MAC POWELL ASK...
Seek... Knock...
Finding Pleasure in Weakness
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CONTENTS
Publisher
Kristen Bland
10 Mac Powell
Asking... seeking... knocking and his new dream 6 GOODlife Events
Check out this month’s list of local events.
8 Different By Design
Managing Editor
14 GOODlife Local Spotlight 32 Dental: Something to Smile About
16 GOODlife Parenting
Understand the pain dance of marriage and appreciate each other’s strengths.
Preparing Teens For Adulthood: As our children move through high school, our role in preparing them for what comes next is absolutely crucial.
13 Finding Pleasure in Weakness
18 GOODlife Travel
Why do I assume that weakness equates to failure?
Valhalla Resort Hotel: Where Old World charm meets Southern hospitality
Gabriel Bland Editor
Autumn Burr Advertising
info@goodlifemagazine.org 770.656.4400 Contributing Editor Krista Messic
Article Submissions submissions@goodlifemagazine.org 1582 Williams Dr, Suite 250 Marietta Ga 30066
facebook.com/goodlifechristian @goodlifechristian
Cover Credit GOODlife Magazine features Mac Powell: American singer, songwriter, and producer. Images taken by David Carr For the full story, see page 10.
GOODlife Magazine is a bi-monthly publication distributed throughout Atlanta and Metro Atlanta. Entire contents, including design elements and logos, are copyrighted and may not be reproduced in any media without the express written consent of the publisher. GOODlife Magazine, LLC reserves the right to edit or reject any editorial or advertising content. Advertisers assume liability for content of all advertisements. All information herein has been checked for accuracy to the best of our ability. Not responsible for deletions, omissions, errors and/or inaccuracies. © 2017 GOODlife Magazine, LLC. All rights reserved.
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GOODlife
EVENTS
Night of Prayer
September 7, October 5, November 2 Mount Paran North Church, Marietta Drop in between 7-8:30pm for personal worship and prayer.
Fall Atlanta Home Show & Outdoor Living Expo
September 8-September 10 Cobb Galleria Centre, Atlanta Over 300 exhibitors will showcase some of the newest and most innovative interior and exterior home improvement products and services. www.atlantahomeshow.com
Divine Conference
September 16-17 Marietta Square – Glover Park Shop for arts and crafts, hear grassroots music, see classic cars, and visit the kids’ activity zone. www.mariettastreetfest.com
North Georgia State Fair
September 21 - October 1 Jim R. Miller Park, Marietta An abundance of rides, games, concerts, unique shows and exhibits, food vendors, and more. www.northgeorgiastatefair.com
September 14 Free Chapel Church, Gainesville An upbeat women’s conference for mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends. We worship together, learn together, and live life together. www.divineconference.org
Riverfest Arts & Crafts Festival
Rescuing Hope Inaugural Gala
Atlanta Greek Festival
September 16 at 6pm Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel & Conference Center Dinner and auction to fight against sex trafficking. www.rescuinghope.com
For our FULL list of local Events,
visit our website at www.goodlifemagazine.org! 6
Marietta Streetfest
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September 23-24 Etowah River Park, Canton All proceeds from Riverfest go to the needy children of Cherokee County. www.serviceleague.net/riverfest-1
September 28 - October 1 Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Atlanta Featuring authentic Greek cuisine, decadent desserts, live music, entertainment, dancing, kids’ activities, and handcrafts—set in an authentic Greek cultural experience. www.atlantagreekfestival.org
Woofstock
September 30 - October 1 Smyrna Market Village Atlanta’s largest pet party in the park. Featuring dogs that dive and perform tricks, pet adoptions, food trucks, a beer garden, kids’ inflatables, and arts & crafts. www.woofstockatl.com
Leadercast Women
October 5 from 8:30am-4pm Cobb Energy Center Women leaders at all levels and from all walks of life can hear experts share their experiences, engage in meaningful dialogue, and connect at a deeper level with others who are on that same journey. www.leadercast.com/pages/women
Catalyst Atlanta
October 5-6 Infinite Energy Arena, Duluth Speakers: Andy Stanley, Brené Brown, Tim Tebow, Christine Caine, Robert Madu, Daniel Pink, Bill Hybels, Katie Davis Majors, Bob Goff, Carlos Whittaker, Jeremy Courtney. Worship and music: Hillsong Worship, Johnnyswim www.CatalystLeader.com/Atlanta
Know of any upcoming events? If so, let us know! Send information to submissions@goodlifemagazine.org
Taste of Acworth
October 14 from 10am-5pm Downtown Acworth – Main Street More than 25 restaurants and 100 booths featuring businesses from around the greater Acworth area. There will be a local entertainment stage, complete with a dog show and a High School Team Cooking Challenge, children’s activities, lots of food, and more.
Chalktoberfest
October 14-15 Marietta Square – Glover Park An afternoon with live music from local artists, a craft beer festival, watching professional Chalk Artists chalk the streets, and eating great food at the beautiful downtown square of Marietta. www.chalktoberfest.com
Wings Over North Georgia Airshow
October 21-22 Russell Regional Airport, Rome Aerobatic performers, the Thunderbird squadron, aircraft on display, and BBQ vendors. www.wingsovernorthgeorgia.com
The 5th Annual Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival
October 22 Pavilion at Brook Run Park, Dunwoody Enjoy some food and fun during this competition of backyard kosher BBQ amateurs. www.TheAtlantaKosherBBQ.com
Due West UMC Trunk or Treat
Due West United Methodist, Marietta October 28 Kids dress in costumes for a fun evening. www.duewest.org
Sadie Robertson – Live Original!
November 2 at 7pm Mt. Paran Church of God, Atlanta Join Sadie and friends: featuring Luke Robertson, Anthem Lights; Jesus Culture’s Chris McClarney; Steven Malcolm; and Hollyn. https://mountparan.com/events/sadie-robertsons-liveoriginal-tour/
Taste of Kennesaw
November 4 from 11am-8pm Downtown Kennesaw Come sample delicious dishes from over 30 local restaurants, while enjoying live music and a kids’ zone.
With equipment sized just for them, they can soar to recovery.
choa.org /cobb
©2017 Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. All rights reserved.
september/october 2017
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Different by Design -By Jimmy Evans
M
Understand the pain dance of marriage and each other’s strengths By: Marshallappreciate Segal
y wife, Karen, and I have been married for more than forty years. We have two married children and five beautiful grandchildren to show for it. We have a great marriage and are very thankful for that. But it wasn’t always this way. After several years of marriage, we were on the brink of divorce. We married at age 19 after several years of rocky dating. One week before we got married, Karen told me she wouldn’t marry me because of how immoral I was. But I promised to change (and did), and we followed through with our wedding. But shortly thereafter, the fireworks started, and our fights took a turn for the worse. If you had asked me back then why we fought so much, I would have told you it was because I married the weirdest woman on earth. She was beautiful, but weird. And she was my opposite in almost every category.
The problem was, she just didn’t train well. At least that is what I thought at the time. To make matters worse, Karen did the exact same thing to me. She rejected my differences and did everything she could to change me to be like her, which, in her mind, would make me normal. But I “We came into marriage despised it, and so did she. And every time it with the very destructive happened, we damaged belief that compatibility and demeaned each meant sameness. other more and more. And that lie caused
us to do deep damage to each other and almost destroyed our marriage.”
If you asked me today why we fought so much, I would say it was because of ignorance. Back then, I thought Karen was weird, and she thought the same of me. We fought because we didn’t understand each other. We also fought because we were in a battle to change each other. There is an old joke about marriage that goes like this: 8
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“Marriage is about becoming one. The question is, which one?” Ouch! That is too true. It was surely true of us for the first years of our marriage. I felt that I was normal, and because Karen wasn’t like me, she wasn’t normal. It was a pretty simple formula, and my job was to shame her, scold her, lecture her, and educate her until she became normal like me.
Finally, we found ourselves one dark night in a yelling match in the middle of the living room. I pointed my finger in her face and told her to get out of the house and out of my life. That was the low point in our marriage. I didn’t want to lose her, but I also didn’t know how to keep her. In fact, I was afraid of what was going to happen if our fights continued to escalate. So what changed? What happened that stopped the pain dance and caused our marriage to be healthy? First of
all, I dedicated our marriage and myself to God and apologized to Karen for being such a jerk. That made a huge difference. But second, we began to embrace our differences and realized they were God-given. We came into marriage with the very destructive belief that compatibility meant sameness. And that lie caused us to do deep damage to each other and almost destroyed our marriage. We were locked in a dangerous dance. I would see something in Karen that was different from me, and I didn’t understand. I would reject her and verbally lash out at her. She would get hurt and retaliate to both defend herself and to correct me. I also felt rejected and wounded by her words and actions. And we danced . . . and danced . . . and danced . . . until we were worn-out, wounded, and ready to throw in the towel. Today, we realize that we are different by God’s design. Rather than reject and correct each other, we accept and love each other. And more than anything else, we understand our differences and realize they make our marriage more dynamic. We are two halves of a whole. We complete each other. We are better together. If Karen and I had understood each other’s strengths and differences, it would have totally changed our marriage in the early years. It wouldn’t have just stopped our fights; it would have led to acceptance, cooperation, and affirmation. That is the exact opposite of what we experienced.
change. But it is to say that the surest way to fail is to try to change an unchangeable. And the truth is, you and your spouse are different by God’s design.
“Your marriage can become what you dreamed it would be.”
We want you and your marriage to be changed. If you are in a pain dance, we want it to turn into a happy dance. Your marriage can become what you dreamed it would be. There is nothing like understanding to empower us for success.
In Jimmy Evans’ new book “Strengths Based Marriage,” you’ll learn to identify and apply your different strengths in your relationship. This revelatory understanding will help you see your spouse like never before. “Strengths Based Marriage” applies the thirty-four strengths of the Clifton StrengthsFinder® personality assessment to your marriage.
Are you in a pain dance? If so, you are poised to take the first step to change. It begins by accepting and honoring the inherent differences in your spouse. This isn’t to say that nothing about your spouse or marriage needs to
Jimmy Evans is a leading expert on marriage and family relationships. He is Founder, CEO, and television host of MarriageToday with his wife, Karen. Jimmy is a conference speaker and author of over fifteen books including Marriage on the Rock, The Right One, and Strengths Based Marriage. september/october 2017
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Ask...seek.. W/ MAC POWELL
W
hether you recognize the name or not, odds are at some point you’ve heard the fruits of Mac Powell’s talents. Known by many as one of the founding members and lead singer of the Grammy award-winning Christian rock band, Third Day, over the past 25 years, Mac’s distinct vocal sound and esteemed music writing talents have been a key part of the band’s success. And it doesn’t stop there for him. Outside of Third Day, Mac has begun an evergrowing country music career and has a full-time passion for being a loving and prayer-centered father and husband. Mac sat down with GOODlife to give us an inside look into his life, as well as a sneak peek into what fans, new and old alike, can be expecting from him in the near future.
So country music? After 25 years of rock and worship, is this a new dream or has it always been part of that dream? “Well, it’s been a long-time dream of mine. I know I’ve been thinking about it, as far as making that transition, for probably ten years now. I’ve always felt a bit scared because I didn’t want to take away from Third Day, and I didn’t want to take any more away from my family. But it had gotten to a place where I felt like I couldn’t stop thinking about it, and it was a dream that I couldn’t let go of. And I found out, as many people will, that when God places something on your heart, until you take steps to follow through with that dream, it’s going to be hard to let go of. So finally I said, ‘I’m gonna make a record, and maybe I’ll do some shows, but if nothing happens, then that’s fine.’ I think a lot of people felt that once I made the record and then went out and played a few shows, then I would get it out of my system. But it was the opposite—it actually grew that dream more.”
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.. Knock
-By Gabriel Bland
What is the new dream? “Being an artist that can expand my audience, that can reach out to some people who normally wouldn’t listen to Christian music or go to a Christian concert. It’s a lot of fun. There are times when we will go into these little clubs in small towns in the middle of nowhere and play for 50 to 100 people—small audiences. And a lot of times, I’ll run into people who are working there, the bartenders or the waitresses, and they grew up listening to Third day, and they are genuinely excited that I’m there. They’ll say things like, ‘I had your Offerings record when I was a kid!’ And it’s really cool to go love on them and encourage them. Also, a lot of women come to the shows with their husbands, and they pull me aside and say, ‘He would never come to a Christian concert, but because you’re playing here in this club, he was willing to come with me, and he is excited.’ It’s very satisfying to be able to encourage people in different ways than I would be able to with a Third Day show. And while we might not be as overt with our faith as with Third Day, we still make it clear we grew up in church and sing ‘Amazing Grace’ and drop some gospel in those country shows.”
How has it been doing both Third Day and the independent country music at the same time? It’s been a lot of fun. In fact, the second country record I did, I had to make it at the same time as I was making a worship record, and I was really dreading having to do both simultaneously. I was thinking I had to be in two different mindsets at the same time, but once the time came around, it actually helped me. I realized that when I get a song idea that I really like, I don’t necessarily have to force it to fit into a specific box; I am able to go anywhere with that song. So it’s brought about a certain amount of freedom for me as a writer. I still get just as many Christian or worship ideas. But now, this is
allowing me as a writer to be able to spend time writing about some other things that directly affect my life and, for me, are a faith element, and yet that may not be true for everybody else.
What has God been putting on your heart? “Well, God’s been speaking to me in a lot of ways. One of those ways has really been through my family—he’s been really trying to refocus me on spending time with my children and my wife. We have to, as people and as believers, keep our priorities straight. I’m being reminded daily of those priorities: my faith in God, my family, and then everybody outside of that. And in that, really following Jesus’ words to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and everything else will come into place after that. So really I’m being reminded to not be so busy and to not get caught up in other things that I lose focus of my first loves, of God and my family.”
“We have to, as people and as believers, keep our priorities straight. I’m being reminded daily of those priorities: my faith in God, my family, and then everybody outside of that.”
“And beyond that, the other thing has been prayer. I’ve been growing and trying to become a better person of prayer, of knowing how important that is, and knowing it reaches God’s heart. In the very beginning of Luke 11, which I’ve been studying a lot lately, the disciples ask Jesus, ‘Teach us how to pray.’ And that’s where Jesus gives us the Lord’s prayer. And the reason I think they asked Him this is because they witnessed His life and saw how powerful and effective His prayers were, and they wanted that in their lives. A little bit after that come the verses about asking, seeking, and knocking. It’s a progression of speaking to God. What are the things you need? That’s asking. Seeking is a little bit deeper—it’s digging deep into the word, it’s talking to other believers who’ve gone through situations and have september/october 2017
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grown in their faith. And knocking—that’s putting our faith into action. You know that James says that our faith without works is dead, and so Jesus is saying to knock— actually go do something about it. That progression of prayer—that asking, then seeking, then knocking—I want to grow in that. I want to learn more about that. I’m in the beginning stages of God really taking me through this and helping me learn about this. Even though I have been a believer for many, many years, I never stop learning and growing and following, and hopefully never stop asking, seeking, and knocking.”
Little Known Fact: “I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s a little known fact, but I would say a lot of people would be surprised at just how normal my life is. I’m home a lot. I take out the garbage. I homeschool my little one when I’m home. I don’t really live this “rockstar” life. I get to do some cool stuff, but it’s also normal life…That and the fact that I’m kind of a nerd. I really love comic books and Sci-Fi.”
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Finding Pleasure in Weakness Why do I assume that weakness equates to failure?
-By Pam Ford Davis
When I admit my weaknesses, I exhibit strength of character. Through weakness, I find supernatural strength. Consider the compelling testimony of Apostle Paul: “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures, because of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 2:9-10 HCS).” Consider some of the key words in his message: grace, sufficient, power, weakness, boast, Christ’s power, pressures, weak, and strong. I am prone to see weakness as being negative and strength as positive. Paul’s testimony opens new meaning to the key words. He found pleasure in weakness; he received God’s strength. Focus on another of his divinely inspired messages to believers: “Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength (Ephesians 6:10 HCS).” Amen and Amen. september/october 2017
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Something “T
he most important thing to us is that we want 32 Dental to be the place where people feel like family—to take their children and themselves without any judgment,” profess Drs. Lan Vo and Sean Breckley, the husband and wife team who own the family-oriented dental practice in Kennesaw. “Everyone has different stories, and if they’ve been away from the dentist for a long time, we are just glad that they are here. People don’t want to be yelled at by their dentist because they haven’t been to the dentist in ten years. That’s not our philosophy. Our philosophy is that we are glad that you are here, and so let’s go forward from here.” 32 Dental is the perfect blend between the advancements and professionalism of a large-scale operation and the attention to detail and focus on relationships of a family practice. With an established practice located on Chastain Road, the couple opened their second location at Brookstone back in February of this year. This decision has enabled them to continually invest in the community that they have been a part of for the past twelve years.
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After deciding to expand to that side of Kennesaw, the two dentists faced difficulty finding space to lease in the area. So they decided just to start saving— and to start praying. “The vision for the building itself was based around the idea that we wanted something that the community could be proud of. We didn’t want just another red brick office building; we wanted something unique.” And their prayers were answered—not only is the building beautifully designed, but the foundation of the team itself is something unique and worth marveling at. The 16 team members of 32 Dental really seek to be a family to one another and to their patients. Drs. Vo and Breckley explain, “We love getting to connect with
to About people. Everybody has a story through life. Listening to our customers and getting to learn from them, and not only getting to be the quarterback of their oral health, but also being there for them—that’s what makes it feel like home here. It’s not just a medical facility here. We get to do more than just fix smiles [which they are really good at], but we also get to be there for people.” This intentional family-style model is in stark contrast to the cold, distant model of some practices where
patients feel like just a number. Instead, at 32 Dental, patients feel at home and free from judgment. The practice is characterized by a warm team that learns to know you and your family by name and a team that has your back no matter what your needs are. As the owners of 32 Dental, Drs. Vo and Breckley desire “to be within the small community that we love, and for our small team to be able to grow—to help serve the community.”
Preparing Teens
Adulthood
for
-By Alex Chediak
“Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.” - Psalm 127:4
R
aising teens to be faithful Christian adults has never been easy. Like us, our children enter this world as sinners whose hearts must be transformed by the Holy Spirit. As parents, pastors, teachers, and mentors, we seek to be God’s instruments in this process. And while we pray and instruct them about the kingdom of God, we also prepare them to live fruitfully in the kingdom of man. The two are
not disconnected: Academic, professional, and relational success flow primarily from character and maturity. And as Christians, we know that character and maturity flow most readily from a God-mastered life and soul, from the hearts of men and women who have bowed the knee to Jesus as Lord. We’re not saved by good works, but we are saved for them (Ephesians 2:8–10). Good trees bear good fruit for the glory of God, the benefit of others, and the adornment of the gospel (Titus 2:10).
A Bad Combination
A Christ-centered college preparatory school for grades PreK4 through 12 whitefieldacademy.com 16
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But modern society poses unique threats to the development of our children. America’s young-adult culture is increasingly narcissistic, captivated by superficial interests and instant gratification. Many teens today prefer to linger in the no-man’s-land of adolescence, rather than complete the journey to adulthood. They’re less resilient in the face of difficulty, more dependent
on their parents, and more distracted by digital and visual media than former generations. And values such as honesty, industry, and the connection between sowing and reaping can seem like relics of a distant past.
Parents Make the Difference
The good news is that it doesn’t have to be In a survey of more than 2,000 high school seniors this way. What makes a difference? Training. in the Chicago area, sociologist James Rosenbaum Modeling. Disciplining. By parents. In homes. Before they go. What we impart to our children found that almost half of them (46 percent) — in our speaking, listening, and by our example agreed with the statement, “Even if I do not work — makes a huge difference. If we teach hard in high school, I can still make them to see every aspect of their lives my future plans come true” (Beyond With God’s under the lordship of Christ, to take College for All, 59–62). This while the help, we can initiative, assume responsibility, accept 2009 High School Survey of Student set them on a correction, work (and study) unto the Engagement found that 77 percent God-honoring Lord, persevere in commitments, live of respondents spent five hours or trajectory. from biblical convictions, nurture fewer per week “doing homework,” College can be faith-sustaining friendships, and and 50 percent spent one hour a time when they be faithful stewards of their time, or less per week “reading and continue on the talents, and treasure — and do it studying for class.” path we’ve cleared all with the deepest joy and richest As you might suspect, arrogance laughs — our teens can thrive in to clearheaded and an undeveloped work ethic thinking and lifelong college and beyond. are not the best foundation
learning, “careful to Our teens’ first years outside the stones for post-high school home don’t need to be a period of ventures. If you think you’re better devote themselves to good works” in spiritual apostasy and professional at something than you really are, ways that are wandering. With God’s help, we you expect it to come easily. This “excellent and can set them on a God-honoring makes you less likely to work at it, trajectory. College can be a time when profitable less likely to succeed, and more likely to be surprised and disappointed for people” they continue on the path we’ve cleared when you don’t. We send more teens to (Titus 3:8). to clearheaded thinking and lifelong learning, “careful to devote themselves college than ever — and spend a fortune to good works” in ways that are “excellent doing so — only to lose one in four of and profitable for people” (Titus 3:8). them before their sophomore year, while roughly half fail to graduate. (Pathways to Prosperity, As our children move through high school, our Harvard Graduate School of Education, February role in preparing them for what comes next is 2011, reports that 56 percent of those who start absolutely crucial. May God strengthen and equip at a four-year college complete their degree in six us for this vital work. years, and 29 percent of those who begin at a twoyear college complete their degree in three years.)
Alex Chediak (@chediak) Alex Chediak (@chediak) is a professor of engineering and physics at California Baptist University. His new book, Beating the College Debt Trap: Getting a Degree Without Going Broke, helps students make informed decisions about how to pay less for college, earn more during college, and set themselves up for God-honoring financial independence after college. september/october 2017
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GOODlife Travel
HELEN GA
Valhalla Resort Hotel Where: Helen, GA What: A Boutique Resort situated in the North Georgia Mountains Who: All ages, pet-friendly
Where Old World charm meets Southern hospitality With north Georgia’s newest boutique resort surrounded by the picturesque mountaintops of Helen, just a few hours away, you do not have to travel far to find a peaceful getaway from the hustle and bustle of Atlanta. With warm hospitality and personalized service, Valhalla sets itself apart from other mountain accommodations. Nestled at the center of the Bavarian Alpine village, Valhalla Resort hotel provides the perfect rest for adventurers looking to relax after a long day in the great outdoors. Featuring 25 rooms, including a presidential suite, this boutique hotel offers accommodations with all the amenities of a full luxury resort. It features a wine cellar, fullservice spa, gift shop, walking trail, access to the Innsbruck Golf Club and, most notably their multiple dining options overlooking the swimming pool, mountains, or golf course. And with its convenient proximity to downtown Helen comes effortless access to more than 200 specialty and import shops offering handmade gifts. From exquisite fine dining at Caledonia, private dining in the Abbey Wine Cellar, 24-hour room service, to cocktails and bites at the Roof Top SkyBar or Poolside Cabana Bar, there is something for every taste at Valhalla. Executive Chef Dean Hill’s unique farm-to-fork concepts have led him to partnering with many local co-ops to source fresh ingredients to create seasonal dishes that revolve around Southern comfort food with a fine dining flair. He creates a sensational experience through each course of the meal, with delectable dishes that each carry a stunning visual appeal, rivaling those of the finest resort restaurants. And not to worry if your adventures or visions of relaxation include your pet companion. Valhalla loves to host to the enjoyment of both you and your four-legged loved ones. Whether it be for a weekend adventure or for just catching your breath from the busyness of life, there are few places like the Valhalla Resort Hotel to find yourself some tranquil respite amidst the beauty of the North Georgia Mountains. 18
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