weapon. Even still, you have a promise that “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability” (1 Corinthians 10:13), and this includes the sinful unbelief of an anxious heart.

Our Weapon Against the Enemy Within Let’s arm up before our next go at this rival. Whatever we hold in our hands must be sharp enough to pierce, even to the division of joints and marrow (Hebrews 4:12). The enemy confronting us can be as hard to discern as the division between your own soul and spirit. This anxiety feels like an intruder, yet emerges from within us, from our own heart and mind. Only by the Word of God can we shine enough light into our cavernous soul to see clearly and fight confidently.

In this battle, we must learn to turn the sword of God’s truth in on our own hearts. Scripture speaks of anxiety in the context of legitimate desires. Jesus said, “Do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ . . . Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all” (Matthew 6:31–32). Jesus does not say the problem is that you think you need food, drink, or clothing. God agrees you need them all. Anxiety leeches even onto healthy desires. So we turn the sword on the fear, not on the needs.

“Anxiety leeches even onto healthy desires. So we turn the sword on the fear, not on the needs.”

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We wield the promises we have in Scripture. Here are five promises that I have found especially powerful in my fight against anxiety: “The Lord is at hand.” (Philippians 4:5) “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

(Philippians 4:7) “The God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:9) “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19).

Do Not Be Anxious Paul gives us wise counsel: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).

At times, I have read this command not to be anxious as an impossible burden. But that was only because I wasn’t reading carefully. When I would recognize anxious fear beginning to build in my heart, I would remember, The Bible says don’t feel this way. It only made me more anxious. I started to have anxiety about my anxiety.

The problem was always the same: I don’t know how to un-be something.

I wanted to obey the command, but I didn’t have any idea how. Since I figured the opposite of anxiety was contentment, I would try to be notanxious by striving to be content. And I still felt defeated at times.

Thankfully, the verse actually gives a far better alternative. Do you see it? “Don’t be anxious, instead, let your requests be made known to God.” Rather than feeding fear, we should tell God what we think we need. We should ask him for it.

“At times, I have read this command not to be anxious... It only made me more anxious. I started to have anxiety about my anxiety.”

Armed with the sword of God, we thrust his blade into the heart of our anxiety by bringing our requests and desires to God. The offensive strategy is asking, not avoiding, not running somewhere else. Contentment is the goal. But peace and contentment are the promised results, not the command (Philippians 4:7). We slay anxiety by identifying the desire this dragon is hording, and handing it over to a Father who knows what we need and loves us more than we know.

Fight with Thanksgiving God’s Word is our weapon, and prayer is our strategy. Thanksgiving is our footing, our protection from tripping.

You have a Father who cares for you, and has given you nothing but good things (Matthew 7:9–11). So in all your violence against the unbelief of anxiety, don’t let your requests be insolent demands. God is not your enemy; he armed you for this fight.

Paul instructs us to fight anxiety — to pray — with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6). Anxiety clings to gifts we think God owes us. We defeat it when we hold up our need before our generous Father with open palms, and say, “Please.”

And we respond to whatever he gives with, “Thank you,” trusting his sovereign love for his adopted sons and daughters.

You can slay anxiety. You don’t have to battle this dragon alone. You have been armed with God’s promises, and you have been told how to fight. Your helper is near, and he will fight right alongside you.

june 2017

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t

h g i f e h t o iving int

D

ith w r e c n a c t s n i a ag ins

ank H a n e l a M

“My biggest swims are not the ones that give me bigger or better medals, but the ones that are more meaningful and will help the community. In this case especially, it will help kids with cancer.”

Malena Hankins: International Swim Champion & Owner of three AquaTots locations 14

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It’s an early spring morning... A cool mist still covers the ground, waiting

for the sunrise to begin waking a mostly sleeping city. But among the stillness at 5am, there are a few ambitious souls making the most of the early morning hours.

Gliding through the frigid waters of an open pool, Malena Hankins can be found putting in her hours of dedicated training. This consistent discipline she subjects herself to has not come back to her void. With over 50 medals and a continually increasing sense of purpose, Malena has found a way to not only do what she loves as a passion and a career, but she has also found a way to simultaneously make a profound impact in the lives of others as well.

Sharing the inspiration behind her recent aquatic ambitions, she says, “My biggest swims are not the ones that give me bigger or better medals, but the ones that are more meaningful and will help the community. In this case especially, it will help kids with cancer. In our lifetime, 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will be diagnosed with cancer. I joined the Swim Across America community so that, together, we can change that.” Malena and a team of five other SAA swimmers will swim a relay composed of a double crossing of the Catalina Channel. Departing from Long Beach California, they will swim the channel to Catalina Island and back, totaling up to a 42-mile round trip.

The battle against childhood cancer hits close to home for Malena because of the special bond she had with a young girl named Leah. Leah had a passion for swimming, and through her time swimming at AquaTots, a swimming school that Malena and her husband run, she and Malena built a close relationship. When Leah became diagnosed and, after fighting a good fight for over a year, eventually passed on from cancer, it moved Malena to jump into the fight. Malena says that she is swimming this upcoming race, on July 17th, for those who need it, and for Leah who can no longer swim.

If you would like to support making a difference: Online donations can be made at SwimAcrossAmerica.org; search for Malena Hankins.

a Spiritual Foundation for our Families

by: Terence Chatmon

T

he statistics about our nation’s crumbling family infrastructure are alarming. We’ve all heard before the devastating impact of absentee fathers, and of course, we share concern for our children’s future, knowing that so many young people leave their Christian upbringing when they go away to college and don’t know how to defend their faith to a cynical world.

I believe we already have the answers to these problems, but the question is, are we going to act on them? We know that fathers should be spiritually leading their children, and parents should be ensuring that discipleship is taking place inside the home. Yet again and again—for two generations—we have failed to make a reality what we know is right in our hearts.

I say, let’s make this the generation that finally acts on what it believes. Let’s make our families great again!

Let’s strengthen the foundation that supports this great nation. The foundation of marriage must be upheld.

Parenting around Christian core values must be the topic of the dinner table again. We must teach our children day and night for generations upon generations.

So, how do we do that? How do parents ever attach this hope to an ongoing plan that takes us back to the cross daily? I learned how to do this with my family through personal experience. I realized I already know how to develop a plan to aid a company in reaching its stated goals, and I decided to apply this to my family. We had a family discussion to figure out, what are our goals? We wrote down what we hoped to achieve and brainstormed some strategies for helping to reach those goals. We came up with a family plan worksheet that I believe is a powerful tool, adaptable to any family situation.

“It’s time to repair Let’s make a strong family again. Let’s make it a reality by putting faith to action through a generational spiritual development plan designed for you and your family. It’s time to repair the tear in the fabric of America by restoring our families and ensuring discipleship is taking place in the home.

Imagine a generation of your family who knows God with intimate familiarity—who doesn’t just pretend at faith, but actually lives it. Kids who can tell you what they believe and why it matters. Teenagers who handle adversity with the resilient joy of godly wisdom. A family who prays together and worships together, growing into young adults who are equipped and inspired to keep this torch ablaze from the moment their own new families begin!

the tear in the fabric of America by restoring our families and ensuring discipleship is taking place in the home.”

Terence Chatmon is president and CEO of the Fellowship of Companies for Christ International (FCCI.org), a network of executives spanning more than 100 countries that equips and encourages leaders to see their companies and careers as powerful tools for Kingdom building. This piece is based on his new book “Do Your Children Believe? Becoming Intentional about your Family’s Faith and Spiritual Legacy.”

How many times... have you driven down Interstate 75 from Atlanta toward Florida, passed the

billboards for “Wild Adventures Theme Park” in Valdosta, Georgia, and thought, “We should check that place out some day”? Well, some day has come! Whether tacked on to a trip you have scheduled to the Sunshine State this summer or planned as an overnight or day trip by itself, Wild Adventures has something for kids of all ages, from preschoolers to adults.

With a bit of a throw-back feel, Wild Adventures is an amusement, water, and animal park with a concert venue all rolled into one. Spread over 170 acres of flat land, the park includes a good mix of thrill rides, family rides, and kiddie rides, all interspersed to accommodate groups with a wide range of ages and adventure levels. While the daredevils get their fix on exhilarating coasters like the Twisted Typhoon, the Boomerang, and the Cheetah, the less venturesome will find rides like the Swingin’ Safari, the Jungle Rumble, and the Ant Farm more their speed.

The 17-acre Splash Island Water Park boasts over a million gallons of fun in its 15 wild water attractions.

New for 2017 is Ohana Bay, a Hawaiian-themed oasis with seven new water slides, five designed to entertain smaller guests and two others that grab the attention of the thrill seekers with their 200 feet of twists and turns, reaching 26 feet high. In addition to the abundant complimentary shaded seating, 14 VIP cabanas and 12 loungers are available for daily rentals.

Distinctive from most other theme parks, Wild Adventures incorporates animal attractions into the fun. You can see hundreds of exotic and local animals in exhibits along a walking trail, on a safari train that transports you through three continents, up close and personal at the petting zoo, and scattered throughout the park. You’ll find everything from zebras, giraffes, and an elephant to meerkats, squirrel monkeys, and wallabies. Among the new animals for 2017 are two baby marmosets and a toucan named Rita.

General admission to all concerts, held at Wild Adventures’ All-Star Amphitheater, is Included with your park admission or season pass. You’ll find a good mix of new artists and old favorites in a wide assortment of musical styles, including pop, classic country, Christian, traditional rockand-roll, and rap. The 2017 summer lineup includes; Kirk Franklin, Big & Rich, Huey Lewis & the News, MercyMe, Maddie & Tae, The LACS, and Skillet.

Just a three and a half hour drive from Atlanta, Wild

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Valdosta’s Hospitality Headquarters!

Adventures is within range of being a day trip for your family or group. But if you’re not crazy about packing that much into a single day or if you want to take advantage of the park’s “second day free” offer included with general admission tickets, there are plenty of hotels within a few minutes’ drive.

Options like Valdosta’s Comfort Inn and Suites can accommodate larger groups into a room or suite at a reasonable price.

I-75 (Exit 16) & Hwy 84

229-244-1111

I-75 (Exit 18) near Mall 229-249-8900

I-75 (Exit 16) & Hwy 84 229-249-1000

I-75 (Exit 18) near Mall 229-249-8880

I-75 (Exit 16) & Hwy 84 229-249-8800

I-75 (Exit 18) near Mall

I-75 (Exit 16) & Hwy 84

I-75 (Exit 18) near Mall

229-244-7600

For more information about Wild Adventures or to purchase tickets, visit their website at www.wildadventures.com.

229-249-8000

229-244-8440

www.WilliamsHotelGroup.com

Dinner

Without the

Whine

s e i P t o y Jo e P

S l o pp

ual ally big individ re r u fo es ak m e This recip ill yield e pot pie that w rg la e on or s ie pot p ons. four large porti

Directions

By Shay Shull

What do you get when you take two favorite comfort foods and marry them together? Pot pie plus sloppy joe equals perfection! My kids can’t get enough of this recipe.

They’re really big fans of sloppy joes…but when they get to add a biscuit on top? Huge fans! This is that super-quick weeknight recipe every family needs. So simple, and you can totally swap out the ground beef for ground turkey or chicken.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Grease (I use Pam) either an 8 x 8 baking dish or 4 individual oven-safe bowls. Set them aside.

INGREDIENTS

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, sauté the ground beef in a drizzle of olive oil. Once the meat is browned and crumbly, add the chopped onion and a liberal pinch of both salt and pepper. Sauté just a few more minutes or until the onions are tender. Stir in the tomato soup and Worcestershire sauce. Pour the ground beef mixture into your prepared baking dish and then top with the uncooked biscuits. If you’re using individual serving dishes, top each bowl with two biscuits.

• 1 pound ground beef • 1 onion, chopped • 1 (10-ounce) can condensed tomato soup (I use Campbell’s) • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce • 1 (16-ounce) can refrigerated biscuit dough (I use Pillsbury Grands) • Extra virgin olive oil • Salt and pepper

Place the serving dish(es) in the oven and bake about 10 minutes or until the tops of the biscuits are browned.

Remove from the oven and serve immediately.

Now, the bottoms of your biscuits won’t brown because they’re resting on the pot pie mixture.

We love it this way, but if you want your entire biscuit cooked through, you’ll need to cook them separately (perhaps while the mixture is simmering on the stove) and then just top your sloppy joe mixture with them and immediately serve. Either way, delish!

Taken from: Mix-and-Match Mama Kids in the Kitchen: Crazy-Fun Recipes to Make Memories Together. Copyright © 2017 by Shay Shull. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon. www.harvesthousepublishers.com. Used by Permission.

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