More WWW.LIFEWAY.COM APRIL 2013 U.S.A. $3.95 EASY MONEY! How to Raise quick cash for Ministry DO WHAT MATTERS USE YOUR ONE BIG THING TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL Single Boomers= When God SPARKS a 8 FOUR simple ways to spring into FITNESS World Changers TAX TIPS The Key to a Successful Venture Beautiful Risk Must- Know WHAT’S YOUR PLAN?
More Living encourages Boomers ages 46-64 to accomplish great things for God, embrace the opportunity to go to the lost world for Christ's sake, mentor younger generations, and so much more. In every issue, this 78-million-strong, youthful generation will find applicable, authentic information and wisdom to help them help them make the most out of this wonderful season of life by living the message of John 3:30 - "He must increase but I must decrease."
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
MoreWWW.LIFEW
AY.COM APRIL 2013 U.S.A. $3.95
EASY MONEY!How to Raisequick cash for
Ministry
DO WHAT MATTERSUSE YOUR ONE BIG THING
TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL
Single Boomers=
When God SPARKS a 8
FOUR simple ways
to spring intoFITNESS
World Changers
TAX TIPS
The Key toa Successful Venture
BeautifulRisk
Must- Know
WHAT’SYOURPLAN?
DO WHAT MATTERS
PHO
TO: A
LLEN
CLA
RK
PH
OTO
GR
APH
Y
Two years after I married Terry, the love of my life, I was involved in a near-fatal farming accident that left me paralyzed from the waist down. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, this painful experience has become the opportunity of a lifetime.
God has opened doors for Terry and me to share our story, messes and all. We speak to churches, business clubs, and women’s groups. We’re amazed how our story has propelled others to move closer to God, since we’re just an everyday couple facing an unexpected second-half-of-life challenge.
Recently, Dr. Sandra Stevens invited me to participate in a research study at Middle Tennessee State University. For the last 17 months, I’ve been walking on a treadmill encased in Plexiglass and filled with water. Did you catch the key word walking?
As I drive to therapy, I have long conver-sations with God: Lord, be glorified through my life. Please use my faith and determination as a witness to others in the lab. It’s hard to describe the amazing blessing the scientists have been to me. As I began to walk with a walker and leg braces, I realized God is still in the miracle business. Moving my legs again is miraculous, but seeing others walk toward Jesus because of my accident has been the greatest gift of all. I would never have imagined that my MORE would evolve from my accident, that losing my ability to walk and working hard to regain it would be the path God used to draw others to Him.
– Carmen Thompson See the story of Saori
Ishikawa on page 66.
This Is My More Story. What’s Yours?
2 MORE LIVING APRIL 2013
Volume 1, Issue 8 • April 2013
PRODUCTION & MINISTRY TEAM IVEY HARRINGTON BECKMAN Content Editor
NANCY COMEAUX Production Editor
CHRISTI KEARNEY Graphic Design Specialist
ALAN RAUGHTON Lead Adult Ministry Specialist
DAVID APPLE Adult Ministry Specialist
CHANDRA BENNETT Editorial Team Leader
Send questions/comments to: Editor, More Living
One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0175or email us at [email protected]
For inquiries visit lifeway.com, or write LifeWay Church Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0113. For subscriptions or subscription address changes, visit lifeway.com/magazines, fax (615) 251-5818, or write to the above address. For bulk orders shipped to one address, visit lifeway.com/magazines, fax (615) 251-5933, or write to the above address.
Printed in the United States of America.Annual individual or gift subscription, $29.95. Bulk orders shipped to one address when ordered with other
literature, $1.60 each per month, plus shipping. Please allow six to eight weeks for arrival of first issue. Advertisement Disclaimer: This magazine includes paid advertisements for some products and services not affili-
ated with LifeWay. The inclusion of the paid advertisements does not constitute an endorsement by LifeWay Christian Resources of the products or services.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. The 2000 statement of The Baptist Faith and Message is our doctrinal guideline.
She once was
recruited by the
FBI to work as an
undercover agent.
Plays six instruments
(but not all at the
same time).
I ntr o d u c I n g b e t h m o o r e ’ s
so Long, Insecurity
Group ExperienceThe new So Long Insecurity, Group Experience guide is the perfect
companion to beth moore’s bestselling book. beth encourages
women of all ages to support one another in the struggle against
crippling insecurity. now you and your friends can form a group
and utilize the group experience on the journey to soul-deep security.
Leader’s guide also available.
Available at LifeWay christian stores or your local book retailer.
Great gift item!
H o m e L i f e f u l l p a g e a d | 4 C | 8 . 1 2 5 ” X 1 0 . 875 ” | . 1 2 5 ” B LE E D
One week after my cancer surgery, I received an amazing quilt
from my church. It’s the 47th one made by Gladeville Baptist’s
Piece*Love*Quilt ministry, which is lovingly led by Sarah
Craig. The quilt is a beautiful illustration of God’s perfect
timing. Just 24 hours earlier, I’d learned my cancer had
spread. But the expression of love and the prayers sewn
into every stitch of my quilt gave me sweet peace. I knew
Sarah and her team of quilters were lifting me up.
My quilt and I were inseparable throughout visits for
radiation, chemo treatments, and countless trips to
the doctor’s o� ce. My fear was real and cold — not of
physical death, but rather the side e� ects of cancer
treatment: weakness, pain, brain fog, and nausea. But
God continually showed me His peace is far greater
than my fear. As I continually wrapped myself in my
quilt, I claimed Psalm 23.
At times, I wondered if the hospital visits
would ever end. But God used those visits
for His glory. Other patients, doctors, and
nurses often commented on my quilt,
opening the door for me to witness to
people I would not have otherwise
known. My life has been enriched,
and God has been glorifi ed through
the Piece*Love*Quilt ministry.
I am now cancer free. Still,
my quilt is always close by. A
simple look or touch reminds
me of God’s love, the power
of prayer, and the love God’s
people have for one another.
I truly am a living example of
the power of More.
–Nancy Fricke, 65
See page 2 for the story
of my friend, Sarah.
I Am a Living Example
of More.
58 More Living
005490044_More_58-60.indd 58
12/8/11 9:35 AM
In May 2010, the Nashville flood forever changed
our family. We had worked hard to plant our ground in Stewards Garden, a ministry of Christ Community Church in Franklin, Tenn. Then the rain
washed our work into the Harpeth River. It also severely damaged our home. We felt as uprooted
as the plants that floated down the Harpeth. But the ministry born when Stewards Garden
was first created in 2009 had deep roots and immediately began to bear fruit. While we sludged
through the mud and debris in our home, a dear
friend, Jennifer Sweet, replanted our garden plot.
Her humble act of service was a huge gift. We thanked God for giving us a church family who loved us. Jennifer and others knew exactly how to serve our family during that difficult time. The
Babcock family garden would grow even when we
could not tend it. That summer was a tough one financially. While
our home was being repaired, we moved from house
to house. Daily we were keenly aware that there is no
place like home, but we also experienced family unity
that was celebrated every time we received gifts of
food from Stewards Garden. We not only lived on the
fruits of God’s creation; we thrived. Our kids learned
to love fresh vegetables. Jacob told us, “God’s creation is so cool!” And Anna soon wanted a garden
plot of her own. Our family is a living example of the power of More and the life-changing message of Acts 20:35. We are thankful for the ministry of Stewards Garden — and those who served us from its bounty.
— The Babcock Family Susan, Charlie, Anna, JacobSee page 2 to learn how God gave Marion Seaton the vision for Stewards Garden.
We Are a Living Example of More.
58 MORE LIVING SEPTEMBER 2012
005490044_56-60.indd 58
7/5/12 1:08 PM
Tell Us Your MORE Story!
Each issue of More Living features the story of someone who has discovered his or her MORE — that unique talent, gift, or passion now focused on something that really matters.
Send your MORE story in Word format, along with the testimony of someone whose life has been impacted by its ministry, to [email protected]. For each MORE story published, we will pay $75.
APRIL 2013 MORE LIVING 3
Inside More
More Passion { for Chr ist }
09-32Use your gifts, talents,
and wisdom for God’s glory.
More Focus {on Liv ing Wel l }
41-54Make smart choices
so you can serve well.
More Joy {for the Journey}
55-66Celebrate relationships
and have some fun.
18
4 MORE LIVING APRIL 2013
18
22
42
56
50
24
10
Features10 Your One Big ThingGod has a purpose and a destiny for you. Here’s how to discover it.
18 Easy MoneyHow to raise cash for your ministry by simply doing what you love.
22 Beautiful RisksIt’s a great time to take a beautiful risk for God.
24 Plan Your SuccessWant to launch a powerful ministry? You need a business plan.
30 The Great Omission?Why evangelism must be a priority in churches.
42 Spring Into FitnessRenew your health, strength, and vitality.
46 God’s Diet PlanPastor Rick Warren weighs in on weight loss.
56 Single-minded DevotionUnmarried Boomers have exceptional opportunities to follow hard after God — and change the world.
61 Fads and FlubsFor every challenging Rubik’s Cube we Boomers can claim, there were a dozen Troll dolls and Wacky Wallwalkers.
DEPARTMENTS 14 Inventure Spiritual growth
48 Stewardship of Life Wise choices
50 Money Wise Good stewardship
63 Kicks & Grins Funny stuff
COLUMNS 6 Life Up Close
28 Mentor Power Chuck Lawless
64 Boomer Humor Marie Armenia
IN EVERY ISSUE 2 My More Story
8 Reply All
32 Salvation
52 Food for Thought
65 More Living Insights
66 Living Example
61
40
48
APRIL 2013 MORE LIVING 5
IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF MORE LIVING• What Millennials Can Teach
Boomers About Spiritual Growth• 50 Books to Read (or re-read) in
Your 50s• The Faith Legacy of
Non-Traditional Mothers• Lessons of Memorial Day
AT MORE LIVING We believe the best choice is always DO WHAT MATTERS.
OUR CREED:MORE OF CHRIST, LESS OF ME“He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).
MORE GIVING, LESS GETTING“In every way I’ve shown you that by laboring like this, it is necessary
to help the weak and to keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus,
for He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35).
MORE CELEBRATION, LESS HESITATION“Happy are the people who know the joyful shout;
Yahweh, they walk in the light of Your presence”
(Psalm 89:15).
In Good Hands
April can be a taxing month. You must
ensure that fat envelope addressed to Uncle Sam
contains forms that add up, hopefully in
your favor.
And, most likely, there’s a pile
of graduation and wedding
invitations demanding your
time and money.
Those things, of course, are
just the extra weight of April.
At this stage of life, your nest
is supposed to be empty —
or close to it. But chances are,
it’s refilled with boomerang kids,
aging parents, grandchildren,
or a wild-and-crazy mixture of
these family members.
Life in a not-so-empty nest
can be, well, taxing. There are
likely days when you want to
run out the back door, hands
in the air, screaming at the top
of your lungs, “Beam me up,
Scotty!” A Calgon bath isn’t
going to fix anything at that
point, especially if the plumbing
is on the fritz again. Besides,
if your house if packed with
people, hot water is MIA.
In the midst of life’s complexi-
ties (which can be far more
taxing than the ever-changing
tax code), here are some simple
but life-changing words: “GOD
holds the hands of his people,”
(Psalm 135:14, The Message).
Roll back your memory, and
picture the days when your dad
would hold your hand as you
crossed a busy street or weaved
through a throng of people.
Remember the security of his
firm hand around yours? There
was no need to fear. Someone
bigger, stronger, and wiser was
leading the way; you simply had
to wrap your fingers around his
and walk closely beside him.
Whatever is taxing you this
month, remember this: God
has your hand in His; you’re not
alone! Take a moment to slow
down, be still, and rest secure
in the knowledge that He is
God, and He loves you uncondi-
tionally. Walk with confidence,
knowing that Someone bigger,
stronger, and wiser than you is
leading the way. Your life is in
good hands.
Life up close
6 MORE LIVING APRIL 2013
More
ONLINEConnect with us:online: lifeway.com/moreliving
Facebook: facebook.com/morelivingmagazineTHE MORE LIVING TEAM VERIFIES THE APPROPRIATENESS OF ALL WEBSITES USED IN THE MAGAZINE. BUT, HEY, USE CAUTION BEFORE VISITING ANY WEBSITE. THE STUFF BEYOND OUR CONTROL CHANGES WITHOUT NOTICE. SCARY, HUH?
Treat yourself (or someone else) to 15 days of fun and fellowship with Christiansingles of all ages! Enjoy detailed photo prooles, email, forums and more!
Simply clip out the coupon below to enjoy your free days, or pass it along to a friend!
ChristianCafe.com is Christian owned and has been connecting Christian singles since 1999.
Single? ... or know a single friend or family member?
Meet Christian singles today at ChristianCafe.com!
Meet single and single-again Christians ofall ages. Try ChristianCafe.com today!
Enter promo code EMAILFREE3 upon sign up to receive 12 full days of communicating with other Christian singles! Make it 15 free days when you post your orst photo.
We need some FRIENDS!
Please like us on Face
book.
facebook.com/more livin
g-
magazine
800.588.7222 LifeWay.com/Mayberry
It’s All Th� e in Black and White
A celebration of � e Andy Griffi th Show and the biblical
truths and life applications found in the beloved TV classic.
Fun-Filled Bible Study Based � Fav� ite EpisodesS� l-St� ing Preaching
and W� shipToe-Tapping Blue� ass Music
Lodging Nestled in a Beautiful M� ntain Se� ing
BREAKOUT SESSIONSBarney and the Choir� e Haunted House
� e Horse TraderOpie’s Charity • � e Rivals
COST: $219 (per person, based on double occupancy)
Includes two nights lodging, fi ve meals, and program fee
Event subject to change without notice.Event subject to change without notice.
IS THERE AN APP FOR THAT?I would love to have More Living
on my Android tablet. Please
consider adding one. Great
magazine by the way!
PENNY ODOM HENRY
FACEBOOK
Editor’s Note: We would love to
offer that option. As our circula-
tion increases, hopefully our
budget will too. Tell your friends
about More Living so we can
expand the magazine’s reach.
To order call 1-800-458-2772.
NIX THE GRITMore Living is a great magazine
that speaks to the heart of
us Boomers. It is relevant
and beautifully done. I would
suggest a physical change ...
flip the cover inside out so that
the reader is holding the glossy
paper, not the gritty side.
KAY HUDGINS
FACEBOOK
Editor’s Note: We hear you, Kay!
The grit is going away. You will
enjoy smooth matte cover stock
on future issues of More Living.
We’d like to get a few words from you. Send them to [email protected]. We’ll pick and choose from the letter pile, of course. And we may edit a bit for length and clarity. You’re good with that, right?
Samuel Morse was frustrated. He had given his life to be a painter — even traveled to Paris in pursuit of that dream. As historian David McCullough recounts in The Greater Journey (Simon & Schuster),
painting had been Morse’s dream since college, and he had set his heart on that and that alone. But after a long series of setbacks, Morse finally abandoned it. The crushing moment was his losing the appointment to paint a historic mural at the Capitol in Washington. With that loss, he gave up painting entirely and began to focus on something new: inventing the telegraph and eventually a language called Morse code, which literally changed the world.
by Phil Cooke
God has a purpose for your life. Discover it.
APRIL 2013 MORE LIVING 11
To accomplish such a success with
the telegraph, Morse first came to
terms with one fact: He had hit a
wall. He had failed, and he needed
to make a serious change.
Sad but true, many people prefer
to live in denial rather than
face the truth that could set
them free to discover their true
God-given destiny.
What about you? You may not
consider yourself a failure, but
the question is: Have you really
achieved what God put you on
Earth to accomplish?
Everywhere I travel, men and
women in their 50s, 60s, and even
70s tell me, “Phil, I’ve worked hard
all my life, but I honestly don’t know
if I’ve actually accomplished what I
was put here to do.”
That deep frustration and sadness
drives me to help people discover
how they are wired and what God
put them on Earth to accomplish.
Are you looking for those
answers in your own life? Start
by prayerfully asking yourself these
four questions:
1. What comes easy to me? Think
about your life. How many times
were you asked to do something
because you were the organized
one, the athletic one, the good
writer, or the most patient?
Looking back, think about the
moments when you naturally
gravitated toward a particular task
at church or at the office. Perhaps
you’ve built a reputation as the
person who finds this or that task
or challenge easier than anyone
else. Far too often, we simply brush
aside the thing we naturally do well
when it could be a critical key to
personal calling.
For most people, the One Big
Thing, as I like to call it, is an ability,
a skill, a God-given capacity to
handle something other people
find challenging. Something bigger
than a single job that could apply
to many fields, such as the uncanny
ability to sense when others are
hurting or the knack for motivating
people in difficult circumstances.
Don’t guess, and don’t make a
snap judgment. Take your time,
and really think about your One
Big Thing.
2. What do I love? Another impor-
tant signpost on the journey to your
One Big Thing is discovering a task,
job, purpose, or cause you love.
Some people think this a ridiculous
notion because to them, work is
work. Period. They’ve never felt
that work was anything to enjoy,
let alone love; it’s only something
done for a paycheck. But the most
productive, well-rounded, and
fulfilled people have found jobs they
love and do extraordinarily well.
I have the opportunity to see
many successful executives living
out their passion through nonprofit
and humanitarian work. They’ve
spent their careers making money
— often at jobs they hated doing —
and now they have the opportunity
to find fulfillment helping a great
cause. I also know men and women
who have dedicated their lives to
missions. They have little in the way
of material things, but they can’t
wait to get up in the morning and
pursue their calling.
But remember: Just because
you’re passionate about your work
doesn’t make it stress-free. While
she was working in the desperate
slums of Calcutta, Mother Teresa
Sad but true,
many people
prefer to live
in denial
rather than
face the truth
that could set
them free to
discover their
true God-given
destiny.
12 MORE LIVING APRIL 2013
encountered difficult situations. But it was her
incredible love for the outcasts in India that moti-
vated Mother Teresa to keep going, and her life
transformed millions of people around the world.
3. What drives me crazy? In many cases, the thing you
hate most could be the problem you were born to fix.
In other words, what do you hate? What drives you
nuts? The key to your destiny could be found in the
answer to that question.
Christine Caine would get physically ill hearing
stories of women trafficked for sex. Learning that
they were kidnapped, drugged, moved in packed
shipping containers from port to port, and then
forced into a life of drug addiction and sex with
strangers moved Christine to tears.
That’s when Christine and her husband, Nick,
formed The A21 Campaign (thea21campaign.org).
At the time, they didn’t have any money or an orga-
nization behind them, but today they’re making a
global difference. And it all began with an evil that
drove them crazy.
Your hot button doesn’t have to be a social cause.
It could be something you don’t like about your
mobile phone, the process at work, your schedule, or
a ministry outreach. How often have you wondered,
Why isn’t there a _____? Whatever it is, think about it,
isolate it, and realize that fixing that issue could be
what you’ve been put on Earth to accomplish. The
answer may change the course of your future.
4. What do I want to leave behind? When you reach
the end of your life, will you be able to say that you
lived a life of significance? It’s been said that you
won’t be remembered for the money you made; you’ll
be remembered for the lives you impacted.
God has a great purpose and destiny for you.
Discover it. As a follower of Christ, you have the
opportunity to use your One Big Thing to show God’s
love and share His gospel with those you encounter.
So, what’s your One Big Thing?
Phil Cooke, Ph.D. is a filmmaker and media consul-tant to churches and ministries around the world. He’s the author of One Big Thing: Discovering What You Were Born to Do (Thomas Nelson). Learn more at philcooke.com.
How to Exchange the Daily Grind For the Job You Love
Be bold, not dumb. Begin today strategizing and pursuing your purpose, but don’t be drastic. Keep your current job until you have a transition plan in place.
Don’t burn your bridges. When the time comes to make your tran-sition, leaving on good terms can reap a huge return down the road.
Trigger your connections. In the age of social media, there’s no excuse for not having a powerfully effective database of relationships and connections.
Keep your résumé and portfolio polished, so you can seize oppor-tunities to pursue your dream.
Brace yourself for the risk. Nothing is foolproof, and there are no insurance policies to protect your dream. But there’s nothing like the feeling of discovering your purpose in life.
“Christ and His church have had an enormous influence. And if only we were out and out for Jesus Christ in the fullness of our commitment, then we would have far more influence than we do,” says John R. Stott in an article for Christianity Today.
Here are four ways Stott says believers can influence the world:
Ways Believers Can Influence the World4
Adapted from John Stott’s sermon “Salt and Light,” PreachingToday.com, a ministry of Christianity Today.
The power of group solidarity. There is a great need for
dedicated Christian groups
committed to one another,
committed to a vision of
justice, committed to Christ;
groups that will pray together,
think together, formulate poli-
cies together, and get to work
together in the community.
The power of Christian example. Christians are marked people; the
A Christian must learn to deny himself/herself in order to serve Christ.
When I realize my attitude does not please God, I take steps to try to fix it.
28% somewhat
34% strongly
19% DIS-
49% somewhat
32% strongly
4% DISAGREE
THE GOSPEL FOR THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE“According to the apostle Paul, the gospel isn’t only for the lost; the gospel is also for the saved. It’s not only for when you die but also for every day of your life. In fact, the only way someone can truly live the kind of life Jesus intended is to understand that the gospel is for your past, present, and future. It’s the means by which you are saved, are made holy, and are preserved until the end.” — Matt Chandler, The Explicit Gospel Bible Study (LifeWay)
Survey Says!
AGREE
APRIL 2013 MORE LIVING 15
MORE PASSION FOR CHRIST
INVENTURE
APPS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE
100 Bible Verses by
Robert J. Morgan
100 Bible Verses is a
memory tool based
on the book 100 Bible
Verses Everyone
Should Know by Heart
by Robert J. Morgan.
In addition to the
100 preset verses
organized under 13
topics, you can add
any passage from
Scripture to view in
memory card mode or
read in context. Other
features: Share verses
through Facebook or
Twitter, quiz yourself
in flashcard mode,
ask for a hint to reveal
one word at a time,
record and listen to
yourself reading a
verse, search by key
word, organize verses
by topics you create.
$ .99
Purchase on iTunes at
http://bit.ly/XnXcu1.
Spiritual Growth AppsScripture Memory App
HCSB Study Bible
The HCSB Study Bible app is an easy-to-read visual
Bible featuring more than 15,000 study notes, 290
word studies, 141 photographs, 62 timelines, 59 maps,
24 articles, three Bible reading plans, and much
more. Great for teachers and those who wish to dive
deeper into God’s Word.
$9.99. Purchase on iTunes at http://bit.ly/10j9dqf.
Fast Facts
This app offers 20 facts about faith and culture
everyone
should know, along with responses to 25 common
challenges to the Christian faith. Users will also find
a free version of the HCBS Bible, and all Scripture
references
are linked for immediate access to relevant verses.
$ .99. Purchase on iTunes at http://bit.ly/10j9t8r.
Live Loved by Max Lucado
Devotionals based on the writings of Max Lucado on
topics such as facing your fears, accepting His grace, and
knowing God’s love. This app comes in two versions:
Lite (free) http://bit.ly/XSMZd0
Full version has more devotional material.
$9.99. Purchase at http://bit.ly/U8Gb6t.
(Lite)
(Full)
What’s your favorite faith-based
app? Share the link on More
Living’s Facebook page: facebook.com
/
morelivingmagazine. Let the down-
loading begin in earnest!
16 MORE LIVING APRIL 2013
The Power of Prayer and Fasting by Ronnie W. Floyd
(B&H Books)
Offering true stories on
the difference prayer and
fasting have made in the
lives of God’s people, this
book discusses how these
two spiritual disciplines
should be lived out in a
believer’s life.
THE POINT: The disciplines
of prayer and fasting are
biblical, ordained acts of
obedience.
QUOTE: “When you pray
and fast, the powerful
presence of God will
accompany you and
wake up in you like never
before. You will never be
the same — never.”
Eat Mor Chikin: Inspire More People by S. Truett
Cathy, (Chik-fil-A Inc.,
Looking Glass Books)
This is the story of how
one man built a business
selling chicken sand-
wiches by being resolute
in keeping biblically
based values.
THE POINT: Commitment to
God, people, and service
is a recipe for success.
QUOTE: “When we’re fully
committed to something,
we’re not likely to give up
or become discouraged,
and we’re not likely to fail.
Commitment works in
our business life as well as
in our relationships with
our families and with the
Lord. When we’re fully
committed, strange and
unusual things happen.”
GREAT READS
MEMORIZE THIS“For God was pleased to have
all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile every-
thing to Himself by making peace through the blood of His cross — whether things on earth or things
Looking to raise funds for a ministry? The Internet has made it so much easier to find groups of like-minded people. Research these options and others to find a group that matches your beliefs and ministry goals.
Meetup.com Allows you to find people in your community who share your interests. If you’d like to find help with making cards, crafting, or painting, for instance, check out groups in your area. As with anything on the Internet, use caution and common sense when making connections.
Kickstarter.com This, and other groups like it, allows you to post a project and solicit funds. Kickstarter prohibits charitable solicitations, though other groups allow them. However, you can still use Kickstarter to fund your passion and then route the funds toward your church.
22 had aged out of the school system, adjust. She began
working for her husband’s company, an environmental
sciences firm, where she came across a warning about
cancer-causing effects of paraffin wax candles, which she
burned constantly.
“It was contradictory: saving the planet by day and killing
off my family by toxic fumes at night,” Lovell laughs. She
met a candle maker who extolled the virtues of soy-based
candles, and Lovell began whipping up concoctions in her
kitchen laboratory.
When her church planned a missions trip to Nicaragua,
Lovell, her husband, and one of her sons were intrigued.
But the costs were expensive, especially for three. So
Lovell took her candles and started hitting crafts fairs and
community events. She quickly raised enough to pay for
the missions trips for all three, plus enough to help other
church members who wanted to go.
Back home, she kept making candles, always setting the
money aside for missions. When she returned to teaching,
one of her students wanted to buy a candle, but only had
$3. She offered to give her the candle. The girl refused,
believing her $3 could help someone.
Lovell began giving away the candles, with one caveat:
“I said, ‘Just pray for missions whenever you smell the
candle or see the glow. Use that as a reminder.’” She also
accepted donations on behalf of the organization her
church partnered with in Nicaragua: Because We Care
Ministries (bwcm.org).
Moving to the donation-based system has earned
“thousands, not yet tens of thousands,” Lovell says.
Lovell believes the candles will not only fund the orga-
nization she works with, but also will eventually inspire
others to seek out missions opportunities of their own.
Though Lovell gets to Nicaragua while on summer breaks,
the mission field has carried over to her home. As she uses
her hobby to raise funds for ministry, she’s found “nothing
sweeter. And it makes me look for other avenues, not just in
providing a good or a service, but it’s really opened my eyes
to how I can serve in daily living. If God can use melting
wax to His glory, there’s no limit in my life.”
Sandy Smith is a writer and editor based in Nashville. She’s been known to enjoy both barbecue and candles.
A t age 11, Cherry Blackwell shared the gospel with a
young Taiwanese man and watched peace and happi-
ness replace his loneliness and homesickness.
“I knew at that moment what I wanted to do for
the rest of my life — [be a missionary],” Blackwell says. Today,
she and her husband, Ben, lead Lagniappe Ministry, an evan-
gelistic outreach to athletes, the military, tourists, and others
who impact the New Orleans hospitality and tourism industry.
Although the duo didn’t begin Lagniappe with a business plan,
they now have one in place.
“Lagniappe Ministry is so unique, so out of the box. We weren’t
really sure what direction we needed to go in, and, to be honest,
if the ministry would really take a foothold. But we have gradu-
ally put together a plan for the present, two years out, and five
years out,” Blackwell says. And that plan has played a crucial
role in Lagniappe Ministry’s success, she realizes.
APRIL 2013 MORE LIVING 25
“If you don’t have a plan, then how will you know what direc-
tion you need to go? Without a plan, how will you know if you
are succeeding or if you need to change direction?”
The Lagniappe business plan is clearly centered, and
Blackwell strongly recommends this approach: “When estab-
lishing a business plan, keep God’s message first and foremost.
Keep the communication line between you and God open.
Talk to Him often and about every detail,” Blackwell says. “In
choosing a ministry path, look at what you love to do most.
What is that thing that makes you unbearably happy, something
that you can’t imagine living without doing it every day? That
passion is your ministry.”
WHAT’S IN A PLAN?At New Seasons Church, a multi-ethnic 1,100-member
congregation in Spring Valley, Calif., ministry plans are so
crucial anyone submitting a proposal must fill out a standard
questionnaire.
Narri Cooper, New Seasons’ service department director, said
the questionnaire defines the ministry and determines whether
it’s consistent with the church’s core values. The ministry must
be designed to serve a particular population, either within the
church or within the wider community.
In submitting an idea, church members must consider the
ministry’s operation plan, including its financing, its cost, and
its structure, Cooper says. A plan must outline how the ministry
will be implemented, how its success will be measured, how
members will be recruited, and the spiritual gifts desirable for
those leading and working in the ministry, she explains.
Chuck Bentley, chief executive officer of Crown Financial
Ministries and host of the national daily radio broadcast My
MoneyLife,™ explains that a ministry plan puts everyone on the
same page and indicates a stronger commitment to the ministry
than does a poorly developed idea.
Bentley says the most important elements of a plan are:
• Leadership: who will be responsible for
operating the ministry;
• Target audience: who will be served;
• Product or service: how they will be served
and with what tools and resources;
• Business/Service model: the costs and/or
revenues associated with the plan.
“A well-developed proposal will include research and data
to indicate that the person responsible for developing the
When establishing a
business plan, keep
God’s message first
and foremost. Keep
the communication
line between you
and God open. Talk
to Him often and
about every detail.
–Cherry Blackwell
26 MORE LIVING APRIL 2013
ministry/business plan has a grasp on all
the key metrics involved in the activity,”
Bentley explains.
For example, let’s say you’re trying to reach
youth in the community. You should know the
demographics, current socioeconomic circum-
stances, the needs the youth have expressed, and
how your ministry can meet those needs, Bentley
says. If you’ve already been serving the target
audience, he suggests indicating in the plan how
the group has responded to your service.
“Follow the simple ‘who, what, when, where,
how’ format. Your plan should clearly answer
the questions any outsider might ask about your
proposal without them having to research the
answer,” Bentley recommends. “Include research
to support your key points. Data is critical for
each point you want to make.”
Also indicate if anyone else is providing the
service, whether they are successful, and the
reasons for their success or failure. Differentiate
between their work and your proposal, and avoid
exaggerated claims about your ministry idea,
Bentley adds.
“You should be able to explain your plan in a
concise manner. If you cannot communicate it,
others will never get behind it.”
Diana Chandler is a staff writer at Baptist Press and finds time to write for various Christian publications. A Mississippi native and Nashville transplant by way of New Orleans, the Bible teacher is patiently awaiting God’s guidance in her latest ministry venture.
HOW TO SELL YOUR CHURCH (ON YOUR GREAT IDEA)
A church’s size and culture can determine the path your ministry idea takes to reach the light of day.
At the downtown congregation of First Baptist Church Nashville, Senior Pastor Frank R. Lewis recommends finding five oth-ers who share your passion for the particular ministry in mind. “Once you have this many people willing to pray, support, and help organize, then the idea has a better chance of becoming reality,” Pastor Lewis explains. The next step at FBC Nashville is to schedule a meeting with the church’s executive pastor. Members of the approximate 2,200-member church should utilize its system of committees, Pastor Lewis adds. “This way, the
[ministry idea] has already gone through a vetting process of sorts to see if others in the body discern that it’s a viable ministry option for us to consider further.”
At the 1,100-member New Seasons Church in Spring Val-ley, Calif., Senior Pastor A.B. Vines says presentations should show how the proposed ministry fits within the church’s current vision and should conform to the church’s standard ministry suggestion questionnaire.
The worst thing to do when pitching your idea to this pastor? “Tell me, ‘God said do this,’ or ‘The Lord told me to tell you we need to do this,’” Pastor Vines says. “If God gave you the vision, I shouldn’t
have to rewrite your vision.”When pitching a ministry
idea to New York’s 100-member East Seventh Baptist Church, Adult Ministries Director Kareem Goubran recommends the CDROM approach he equates with the Good Samaritan:
• Compassion: care deeply, and pray.
• Do something: one small thing to get started — and pay close attention to details.
• Refer to Others: include prayer support, a team of helpers, ministry leaders, and so forth.
• Mañana: (Spanish for “tomorrow”): plan a follow-up meeting.
Chuck Lawless is the author of Mentor: How Along-the-Way Discipleship Will Change Your Life (LifeWay). He is also dean of graduate studies, Southeastern Seminary and Global Theological Education Consultant, International Mission Board.
LockmanAd 1/7/13 7:37 PM Page 1
The Great Omission?
By Thom S. Rainer
Why evangelism
must be a priority.
Evangelism is dying in many churches today.
No, that’s not an overstatement. I am not speaking hyperboli-
cally. Evangelism is dying.
Look at the data. Measure almost any group of churches today
versus 30 years ago. You’ll likely find that only one person is being
reached with the gospel for every 40 to 60 church members. You
will find that conversions have declined precipitously. And where
you find numerical growth, you are more likely to find that the
growth is transfer of Christians from one church to another. That’s
not evangelism. That’s sheep shuffling.
Pastors and other leaders must fall on their faces before God
and ask Him to reignite their congregations with an evangelistic
passion. When evangelism dies as a priority in the church, the
church has already begun to die.
So why should evangelism be one of the highest priorities of
your church?
1. Because Christ commanded it. We typically refer to the Great
Commission of Matthew 28:18-20 as our evangelistic and disciples-
making command. But there are many other places in the New
Testament where the priority of evangelism is clearly evident.
We fool ourselves into thinking we are evangelistic when we are simply recirculating the saints.
2. Because Christ is the only way of salvation. There is no way
around it. Salvation is exclusive. There is only one way. Jesus
could not have made it clearer in John 14:6: “Jesus told him, ‘I am
the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through Me.’” Jesus had an urgent message. He had an exclusive
message. We must be conveyors of that narrowly-defined hope.
3. Because Christ died for the world. There is a reason
John 3:16 is the most familiar and most quoted verse in the history
of humanity. Jesus died for the world. He is the only way, but He
has provided a way for everyone. This is a message that is urgent
and worth telling. Indeed, it is the greatest message ever.
4. Because churches that are not intentional about evangelism typically are weak in evangelism. Many pastors and church leaders
will affirm this article. They will give mental assent to the priority
of evangelism. But they do not practice the priority of evangelism
in their churches. What are you doing today to make certain
evangelism is a priority of your church?
5. Because churches tend to obsess inwardly when they fail to move outwardly. Where has a lot of your church’s energy been
expended lately? Rancorous business meetings? Expressions
of petty church preferences? Worship wars? Power struggles?
Those are inward obsessions. Lead your church to an evangelistic
priority and watch the focus shift for the better.
6. Because churches become content and complacent with transfer growth. Some churches are growing. Others are adding
members without significant numerical growth. But many in both
categories are growing at the expense of other churches. Some
may be reaching unchurched Christians. That is good, but that is
not evangelism. We can fool ourselves into thinking we are evan-
gelistic when we are simply recirculating the saints.
7. Because evangelistic Christians actually grow stronger as better discipled Christians. Those who are evangelistic are
obedient to Christ. Being obedient to Christ means that we are
following His teachings and
becoming better fruit-bearing
disciples.
Most churches are busy
with activities, programs,
and ministries. Few churches
are truly sending out their
members to evangelize those in
their communities. The Great
Commission has fast become
the Great Omission.
Evangelism is dying.
Churches are dying.
People are going to hell
without Christ. It is perhaps the
greatest tragedy today.
What are you doing to lead
your church to become more
evangelistic?
This article was originally published at ThomRainer.com.
Thom S. Rainer serves as president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources. Among his greatest joys are his family: his wife Nellie Jo; three sons, Sam, Art, and Jess; and six grandchildren. Dr. Rainer publishes a daily blog at ThomRainer.com and can be found on Twitter @ThomRainer and at facebook.com/Thom.S.Rainer.
APRIL 2013 MORE LIVING 31
PATTY MASON Finding Pure
Hope
Patty Mason is a smart, deter-
mined woman who sets goals
and achieves them. Early on,
she chose a career in sales, but
soon her glamorous lifestyle
wasn’t satisfying an emptiness
she felt inside.
She concluded that getting
married and having children
would bring fulfillment. So
she did. Patty embraced her
role as wife and mother while
working as a sales executive.
One evening, at an awards
ceremony before thousands of
her coworkers, Patty received
the highest award the company
gave. She recalls, “The moment
that should have been the peak
of my life was when I realized
success, family, and material
things were never going to give
me what I was longing for.”
Thus began Patty’s long
journey into a deep depression.
She began drinking to manage
her pain: “The alcohol took an
edge off the sadness, so I drank
more.” Soon Patty began to
have thoughts of suicide. One
day, she cried out to God. “I’m
not sure why I did; God wasn’t
part of my life. He was some-
thing I did on Sunday mornings
as a child. But I told Him, You’re
the only One who can help me.”
BORN AGAIN Have you ever wondered what the phrase “born again” means? The Bible records that Jesus used the phrase in a conversation with a man named Nicodemus. Nicodemus approached Jesus at night. He was curious about Jesus and the kingdom of God. Jesus told him: “Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Nicodemus responded, “But how can anyone be born when he is old?” (John 3:4). Nicodemus was a highly moral man who obeyed God’s law. He was a respected leader of the Jewish community. No doubt he was a fine man. Yet something was lacking. Like Nicodemus, many people today confuse religion with new birth in Christ. Phrases like “I pray regularly” or “I believe there is a God” often are confused with a real new-birth experience. New birth begins with the Holy Spirit convicting a person that he or she is a sinner. Because of sin, we are spiritually dead. For this reason, spiritual birth, as Jesus described it, is necessary. God loves us and gives us spiritual birth when we ask Him for it. The Bible says all persons are sinners (Romans 3:23). Jesus died on a cross and was raised from the dead to save sinners. To be born again means that a person admits to God that he or she is a sinner, repents of sin, believes in or trusts Christ, and confesses faith in Christ as Savior and Lord. Jesus told Nicodemus that everyone who believes in (places faith in) Christ would not perish (John 3:16). Jesus is the only One who can save us (John 14:6). To believe in Jesus is to be born again. Confess your sins and ask Jesus right now to save you. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:21). After you have received Jesus Christ into your life, share your decision with another person, and following Christ’s example, ask for baptism by immersion in your local church as a public expression of your faith (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:6).
You will never find fulfillment apart from God.
Patty recalled there was
a Mothers of Preschoolers
(MOPS) meeting that day. She
went. At the end of the meeting,
Patty poured her heart out
to the guest speaker. A tidal
wave of pent-up emotions came
pouring out, and she felt the
dark cloud of depression leave
her. A few days later, Patty took
her children to a Christmas
presentation at a local church
where the pastor explained the
plan of salvation.
“Even though I grew up in
church, I had never heard
the plan of salvation. What
that pastor was sharing was
wonderful, and I wanted
Jesus in my life,” Patty says.
“God changed my life in that
moment. You will never find
fulfillment apart from God. The
only pure joy, the only pure
hope is in Jesus Christ.”
You can learn more about Patty Mason’s experiences since that moment by visiting her website libertyinchristministries.com.
Unfolding a map of the Southeast– or, more likely these days, studying a map
online– is like opening a treasure chest of travel choices. Just think what’s in the 12-state region’s footprint.
This attraction- and action-packed quadrant of our nation stretches from the mountains of West Virginia to the coastline of Virginia, down the Atlantic seaboard to the slightly wacky world of Key West, around the Gulf of Mexico to the “Cajun Outback” of Southwest Louisiana and up to the natural beauty of Arkansas. The whole place is a treasure.
The best aspect is that you can start anywhere– and asking any two people
what’s the best destination in the Southeast is likely to spark a lively discussion.
You’ll fi nd beach people who brag on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, Daytona and Perdido Key in Florida and Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in Alabama– to the exclusion of all others.
Mountain vacationers swear by the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina, the Alleghenies in West Virginia, the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, North Carolina and North Georgia– and don’t neglect the Ozarks of Arkansas.
You’ll fi nd golfers who can’t get enough of South Carolina’s Grand Strand, the year-round courses in central Florida, the challenging courses of Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau or the variety of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama.
People who thrive on big-city restaurants and cultural diversions line up to brag about Charleston, Atlanta, Charlotte and Louisville. Birmingham even gets culinary praise these days for places other than its glorious barbeque joints.
All you have to do is hit the road to fi nd a great Southeastern destination. You don’t need a GPS.
i
Grab a Map&Hit The Road
Visit EscapeToTheSoutheast.com for additional travel information
S p e c i a l A d v e r t i s i n g S e c t i o n
spring_Travel_MoreLiving.indd 1 1/30/13 10:04 PM
Visit EscapeToTheSoutheast.com for additional travel information
Visit the website of any Southeast destination– tiny burg or major metropolis– and you’ll fi nd a
festival, maybe even dozens of festivals spread through the year.
Tiny Tallapoosa, Georgia, celebrates each New Year’s Eve with its Possum Drop. (Don’t worry. The possum, whose name is Spencer, had a date with a taxidermist long ago.)
Salley, South Carolina, pays tribute to a certain part of pig with its Chitlin Strut in November.
Up in Richwood, West Virginia, there’s a big fuss every April over ramps, a wild leek with a strong garlic-like aroma and a pronounced onion fl avor. It’s the Feast of the Ramson, and it’s a good thing everybody present eats the stinky vegetables. A breath mint should be the festival’s offi cial sponsor.
You get the idea by now. Southerners don’t need much of an excuse to throw a party and invite people to drop in.
Macon, Georgia, stages “the Pinkest Party on Earth” (aka the International Cherry Blossom Festival) in March just because residents planted 300,000 cherry trees, while the Biltmore Festival of Flowers in Asheville,
North Carolina, stretches from late March until the middle of May.
Music is the root of many festivals. Tennessee is awash in music festivals in early June. Chattanooga draws thousands for the Riverbend Festival, throngs fi ll otherwise empty farm fi elds near Manchester for the
internationally famous Bonaroo and Nashville really is Music City during the nationally televised Country Music
Association Festival.
Look hard enough, and you probably can fi nd a barbeque event every month of the year. Most are pig-based events, but
the folks in Owensboro, Kentucky, toss some mutton into the mix– just for fun, no doubt.
With choices all over the map, look for some guidance. If a festival you’re considering is a Southeast Tourism Society “Top 20 Event in the Southeast,” that’s a pretty good seal of approval. Check them out each month at EscapeToTheSoutheast.com.
S p e c i a l A d v e r t i s i n g S e c t i o n
spring_Travel_MoreLiving.indd 2 1/30/13 10:04 PM
i iii
Reconnect with life’s natural moments in Central Florida. Rejuvenate your mind and spirit at Bok Tower Gardens and explore acres upon acres of pristine gardens in the shadow of The Singing Tower. Hike or bike through 37 unspoiled parks. Discover 34 golf courses grounded in beauty, variety and challenge, such as the stunningly unique Streamsong Resort – Florida’s newest golf experience.
April is an ideal time for a family getaway or church group trip in the Southeastern United States, with numerous events across the region featuring live
entertainment in a variety of musical styles; fl owers, herbs and gardens; pageants; athletic events; cook offs and regional food; street fairs; horticultural and Southern folk life artisans; carnival rides; model trains; kids’ activities; fi lms; hot air balloons; fi reworks; prize giveaways and more, along with beautiful Southern spring weather in which to enjoy the activities. Visit www.EscapeToTheSoutheast.com to learn more about special events each month across the Southeast and to request your FREE Escape to the Southeast® Travel Guide.
Apr. 1-7 Pensacola JazzFest– Pensacola, FL Apr. 5-6 Springtime Tallahassee– Tallahassee, FL Apr. 5-7 41st Annual Summerville Family YMCA Flowertown Festival– Summerville, SC Apr. 6 Plantapalooza!– Athens, GA Apr. 10-14 North Carolina Azalea Festival at Wilmington, Inc.– Wilmington, NC Apr. 11-13 Louisiana Railroad Festival– DeQuincy, LA Apr. 11-20 Come-See-Me Festival– Rock Hill, SC Apr. 12-14 Alabama Chicken & Egg Festival– Moulton, AL Apr. 12-14 Westlake Family Fun and Food Festival– Westlake, LA Apr. 12-14 Blessing of the Fleet Festival– Darien, GA Apr. 12-14 Crossroads Film Festival– Jackson and Madison, MS Apr. 12-14 Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival– Ponchatoula, LA Apr. 13 Lewisburg Chocolate Festival– Lewisburg, WV Apr. 13-14 25th Annual Dogwood Festival– Perry, GA Apr. 13-14; 20-21 KidFest! Ridgeland– Ridgeland, MS Apr. 13-June 2 28th Annual Georgia Renaissance Festival– Fairburn, GAApr. 15-May 2 Kentucky Derby Festival– Louisville, KYApr. 18-21 36th Annual Vidalia Onion Festival– Vidalia, GAApr. 18-21; 25-28 Mississippi Coast Coliseum Crawfi sh Festival– Biloxi, MS Apr. 19-21 Lockport Food Festival Presents: “Le Fete du Monde” – Lockport, LA Apr. 20-21 29th Annual Bloomin’ Festival Arts & Crafts Fair – Cullman, AL Apr. 24-27 29th Annual American Quilter’s Society Quilt Show & Contest– Paducah, KY Apr. 25-27 Rose Show and Festival– Thomasville, GA Apr. 26-28 Sacred Heart Garden Festival– Augusta, GAApr. 27 Herbs Galore & More at Maymont– Richmond, VAApr. 27-28 Melbourne Art Festival– Melbourne, FLApr. 30-May 12 Contraband Days Pirate Festival– Lake Charles, LA
Top Escape to theSoutheast® events APRIL 2013
spring_Travel_MoreLiving.indd 4 1/30/13 10:04 PM
Visit EscapeToTheSoutheast.com for additional travel information
April is an ideal time for a family getaway or church group trip in the Southeastern United States, with numerous events across the region featuring live
entertainment in a variety of musical styles; fl owers, herbs and gardens; pageants; athletic events; cook offs and regional food; street fairs; horticultural and Southern folk life artisans; carnival rides; model trains; kids’ activities; fi lms; hot air balloons; fi reworks; prize giveaways and more, along with beautiful Southern spring weather in which to enjoy the activities. Visit www.EscapeToTheSoutheast.com to learn more about special events each month across the Southeast and to request your FREE Escape to the Southeast® Travel Guide.
Apr. 1-7 Pensacola JazzFest– Pensacola, FL Apr. 5-6 Springtime Tallahassee– Tallahassee, FL Apr. 5-7 41st Annual Summerville Family YMCA Flowertown Festival– Summerville, SC Apr. 6 Plantapalooza!– Athens, GA Apr. 10-14 North Carolina Azalea Festival at Wilmington, Inc.– Wilmington, NC Apr. 11-13 Louisiana Railroad Festival– DeQuincy, LA Apr. 11-20 Come-See-Me Festival– Rock Hill, SC Apr. 12-14 Alabama Chicken & Egg Festival– Moulton, AL Apr. 12-14 Westlake Family Fun and Food Festival– Westlake, LA Apr. 12-14 Blessing of the Fleet Festival– Darien, GA Apr. 12-14 Crossroads Film Festival– Jackson and Madison, MS Apr. 12-14 Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival– Ponchatoula, LA Apr. 13 Lewisburg Chocolate Festival– Lewisburg, WV Apr. 13-14 25th Annual Dogwood Festival– Perry, GA Apr. 13-14; 20-21 KidFest! Ridgeland– Ridgeland, MS Apr. 13-June 2 28th Annual Georgia Renaissance Festival– Fairburn, GAApr. 15-May 2 Kentucky Derby Festival– Louisville, KYApr. 18-21 36th Annual Vidalia Onion Festival– Vidalia, GAApr. 18-21; 25-28 Mississippi Coast Coliseum Crawfi sh Festival– Biloxi, MS Apr. 19-21 Lockport Food Festival Presents: “Le Fete du Monde” – Lockport, LA Apr. 20-21 29th Annual Bloomin’ Festival Arts & Crafts Fair – Cullman, AL Apr. 24-27 29th Annual American Quilter’s Society Quilt Show & Contest– Paducah, KY Apr. 25-27 Rose Show and Festival– Thomasville, GA Apr. 26-28 Sacred Heart Garden Festival– Augusta, GAApr. 27 Herbs Galore & More at Maymont– Richmond, VAApr. 27-28 Melbourne Art Festival– Melbourne, FLApr. 30-May 12 Contraband Days Pirate Festival– Lake Charles, LA
Top Escape to theSoutheast® events APRIL 2013
spring_Travel_MoreLiving.indd 4 1/30/13 10:04 PM
i v
Have faith that you’ll have funYou can have faith that your church groups will have fun here in
Pigeon Forge. Whether it’s the shopping, attractions, shows or
Dollywood®, you’ll find wholesome entertainment at every turn.
And the majestic beauty of the Smoky Mountains is always an
inspiring sight. Pigeon Forge is fi lled with variety and dedicated to
creating a family friendly atmosphere that everyone can enjoy. PigeonForgeMeeting.com
1 - 8 0 0 - 2 8 5 - 7 5 5 7
PFT3287_M3rr_LifeWay_wBleed.indd 1 1/22/13 10:05 AM
12Alabama – You’ve heard about whooping cranes and efforts to save the species, but have you ever seen one? You can at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge in north Alabama, where a few whoopers spend the winter and 284 more species pass through each year. fws.gov/wheeler
Arkansas – Heifer International has worked to end global hunger one cow at a time since 1944. Its home base is in Little Rock, right next to the Clinton Presidential Library, and it offers great lessons in helping others. Heifer Ranch, 45 miles away in Perryville, offers another unusual vacation experience. Heifer.org
Florida – As the year-long Viva Florida celebration marks the 500th anniversary of Ponce de Leon’s arrival, many people need reminding that Florida’s first settlement was in modern-day Pensacola, not St. Augustine. Yes, the Pensacola settlement got whacked by a hurricane and didn’t survive, but what’s there now is lots of fun. VisitPensacola.com
Georgia – Everyone knows about the Everglades, but fewer know about another famous swamp, the Okefenokee. Folkston, Fargo and Waycross are your entry points to 700 square miles of cypress forests, marsh, lakes and islands. You might even meet Pogo Possum. fws.gov/okefenokee
You’ve bought a t-shirt at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, wipedconfectioner’s sugar off your shirt from a Café du Monde beignet in New Orleans, wished you had worn a shirt at Myrtle Beach and maybe lost your shirt whitewaterrafting on the Nantahala River.
In other words, you’ve had many of the big experiences the Southeast offers. Shift gears and consider this collection of destinations that aren’t so famous.
UNUSUALDestinations in the Southeast
TWELVE
S p e c i a l A d v e r t i s i n g S e c t i o n
spring_Travel_MoreLiving.indd 5 1/30/13 10:04 PM
Visit EscapeToTheSoutheast.com for additional travel information
Kentucky – Not too far from the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green is a decidedly slower means of transportation– boats that travel underground. Lost River Cave lives up to its name because Lost River really does flow through the cave, and it’s big enough for a boat ride. LostRiverCave.com and VisitBGKY.com
Louisiana – If you don’t have a Cajun or Creole bloodline, trying to figure out the culture of South Louisiana is a challenge– until you visit the Vermilionville Living History Museum and Folklife Park in Lafayette. Ask to meet “the gumbo lady.” BayouVermilion.org and LafayetteTravel.com
Mississippi – It’s somewhat of a mystery why tamales and Mississippi go together, but it’s no mystery finding places to put great tamales on your plate throughout the Mississippi Delta. The Southern Foodways Alliance explains this culinary phenomenon at TamaleTrail.com
North Carolina – Chimney Rock is a towering 315-foot-tall monolith at the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains overlooking Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure. To reach the 75-mile view, you can burn some calories with a 20-minute walk up 491 stairs or zoom up a 26-story elevator. ChimneyRockPark.com
South Carolina – Theodore Roosevelt said the battle at Kings Mountain “marked the turning point of the American Revolution.” It was a strange battle– Patriot and Loyalist militias and only one British soldier. It’s quite a history lesson just 40 miles southwest of Charlotte, N.C. nps.gov/kimo
Tennessee – Board an ocean liner in landlocked Pigeon Forge. It’s the Titanic Museum Attraction, which really does look like the famous ship that sailed into history in 1912. Your boarding pass is a passenger’s biography and not until the touching Memorial Room do you learn that person’s fate. TitanicPigeonForge.com
Virginia – Many people explore Virginia’s Civil War battlefields, but the history of an entire branch of the Armed Forces is at Quantico. It’s the National Museum of the Marine Corps, where you can learn why the Marines display an Academy Award along with a fighter jet and photos of Iwo Jima. usmcmuseum.com
West Virginia – Elkins was a railroad town until the railroad left. Years of work have transformed it into a certified West Virginia Arts Community and a place named one of the 100 Best Art Towns in America. Music, dance and crafts abound– as do new railroad excursions into the mountains. ElkinsWV.com
12U
NU
SU
AL
D
es
tin
ati
on
s i
n t
he
So
uth
ea
st
S p e c i a l A d v e r t i s i n g S e c t i o n
spring_Travel_MoreLiving.indd 6 1/30/13 10:04 PM
Visit EscapeToTheSoutheast.com for additional travel information
Kentucky – Not too far from the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green is a decidedly slower means of transportation– boats that travel underground. Lost River Cave lives up to its name because Lost River really does flow through the cave, and it’s big enough for a boat ride. LostRiverCave.com and VisitBGKY.com
Louisiana – If you don’t have a Cajun or Creole bloodline, trying to figure out the culture of South Louisiana is a challenge– until you visit the Vermilionville Living History Museum and Folklife Park in Lafayette. Ask to meet “the gumbo lady.” BayouVermilion.org and LafayetteTravel.com
Mississippi – It’s somewhat of a mystery why tamales and Mississippi go together, but it’s no mystery finding places to put great tamales on your plate throughout the Mississippi Delta. The Southern Foodways Alliance explains this culinary phenomenon at TamaleTrail.com
North Carolina – Chimney Rock is a towering 315-foot-tall monolith at the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains overlooking Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure. To reach the 75-mile view, you can burn some calories with a 20-minute walk up 491 stairs or zoom up a 26-story elevator. ChimneyRockPark.com
South Carolina – Theodore Roosevelt said the battle at Kings Mountain “marked the turning point of the American Revolution.” It was a strange battle– Patriot and Loyalist militias and only one British soldier. It’s quite a history lesson just 40 miles southwest of Charlotte, N.C. nps.gov/kimo
Tennessee – Board an ocean liner in landlocked Pigeon Forge. It’s the Titanic Museum Attraction, which really does look like the famous ship that sailed into history in 1912. Your boarding pass is a passenger’s biography and not until the touching Memorial Room do you learn that person’s fate. TitanicPigeonForge.com
Virginia – Many people explore Virginia’s Civil War battlefields, but the history of an entire branch of the Armed Forces is at Quantico. It’s the National Museum of the Marine Corps, where you can learn why the Marines display an Academy Award along with a fighter jet and photos of Iwo Jima. usmcmuseum.com
West Virginia – Elkins was a railroad town until the railroad left. Years of work have transformed it into a certified West Virginia Arts Community and a place named one of the 100 Best Art Towns in America. Music, dance and crafts abound– as do new railroad excursions into the mountains. ElkinsWV.com
12U
NU
SU
AL
D
es
tin
ati
on
s i
n t
he
So
uth
ea
st
S p e c i a l A d v e r t i s i n g S e c t i o n
spring_Travel_MoreLiving.indd 6 1/30/13 10:04 PM
i
Children learn the most amazing things when they’re having fun. At Gulf
Shores and Orange Beach, they’ll never know they’re still in school. Because
32 miles of uncrowded, sugar white beaches, sparkling water and numerous
interactive educational attractions provide an exciting, entertaining way to
learn. And a whole different state of discovery.learn. And a whole different state of discovery.
Call 1-877-659-9025 or visit GulfShores.com/Lifeway
Discovered October 12, 2012 by Sasha Stevens - Gulf Shores, AL
Sand Crabs.
GSA014 Lifeway April Ad Full.indd 1 1/16/13 4:28 PM
spring_Travel_MoreLiving.indd 7 1/30/13 10:04 PM
viii
EscapeTo SE
1/3 Vert
Escape to the Southeast Info and Offers Showcasefree information
To learn more about our Escape to the Southeast travel advertisers’ products and services, simply visit LifeWay.com/AdPartners and checkthe boxes of the destinations belowfrom whom you would like to receive FREE information.
When you request information about these destinations at LifeWay.com/AdPartners, you will be entered automatically to win one of FIVE LifeWay Christian Stores gift cards valued at $50 each (enough to purchase some great reading material to take on your Southeast vacation).
For more information and regular updates about these destinations, visit LifeWay.com/TravelGuide.
Visit EscapeToTheSoutheast.com for additional travel information
Visit Today!EscapeToTheSoutheast.com
Make the most of your travels to the Southeast. EscapeToTheSoutheast.com has all the information you’ll need: destinations, attractions, accommodations, events and more!
Escape to the SoutheastTo order your FREE Escape to the Southeast Travel Guide, obtain more information about top events and the best travel destinations in the Southeast United States, or to enter travel sweepstakes, visit EscapeToTheSoutheast.com.
Photography and articles by Tom AdkinsonDesign by Kevin Robinson Design
*Calories are approximate and based on a 175-pound person.
FAR OUT OF THE GYM WORKOUTSTry these exercise options for 30 minutes to burn extra calories each day.*
Hula–Hoop and burn 300 calories.
Wii Fit with grandchil-dren and burn 100 calories.
Kayak an obstacle course and burn 200 calories.
Hike and prayer walk through the woods and burn 200 calories.
pring makes you want to shake off
winter doldrums and run in the sun.
For many Baby Boomers, all that
shaking and moving is harder and a
little more painful these days. But it doesn’t
have to be this way. You can make changes to
get stronger and more fit and put spring back
into your step. According to Brian Stecker, a
certified personal trainer and Boomer fitness
expert from Vancouver, Wa., you’re never too
old or too out of shape to reach the goals of
getting healthy and fully engaging in life.
Brian was motivated toward fitness by his
grandfather’s positive example of faith in
God and his commitment to make a differ-
ence in the lives of others. Brian saw the
health challenges his relatives were facing
in midlife and knew, based on his studies
in exercise science, that fitness promotes
better health and reduces many age-related
diseases. He wanted to change lives by
helping Boomers see their full potential and
regain the vitality to charge into the second
phase of life. (Visit boomerfitness.com.)
THE CHALLENGESBrian identifies challenges Boomers
face to getting fit, challenges which can
become excuses.
Empty nest syndrome. Cooking for two people
seems futile, so Boomers eat out on average five
to seven times per week. Eating out this often
contributes 500 or more additional calories
consumed in a week.
Multi-generational caregivers. Baby Boomers may
be caring for boomerang adult children, aging
parents, and grandchildren all at the same time.
This leaves no time in the day for them to prop-
erly care for themselves.
Stress. Family, work, time, and financial pressures
create stress and a stress response. High blood
pressure, weight gain, and sleeplessness are a
few side effects of stress.
Retirement strain. Many Boomers are near retire-
ment age but financially need to work longer.
APRIL 2013 MORE LIVING 43
For women. Hormonal changes lead to reduced muscle mass and
a slowing metabolism. With this reduction in calorie-burning
muscle, women burn, on average, 3500 fewer calories per week,
which can translate to gaining 3 to 5 pounds a month.
For men. Lower testosterone levels lead to the reduction in muscle
mass and an increase in body fat.
Pain. As joints stiffen and muscles weaken, pain is the result. To
avoid pain, Boomers often move less, which exaggerates speed of
fitness decline.
THE OPPORTUNITIESBrian sees these challenges as opportunities and motivators for
Boomers to get healthy.
“The number one fear of the Baby Boomer generation is the loss
of independence,” Brian says. “They see their parents aging and
want to do something about their own health before it’s too late.”
Brian encourages his clients to look at health as a three-legged
stool. Health is the seat of the stool; exercise, nutrition, and mind-
set represent each leg. When one or more of the legs is out of
balance, the stool is unstable.
THE GOALSRealistic, measurable, and structured goals are needed to improve
health, says Brian. Once goals are set, progression toward those
goals is critical.
Brian recommends beginning with a dynamic warm-up of
rhythmic, full-body movements or stretches. Then move to
strength training in a circuit station-to-station type method.
Many former athletes recall training from their sports days
and try to begin where they left off in high school or college. This
often leads to injury, soreness, and quitting. Safe and effect circuit
training using weight machines or other types of strength training
equipment allows participants to move with consistent pacing
between each exercise with minimal breaks. Circuit training
builds muscle mass and helps decrease many of the signs of aging.
Finish with or complete at a different workout cardiovascular
exercises such as walking, biking, or swimming. Many Boomers
see changes in strength, stamina, energy, and range of motion
after only a few sessions. Over time, dramatic results occur.
THE BIGGER HEALTH PICTUREThere’s a huge amount of life and ministry potential left in Baby
Boomers. “The training of the body has a limited benefit, but
godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the
4 SIMPLE WAYS TO GET HEALTHY
1. Invest your time and resources in your health instead of into your sickness. Staying healthy is much less expensive than the rising cost of medical care.
2. Cook and eat at home. Learn how to creatively cook smaller portions of healthy foods. Con-sider planning a meal and splitting it with another couple.
3. Invite a friend with a similar fitness level to partner with you at the gym. Group training with a personal trainer is a cost-effective and motivational way to stay con-sistent with an exercise plan.
4. Join an active group. Biking, running, hiking, swimming, and ballroom dance are excellent group exercises.
Can a simple protein hold the key to improving your memory?
Researchers have discovered a protein that actually supports healthy brain function.*
Robert Pastore, Ph.D., a member of the New York Academy of Sciences explains, “As you age, you lose about 30,000 brain cells a day and that impacts every aspect of your life...how you think and how you feel.”
Fortunately, scientists made a signifi cant breakthrough by developing a scientifi c process to produce a protein called “apoaequorin” that can support healthier brain function, sharper mind and clearer thinking.*
Supports healthy brain function*
According to Dr. Pastore, “These proteins are vital and found naturally throughout the body. As we age we start to lose some of these proteins. When this happens you may start to experience mild memory diffi culties.”
The jellyfi sh connectionApoaequorin is in the same
family of proteins as those found in humans, but it was originally discovered in one of nature’s simplest organisms — the jellyfi sh.
Now produced through a scientifi c process, Researchers formulated this vital protein into a product called Prevagen®. The unique ingredient within Prevagen is unlike any other available today. It is the fi rst and only supplement that supplements proteins for brain health.*
Prevagen® comes in an easy to swallow capsule and is available without a prescription. It has no known side effects and will not interact with your current medication.
Clinically TestedJust how well does Prevagen
work? In a computer assessed, double-blinded, placebo controlled study, Prevagen improved memory for most subjects within 90 days.* Try Prevagen for yourself and feel the difference.
Prevagen® comes with a Money Back Guarantee. Call toll-free to
order, (877) 803-1007.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Can a protein originally found in a jellyfi sh improve your memory? Scientists say, “Yes”!
PRVMOREMAGV1
present life and also
for the life to come”
(1 Timothy 4:8). When
overall health and
strength improve, this
increases the opportu-
nity to impact families,
churches, and communi-
ties for Christ.
“A new view of ‘normal’
older age should be active,
involved, productive,
and valued for wisdom
and guidance. It takes
courage to act and think
differently and to lead by
example,” says Dr. Donald
M. Vickery, author of Live
Young, Think Young, Be
Young ... at Any Age (Bull
Publishing). Since Boomers
have made a brand out of
the “Go Big or Go Home”
mentality, now is a great
time to continue that
mind-set, especially in the
areas of physical health
and how it connects with
spiritual impact.
“Faith plays an impor-
tant role in fitness,” Brian
explains. “Aging is an
opportunity to strengthen
our character and shape
us into the people God
really want us to be.
Fitness gives us an oppor-
tunity to minister and
shape our communities
for the better.”
Branda Polk is a certified personal fitness trainer and wellness coach in Rock Hill, S.C. She also trains Baby Boomer clients and helps them be their best at any age.
TitleauthorDeck
asdadsa
W eighing in at 295 pounds, pastor
Rick Warren, 58, was overweight
— and he knew it. After
baptizing hundreds in one day,
his body told him just how out of shape and
overweight he had become. He decided to do
something about it. With the help of medical
experts and others in his church, Rick created
the Daniel Plan, which is based on the biblical
story in Daniel of staying true to God’s plan for
living. The plan promotes lifestyle over diet,
and it seems to be working. Members of
Saddleback Church have dropped close to
300,000 pounds since the Daniel Plan initiative
began in 2011. Pastor Warren has dropped 60
of the 90 pounds he intends to lose.
Here’s a basic overview of the Daniel
Plan as you consider springing in to
fitness this year.
CONNECT FOR SUCCESS.After checking with your doctor, join or create
a Daniel Plan small group at your church.
USE BIBLICALLY BASED STUDY AND ENCOURAGEMENT. The plan has Bible-based video and study
materials to guide individuals and small
groups through the process.
EAT A DIET OF WHOLE FOODS.Follow the plans 70/30 rule: 70 percent of
what you eat is made up of whole foods
like fruit, vegetables, nuts, and seeds;
30 percent is lean protein, starches, and
whole grains.
GET UP AND MOVE!Your body is made to move. Find exercise
that is fun: walking with friends, biking
with family, swimming to relax, etc. The
idea is to get moving with easy-on-the
joints, enjoyable exercise that promotes
fitness and fellowship.
LIVE SMARTER. THINK SHARPER. Get seven to eight hours of sleep. Learn to
breath deeper to reduce stress. Stay away
from alcohol and tobacco products. Add
“brain foods and spices” such as cinnamon
to increase attention span. Meditate on
Scripture to replace negative thoughts.
God’s Diet Plan?Pastor Rick Warren weighs in on weight loss.
For full details, resources, and guidance on starting a Daniel Plan small group, go to danielplan.com.
U.S. Career Institute®2001 Lowe St., Dept. MRLB2A43Fort Collins, CO 80525
Yes! Rush me my free information package with complete details about training at home to be a Medical Billing Specialist. I understand there is absolutely no cost and no obligation.
Celebrating over 30 years of education excellence!
Train at home to earn up to $40,000 a year and more!*
Now you can train in the comfort of your own home to work at home or in a doctor’s office, hospital or clinic making great money...up to $40,000 a year and more as your experience and skills increase! It’s no secret, healthcare providers need Medical Billing Specialists. In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor projects a significant increase in demand for specialists doing billing for doctors’ offices!
**U.S. Dept. of Labor projects significant growth for specialists doing billing for doctors’ offices.
Get FREE Facts! 1-800-388-8765 Dept.MRLB2A43
Work at HomeBe a Medical Billing Specialist
SENTFREE!
No previous medical experience required. Compare the money you can make!We make it easy to learn how to prepare medical claims for Medicare, Medicaid and private patients. And since every medical procedure must be properly billed, there’s plenty of work available. You’ll make great money working with doctors as a part of the medical team doing a job that really helps people.
Work-at-Home Advantage Check List
Or mail this coupon today!Accredited • Affordable • Approved
CL222
Nationally accredited. Be ready to work in as little as four months!Our experts train you step by step to perform the job of a qualified Medical Billing Specialist. Everything is explained in easy-to-understand language with plenty of examples. You learn exactly what to do and how to do it! You can graduate in as little as four months and be ready to take your first step into this exciting, high-income career.
www.uscieducation.com/MRL43
*with experience, based on figures from U.S. Dept. of Labor’s BLS website
All of the materials were meaningful, informational, and practical for anyone to
understand...I am very proud to state that I was a graduate from U.S. Career Institute and have
recommended you highly...Congratulations to you for such a wonderful school.
Joveria S., IL
“
”
A+ Rating
Train at home to
Get a Job or Your Money BackWe are so confident in our Certificate Programs that we give you our Success PromiseSM: When you complete your course and our Success PromiseSM program, you will get a job within six months or we will give you all of your money back. Visit our website for full information.
Be home for your family Be your own boss Choose your own hours
SAVE MONEY! No daycare, commute, or office wardrobe/lunches Possible tax breaks Tuition discount for eligible military and their spouses Military education benefits & MyCAA approved
MAKE YOUR TRIP COUNTNew Ways to VacationThe 50-something crowd is
transforming vacation-time
travel. Consider these types
of getaways:
Missions. Join with fellow
church members in fulfilling
the Great Commission. If
your church doesn't have
a missions trip planned or
you want to serve in some
specific capacity, search
the Internet for short-term
missions opportunities
through organizations whose
beliefs and policies match
your vision.
Vocation vacation. Several
companies provide experi-
ential trips that give you the
Exercise Your Brain ... Because it MattersThat gray stuff housed inside your head needs exercise to
stay sharp. If you want to improve your memory, processing
speed, problem-solving skills, or you would simply like
to easily remember people’s names and where you put
your car keys, lumosity.com can help. This fun, interactive
website offers lots of cognitive exercises that will make
your brain sweat a bit. You can test drive it for free and
then build a personalized brain training program for a
nominal fee each month.
Well Said“Exercising Christian faith is exhibited in a life that depends
on Jesus Christ for salvation and is filled with the expectation
of His daily activity.” — Ed Stetzer, LifeWay Research
opportunity to experience another
career, such as chocolatier or
architect. These vacations allow
you to immerse yourself in that
career as you receive coaching
by professionals for nominal fees.
Vocationvacations.com specializes
in career test-drives stateside.
Voluntourism. Approximately
16 percent of Boomers surveyed
said while on vacation in the
last two years they’d seen
poverty, orphans, disaster
damage, or pollution. Some
companies have put together
tour packages that merge
traditional sight-seeing with
an opportunity to volunteer:
• Hands Up Holidays (handsupholidays.com), Allows users to search by country or region or by volunteer activity. • GlobeAware (globeaware.org), a nonprofit that organizes volunteer tours.• Travelocity, the discount travel site, offers an index of volunteer trips and often provides $5,000 voluntourism grants. To learn more visit travelocity.com/ TravelForGood.
APRIL'S SUDOKU BRAIN CHALLENGEFill in the grid so that each row,
column, and 3-by-3 block contains
the numbers 1 through 9 exactly
once. Look for the answer on our
Facebook page. See page 8 for
answers to March’s puzzle.
1
7
68
91
5
92
3
3
5
96
28
1
5
5
94
6
82
74
8
7
Puzzle by websudoku.com
1. The average adult body loses 12 cups of water every day. Besides the obvious, the drain includes: 2 cups of perspiration 2 to 4 cups lost breathing as carbon dioxide is expelled ½ to 1 cup lost from the soles of feet
3. Joint pain, stomach pain, ulcers, back pain, low energy, mental confusion, and disorientation are all signs that your body is dehydrated.
2. The brain is about 85 percent water. Dehydration can affect brain power.
Megan Pacheco is the director of product development at Crown Financial Ministries, a leading provider of personal finance resources from a biblical perspec-tive. For more info, visit Crown.org.
A Great DigFrom soups and pot roasts to cakes and even ice cream, the carrot has blazed orange. Here’s the skinny on all your burning carrot questions.
Q: Where did carrots originate?A: Prior to the cultivated carrot we eat today, carrots grew wild and are believed native to Afghanistan.
Q: Do rabbits really crave carrots? A: The iconic image of Bugs Bunny nibbling on a carrot is misleading. While rabbits can enjoy the veggie as an occa-sional treat, carrots are too high in sugar to be a staple in a rabbit’s diet. Feed a pet bunny too many and you could find yourself asking, “What’s up, Doc?” due to digestive problems and tooth decay.
Q: Why are carrots so orange?A: Beta-carotene gives carrots their hue. Carrots also come in a rainbow of other lovely colors: purple, red, and yellow.
Q: Do carrots really help your eyesight? A: The link between vision and carrots is vitamin A, which is essential to our retinas. Carrots are high in beta-carotene, which our bodies convert to vitamin A. So the assumption is the more carrots you eat, the better your eyesight. However, if your diet is already balanced, eating more carrots won’t improve your vision.
Q: Should you peel a carrot?A: A carrot’s skin is totally edible. Just give them a good scrub before eating. After all, carrots live in dirt.
thoroughly2 garlic cloves, chopped2 pounds carrots, chopped4 stalks celery, choppedSalt and pepper1- inch piece of fresh ginger, grated (about 1½
tablespoons)½ teaspoon red chili flakes4 cups chicken stock
Heat olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, leeks, and garlic. Cook until soft, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add carrots, celery, salt, and pepper. Cook until carrots and celery begin to soften, about 10 minutes. Add ginger and red chili flakes, and cook another two minutes. Pour in the stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until carrots become tender, about 15 minutes. Test with a knife. Once carrots are tender, purée the soup with an immer-sion blender right in the pot. If consistency is too thick, add more stock. Serve with a drizzle of pesto or a dollop of sour cream along with warm crusty bread. Serves 6 to 8.
Get to the root of the colorful and versatile carrot.
⅓ cup raisins1 pound carrots1 large red beet, peeled½ lemon, juiced¼ cup sour cream¼ cup mayonnaise2 tablespoons sugarK osher salt and freshly ground black
pepper, to taste ¼ cup walnuts, chopped⅓ cup diced fresh pineapple
In a small bowl, pour hot water over the raisins and set aside while they plump. Grate the carrots and beets using a food processor or a box grater. In the bottom of a large bowl, mix together lemon juice, sour cream, mayonnaise, sugar, salt, and pepper. Add the grated veggies and mix well. Fold in the drained raisins, walnuts, and pineapple. Allow to sit 30 minutes to an hour to develop the flavors. Taste for seasoning and serve cold or at room temperature. Serves 4 to 6.
5 Steps to
Launching a
Meals Ministry
1. Recruit volunteer
cooks.
2. Ask your church
office to let you
know when needs
arise.
3. Determine
frequency and
length of meal provi-
sion. Every other day
for two weeks is a
good length.
4. Use a
website like
takethemameal.com
to organize your
calendar, alerting
cooks to dietary
restrictions.
.
5. Ask cooks to
deliver meals by
a specific time
in disposable
containers.
Note: Carrots, especially when grated in a food processor, release a lot of water. Make this salad no more than a few hours before serving it to avoid wilting.
Larissa Arnault is one of those crazy people who loves chopping vegetables — she finds the monotonous rhythm relaxing. She channels her inner Julia Child and listens to French music while slicing and dicing in Nashville, Tenn.
Unmarried Boomers have exceptional opportunities to follow hard after God — and change the world.
56 MORE LIVING APRIL 2013
A slight shame-laced hesitation
lingers in Marcia Carole's voice
when she shares her story. Two
abusive marriage relationships,
messy divorces, and painful endings have left her
single again. But Marcia is following hard after
God, and at age 59 is discovering a new life filled
with abundant grace and indisputable adventure.
Recently she left for Pattaya, Thailand. She and
four other women are armed with huge tote bags
overflowing with colorful fabric, acrylic paints,
tissue paper, and glue. They are going to share
art and Christ's love with women who are bought
and sold on “walking street.”
Marcia is the team leader. She’s one of a
growing number of single Boomers in churches
across the nation. Many, like her, are divorced.
Others are widowed, and a number have never
married. All are uniquely designed individuals
with color-filled palettes of life experiences,
talents, gifts, and passions.
MARCIAMarcia is an artist. She loves to watch a
beautiful picture emerge as she strokes
watercolors on canvas. She compares her
life to a painting, full of radical color as
well as dark shadows. Marcia married
young, had four daughters, and divorced
after enduring years of domestic violence.
Her second marriage, also abusive, ended
in a dreadful divorce. Marcia felt misun-
derstood, discarded, and worthless.
For much of her career, Marcia taught
first grade. Deep inside, however, she
wanted to be an artist. Every afternoon as
she put the next day’s date on the black-
board she would cry out, Lord, when will
You release me to follow my passion? When
her second marriage ended, Marcia shared
that plea with a counselor who wisely
reminded her, “You can’t just ask the Lord
to do it all. You need to do something, too.”
So Marcia started moving toward her
dream. She committed to creating art every
day for a year. She started a blog. She often
worked into the wee hours of the morning,
but every day she posted a sketch or
painting on the Internet. After nine months,
she had a robust portfolio and was recruited
to teach art in a school in Morocco.
This single, middle-aged woman’s life
was never the same. Upon returning to the
U.S., Marcia's living room became an art
studio, the world became her classroom,
and abused women became her mission
field. Using art to share the love of Jesus,
Marcia has seen women around the world
set free from bondage.
All are uniquely designed
individuals with color-filled
palettes of life experiences,
talents, gifts, and passions.
APRIL 2013 MORE LIVING 57
GLORIAGloria Cailiff was 50 when her husband was diagnosed
with stomach cancer. While extensive surgery would
dramatically impact his life, there was every reason to
believe they could still enjoy a long life together. That
was until unsuspected heart disease killed him two days
after surgery.
Suddenly single, Gloria began the hard task of putting
the pieces of her life back together. Her husband was
an elder in their church, and they had enjoyed serving
in many different ministries. Without him, Gloria was
uncertain who she was or where she belonged. Her first
faltering steps landed her in the arms of God. There,
she learned to completely depend on Him. “At the end
of the day,” she said, “there was no one else to talk to.
I learned being single meant I had time to develop a
relationship with the One who would never leave me.”
A passion re-emerged: Gloria loved running, and
prior to her husband’s death, she competed in several
Ironman triathlons. Early on, she began writing and
reflecting on how the principles of endurance sports
compared to living the Christian life. A widow facing
life’s arduous journey alone, Gloria began running
again. And swimming. And biking. She became stronger
and could perform long races with increased endur-
ance and improved times. Eventually her writings
were published and she began sharing her lessons
about perseverance and faith. She pursued a degree in
women’s ministry. She started coaching and training
young athletes. She competed in more triathlons. Gloria
got back in the race.
JEFFJeff Simunds, 51, retired at age
35, burned out from the corpo-
rate expectations of an 80-hour
workweek. He took his stock
options and pension, cared for
his mom until her death, and
then traveled the world for five
years. Upon his return, he spent
two years in counseling and
recovery dealing with his same
sex attraction issues.
Today, Jeff has been trans-
formed by the gospel, and he
pursues holiness with passion.
He serves full time as a volun-
teer counselor directing Tower
of Light, a ministry for men
and women who struggle with
same-sex attraction. Jeff regu-
larly teaches classes in churches
around the country, sharing the
hope, love, and power found in
Jesus. He has led many to Christ
and has seen lives radically
transformed by finding whole-
ness in the Son of God.
“I learned
being single
meant I had time
to develop a
relationship with
the One who
would never
leave me.”
58 MORE LIVING APRIL 2013
5 SMART SINGLE MOVES
1. Single Boomers have considerable freedom to go places and do ministry.
Jeff says his independence and flexible schedule give him many options for involve-ment in local and global ministry. Gloria says she has a unique freedom to explore new opportunities God puts in her path. Marcia travels unreservedly to do ministry around the world.
2. Single Boomers have distinctive opportu-nities to grow. It can be less complicated to go back to school, change careers, or travel. Gloria took on a full-time job and moved to a new part of the country.
3. Single Boomers are rich in life experi-ence. Life is hard. Mistakes are made. Single Boomers have deep, rich, and sometimes difficult experiences in their life stories. Jeff is redeeming the pain of his life by helping others through recovery and healing. Gloria learned to depend heavily and solely on God
through life’s darkest hours. From time to time she shares those lessons through public speaking or leading grief support groups. Marcia now fights injustice instead of being its victim.
4. Single Boomers enjoy healthy social relationships. Jeff has a large group of friends who are his support. He has fun. He invites people to his home. Gloria finds other single friends to “do life” and even run with. Marcia mentors others, including a Christian artists’ group that meets regularly on her patio.
5. Single Boomers are uniquely designed by God for His purpose. Marcia shares that, at one time, her outlook was limited and her world seemed small. When she realized God had created her with special talents and gifts and that He wanted to use her, a huge world opened up. She reminds us “each person is designed for God’s glory!”
NO TIME TO WASTE Soon Marcia and the women in her Thailand
mission team will return to the United States.
Their tote bags will be empty, their hearts full. The
others will return to husbands and family respon-
sibilities. Marcia will come home to her studio
and continue filling life with art, color, and story.
What’s more, she will return to medical treatment.
Marcia has Stage IV breast cancer, and unless
God intervenes, it most likely will take her life.
But Marcia has found a purpose and calling that
supersedes health, marital status, or financial
security. She’s following hard after God and is
changing the world. She is a single Boomer on a
mission. In her own words, she has “no time
to waste.”
“It is absolutely clear that God has called you to
a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this
freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want
to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your
freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how
freedom grows” (Galatians 5:13, The Message).
Leona Bergstrom and her husband, Richard, co-direct Re-Ignite, a ministry designed to equip leading-edge Boomers discover their passions and purposes for the second half of life. They also co-direct 2nd ½ Ministries for Him of Converge Worldwide and at Northshore Baptist Church near Seattle. Leona is passionate about encouraging Boomers to follow hard after God and change the world. Re-Ignite.net.
APRIL 2013 MORE LIVING 59
Unleash Your Power toCreate A Lasting Legacy
For Your Church Today
How do you want to beRemembered?
Apply online or request more information for your church at:
RidgeRockFinancial.com/legacy
Ridge Rock Financial has created an opportunity to maximize your ability to affect your church’s future through the use of a custom-designed life insurance program, available exclusively for the audience of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.
• Apply for the legacy gift amount your church will receive on a tax free basis
• No medical exams required to apply
• Since you designate your church as the owner and beneficiaryofthepolicy,yourpremiumsareeligible for a charitable tax deduction*
• Your legacy gift will endow your church to fund missionary and outreach programs, retire debt, support capital campaigns or any church need
I didn’t know I could leave a legacy gift to my church through a life insurance policy and still take a charitable tax deduction on the premiums. - Jim R, Mooresville, NC“
“
*This statement is not intended to provide tax advice. Please seek the advice of your tax advisor/consultant.
For every challenging Rubik’s Cube we Boomers
can claim, there were a dozen Troll dolls and
Wacky Wallwalkers.
T he 78 million babies born
between 1946 and 1964 are
a statistical bulge known to
demographers as “the pig in the
python.” Could that less-than-flattering
label stem from the privileged way in
which many of us so roundly rejected and
redefined the traditional values of our
parents and the Eisenhower era?
Maybe. But perhaps it’s just payback
for having rotten taste.
Troll dolls and mood rings? Really?
It wasn’t bad enough that we actually
tried to teach our pet rocks to sit, stay,
and roll over. Oh, no. We had to work our
ant farms, cuddle our Sea-Monkeys®, and
groom our Chia Pets®.
And why in the name of all that’s sane
are plaid men’s pants going for upward of
$100 a pair today? We invented, and should
have killed off, that trend years ago. But
we made it worse with psychedelic bell
bottoms (1960s), followed by high-waist
stretch disco pants (1970s), followed by acid
washed jeans (1980s). Let this be a lesson:
When adults allow a Soupy Sales or a John
Travolta to set fashion trends, we get adults
clad in plaid pajama bottoms — in public.
For every challenging Rubik’s Cube® we
can claim, there were a dozen Troll dolls
and Wacky Wallwalkers. Our generation
considered itself “amped,” “far out,” and
“stoked,” but surprisingly often our social
trends were less than “tubular.”
According to my mood ring, I’m feeling
a little amber about how we were some-
times slow to change. You know, amber for
“unsettled, mixed emotions.” Like that box of
8-track tapes in the attic. Isn’t it possible they
could make a comeback?
Clint Kelly is an adventure novelist and a communica-tions specialist for Seattle Pacific University.
Media CompaniesGrace Christian Mediawww.gracechristianmedia.com
Music and VideosTyndale Publishingwww.tyndale.com
Relocation NeedsApex & Robert E. Lee Moving & Storage www.apexmoving.com/sbpa
TravelCrazy About the Mouse www.CrazyAboutTheMouse.com
Silver Dollar Citywww.SilverDollarCity.com
Shocco Springs www.shocco.org
Titanicwww.titanicattraction.com
Women EncouragementAbove Rubieswww.aboverubies.org
To learn more about our advertisers’ products and services, simply visit LifeWay.com/AdPartners to check boxes of the advertisers from whom you would like to receive FREE information or to link directly to their web sites.
LifeWay’s Info and Offers Showcase | freeinformation
made in the USA
glowologyskincare.com
the art of celebrating the beauty in every woman
natural skin care
ifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center, located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, now offers a variety of packages for you to getaway. From Couples Enrichment and Adventure packages to our Father-Son Adventures and Mother-Daughter packages, Ridgecrest has the perfect getaway just waiting for you.
All packages include deluxe Mtn. Laurel accommodations, so why not take advantage of these fun and affordable getaways today?
Media CompaniesGrace Christian Mediawww.gracechristianmedia.com
Music and VideosTyndale Publishingwww.tyndale.com
Relocation NeedsApex & Robert E. Lee Moving & Storage www.apexmoving.com/sbpa
TravelCrazy About the Mouse www.CrazyAboutTheMouse.com
Silver Dollar Citywww.SilverDollarCity.com
Shocco Springs www.shocco.org
Titanicwww.titanicattraction.com
Women EncouragementAbove Rubieswww.aboverubies.org
To learn more about our advertisers’ products and services, simply visit LifeWay.com/AdPartners to check boxes of the advertisers from whom you would like to receive FREE information or to link directly to their web sites.
LifeWay’s Info and Offers Showcase | freeinformation
“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.” –E. E. Cummings
Surely There’s an App for THAT!
THE WHAT’S HIS NAME? APPWhen someone whose
name you should know
approaches your smart
phone, the app does a facial
recognition analysis and
texts you the name.
THE MUSIC AVOIDANCE APPYou’re walking through the
mall when your smart phone
detects bad music that will be
running through your head
for hours. The app auto-
matically reroutes your path
courtesy of Google Maps.
THE CLAP OFF APPWalk into the Worship Center
of your church. Clap twice
and your smart phone will
automatically shut down
every device in the room.
Great for pastors.
AND THE THUNDER ROLLSOne spring evening during a violent thunderstorm,
a grandmother was tucking her visiting grandson
into bed. She was about to turn off the light when
he asked with a tremor in his voice, “Grams, will
you sleep with me tonight?”
The grandmother smiled and gave him a reas-
suring hug. “I can’t, dear,” she said. “I have to sleep
in Grandpop’s room.”
A long silence was broken at last by his shaky
little voice: “The big baby.”
WHAT HAPPENED TO ... ?• Real friends: In a virtual age where you can
have 5,000 so-called friends on Facebook, what happened to that guy who had the key to your house and was always present when things went wrong?
• A cheap cup of coffee
• A smart, funny movie without a single sexual innuendo
APRIL 2013 MORE LIVING 63
Marie Armenia
COLUMN: BOOMER HUMOR
The Invitation Conspiracy
JUST WHEN YOU THINK you’re
going to be able to stay home
one night during the week
and finally read that book you
downloaded when Abraham
Lincoln was president, a friend
says, “I’m having a ‘Make Your
Own Candle Party’ Thursday
night. You’re in, right?”
I am? Evidently, I am.
When I became a member of
the Second Chapter of Life Club,
I naively had plans for my extra
time. I never factored in the
Invitation Conspiracy. You exist
in a megalopolis of relationships.
If you’re even minimally nice,
friends will invite you to stuff that
will take 43.5 percent of your free
time — or so it seems.
I love having people who love
me. But I’ve got white-water
rafting to do. To resist this social
bondage, I humbly offer the
Invitation Proclamation: Whereas, the Creator has
endued each person with the
inalienable right to have no
plans for five nights out of seven,
we do hereby proclaim to our
friends, family, and countrymen:
• That an invitation is not a
subpoena. You have invited us,
and we are honored. However,
we retain the right to decline.
Why else did the French invent
the term R.S.V.P.?
• We unequivocally,
irreversibly, everlastingly, over-
whelmingly, and exceedingly
entreat everyone on earth to
limit invitations to one birthday
party a decade, one anniversary
party per friendship, and no
invitations ever to see pictures
of any trip anywhere on earth.
• If you demand an explana-
tion for our inability to attend,
then any excuse is acceptable.
This includes, “I have astronaut
training that night.”
• If you own an animal which
causes people (i.e. me) to swell,
itch, and turn red, and you
simply cannot understand why
we decline your invitation then,
well … really?
• If the party’s purpose is
to sell and therefore profit
from us, then technically we
have become customers and
not friends. And the customer
is always right, so don’t be
offended when we say no.
Is there a solution to invitation
exhaustion? Yes, and ironi-
cally it comes in the form of yet
another invitation: Jesus says,
“Come to Me, all of you who
are weary and burdened, and
I will give you rest” (Matthew
11:28). This is an invitation with
an offer I cannot and would be
foolish to refuse. I go, and He
gives rest. You’re in, right?
Marie Armenia is someone you laugh with as she laughs at herself. Follow her at awordtothewives.blogspot.com.
If you’re even minimally nice, friends will invite
More Living Insights• Boomer ministry will be envisioned by Boomers,
lead by Boomers, and paid for by Boomers.
• Meaningful Boomer ministry reaches up to aging parents, down to next generations, and out to the lost in their own generation.
• A large number of Boomers indicate a desire to study biblical topics, especially controversial ones,
and to come to studies that address issues related to faith, family, and
relationships. Unchurched Boomers indicate they want to study similar
issues in groups at church.
• A robust ministry, geared toward what Boomers in your church really want to do, will likely be the best vehicle for reaching unchurched Boomers in your community.
Research data taken from RESPECT: Meaningful Ministry with Baby Boomers in Your Church and Community by Bill Craig and Donna Gandy (LifeWay).
I am working on my doctorate in exercise science at Middle Tennessee State University, where I assist in a pilot research study designed to help those with spinal cord injuries. Carmen Thompson is one of the participants.
So many things have happened in my life since meeting Carmen. I normally keep my emotions to myself. But early on when I would talk with Carmen, she made me feel so comfortable that my emotions would come spilling out.
I went with Carmen to church for the first time right before Easter last year. She shared her story of the accident with a Sunday School class, and I was surprised at how emotional I became. At that time, I was feeling something strong, but I didn’t know what it was. I thought I was responding to Carmen, but I now know I was responding to God.
I am at a point where many things are going on in my life — finishing up my degree, searching for a job, and working
on a new relationship with someone I really cherish. Usually I would be overwhelmed and stressed
by these situations. But since meeting Carmen, going to church, and learning that God is in control, I feel peaceful. And that feels so good!
Every time I see Carmen at the lab, she has a smile on her face. She is the happiest
person I have ever met. In her beautiful eyes, I see someone who is full of life,
peace, and joy; I certainly do not see a disabled person. Because of this,
I have wanted to know her more deeply and learn what it is that makes her so cheerful.
I am on a journey — a journey that has taken me from knowing nothing of Jesus Christ to learning more and more about Him every day. Through Carmen’s church and a Sunday School class, I am learning about giving and receiving love. Everyone at her church makes me feel so loved and accepted. This is the kind of life I want for myself and for my future family. The peace I feel is unbelievable
but so real! I am so thankful to God for allowing me to meet
Carmen and learn of God’s love.
— Saori Ishikawa See the story of my friend Carmen Thompson on page 2.
DO WHAT MATTERS
I am a Living Example of More.
66 MORE LIVING APRIL 2013
range to
bottom edge
range to
bottom edge
range tobottom edge
range tobottom edge
Don’t go it alone.
Mentor, a new 6-part study from Threads, examines the ins and outs of a mentor relationship. Drawing on years of personal experience, author Chuck Lawless addresses the essential components of having and being a mentor, as well as the common pitfalls these relationships face. Mentor is a perfect resource for small group Bible studies and an essential guide for those seeking to live life together.
Mentor: How Along-the-Way Discipleship Will Change Your Life is now available at threadsmedia.com/mentor, by calling 1.800.458.2772, and at the LifeWay Christian Store near you.
LIVE
SIMULCASTSEPTEMBER 14, 2013
withBETH MOORE
and worship leader TRAVIS COTTRELL
LIVING PROOF LIVESIMULCAST
Join Beth, Travis, and 250,000 women around the world from the comfort of your home or church for this live Internet streaming event. You get a front-row seat to one-of-a-kind Bible teaching and life-changing worship. It’s easy—all you need is an Internet connection. Hosting a simulcast isn’t much different than streaming your favorite TV show. So gather your girls and sign up!
Register as an individual, small group, or church for a Saturday with Beth that will refresh and recharge you spiritually. Don’t miss this special event!
Event subject to change without notice. Sales tax applied to event cost, if applicable.lifeway.com/lplsimulcast
BRING THIS EVENT TO YOUR HOME, SMALL GROUP, OR CHURCH!