CONTENTS 10 AMY GRANT Tennessee Christmas: Sitting down with Amy Grant 6 GOT PEACE? Are you feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or lacking in peace? 7 ORAL SEDATION You no longer have to be anxious for your dental visits 8 EVENTS Around-town family fun 13 THE GIFT OF GIVING Did you know that giving is actually good for you?
Publisher
Kristen Bland 14 GOODlife RECIPES Spanish Rum Cake: A Christmas tradition 15 A SANCTUARY FOR THE SEASONS Bring a warm touch to your home in the Christmas season 16 THE GREATEST ACT The greatest tool for fighting and winning your battles
18 GOODlife TRAVEL Enjoy the true magic of the season at Stone Mountain Christmas
Damien Parodi Managing Editor Gabriel Bland Editor
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info@goodlifemagazine.org 770.656.4400 Creative Director Damien Parodi
Graphic Designer Matthew Button
Contributing Editor Krista Messic
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COVER CREDIT GOODlife Magazine features Amy Grant - singer, songwriter, and philanthropist. For the full story, see page 10.
GOODlife Magazine is a monthly publication distributed throughout Atlanta and Metro Atlanta. Entire contents, including design elements and logos, are copyrighted and may not be reproduced in any media without the express written consent of the publisher. GOODlife Magazine, LLC reserves the right to edit or reject any editorial or advertising content. Advertisers assume liability for content of all advertisements. All information herein has been checked for accuracy to the best of our ability. Not responsible for deletions, omissions, errors and or inaccuracies. 2016 GOODlife Magazine, LLC. All rights reserved.
Got Peace? by Stephanie Reck
by Stephanie Reck In His presence there is peace, safety, guidance, joy, and love. Are you feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, lacking in peace and joy, frustrated, or even worried? Are you involved in various church activities, functions, and attendance, but don’t feel refreshed? Maybe it’s time to step away from the busyness of life and step into His presence. Other people may not understand, and they may try to sway you to do things. There is refreshment and restoration in His presence. Sometimes we need to say “No” to things and people, even if they are good things. Life will keep you busy. Make the decision daily to get into a quiet place, free from all distractions including electronic devices, to spend time with the Lord. If we stay so busy, we can have trouble hearing from God and what He wants for us. We can become easily distracted and lose focus. Our strength comes from the Lord. If we feel weak and worn-out, we may need to step away and go to the throne. When you come into His presence, He will lighten your load and will speak truth about your situations. There is no other place to “fill up” like this. We try to bring comfort to ourselves with food, TV, staying busy with activities, electronics, and for some, it can be sex, alcohol, and drugs. But there is no replacement for God’s Holy presence. What can you do in His presence? You can sing and worship with praise music. Read the Bible and selected scriptures to meditate on. Be still and listen for His voice. Cry, rejoice, and talk to God as if He is your best friend. Journal what God speaks or impresses to you. There is no formula for being in His presence. You can do a mixture of things or just one thing, and each time you spend with God can be different. Don’t be set on spending time with God in a certain way. Let the Holy Spirit guide you to what He wants you to do. Anyone need refreshment, restoration, and guidance? If yes, plug into the source, the presence of the Holy Spirit. In His presence, there is no fear, worry, anxiety, stress, or frustration. Again, step away, carve out time, and say, “No” to things and activities that would pull you away from this time. Everyone needs this, not just pastors and leaders, but every Christian who is fighting in this spiritual battle needs to be in His presence. Every Christian also needs this daily time for God to direct and guide their steps and plans, and to pour out His anointing on what He has called you to do. In His presence, you can receive an outpouring of grace, mercy, joy, and peace, all of which are essential for every believer. You will show me the path of life. In your PRESENCE is fullness of joy; At your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11 6
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ORAL SEDATION
Do you or does someone you know have dental anxiety? The good news is you no longer have to be anxious! Research shows that almost 30% (1 in 3 people) of the population avoid going to the dentist due to fear. For example, they may tolerate hygiene appointments, but may not be willing to accept other, more invasive treatments, such as a crown preparation, root canal, dental implant, or removal of wisdom teeth. Oral sedation is easy, convenient, painless, and an inexpensive way to reduce anxiety while in the dental setting. The use of sedatives to produce minimal sedation (twilight) in healthy adults is safe and effective. It is imperative that the proper medication is administered in the appropriate dose and that adequate time is given to allow the drug to reach its peak effect. The success of a sedation appointment requires more than just administering medication. It is creating an experience where the patient’s psychological needs are met as well. The sensitivity of the sedation team to the patient’s emotional state are extremely important. At 32 Dental, we pride ourselves in providing the utmost quality of care to our patients. We could help you experience a safe, non-judgmental, pain-free dental visit to obtain the beautiful smile you deserve. Please contact us to learn more about oral sedation to see if it is right for you or your loved one. december 2016
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CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING December 1 Location: Historic Marietta Square Time: 4:30pm The fun begins with performances by local school choruses. Santa makes his grand entrance via a City of Marietta firetruck at 5:20pm followed by the lighting of the City’s Christmas Tree at 6pm. Additionally, children can meet Santa until 8pm. SANTA’S ARRIVAL IN ACWORTH December 2 Location: The Depot - City of Acworth Time: 5:30pm
CHRISTMAS AT PIEDMONT December 9 - December 10 Location: Piedmont Church Time: All Day “Christmas at Piedmont” is Piedmont Church’s annual gift to our Community. This free 2-day event features local school choruses, orchestras, and bands performing holiday music, inflatable jumpies for kids, crafters offering hand-made gifts, and the only Snow Tube slide in Cobb County!
The City of Acworth is excited to be partnering with NorthStar Church to make this year’s Santa’s arrival the best yet! Santa will be reaching The Depot in downtown Acworth. Festivities begin around 5:30pm and Santa arrives around 6:30pm. There will be a host of live performances into the evening to help Santa kick off the holiday season.
2016 ATLANTA CHRISTMAS MUSICAL December 9, 10 & 11 Location: First Baptist Church Woodstock. Times: Friday, December 9 at 8pm Saturday, December 10 at 4pm & 7pm; Sunday, December 11 at 4pm & 7pm Website: Atlantachristmasmusical.com
CITY OF KENNESAW’S A DAY WITH SANTA December 3 Location: Downtown Kennesaw Times: 12pm to 6pm
Join us for the Johnson Ferry Choir and Orchestra Christmas Concerts as we celebrate Christmas with Wonder and Worship. This is a free event.
Santa’s arrival begins at noon with a Main Street parade featuring marching bands, decorated floats, vintage cars, and colorfully-costumed characters. The celebration continues with a holiday host of activities including FREE snow tubing, inflatables and amusements, kids’ crafts, visits with Santa, stage entertainment, and a holiday market full of gift ideas and unique merchandise. Food vendors will be on site. BREAKFAST WITH SANTA December 3 Location: Due West UMC / Family Life Center Times: 8:30am & 10:30am (two seatings) Website: santaatduewest.com Tickets will be $6 for adults, $2 for children. $1 from every ticket sold will be donated to Calvary Children’s Home in Powder Springs. See website to purchase tickets. UNDERCOVER CHRISTMAS FAMILY EXPERIENCE December 9 Location: NorthStar Church (FREE) Time: 6pm Website: northstarchurch.org/undercover We need your expert sleuthing skills to solve the Mystery of the Manger at Undercover Christmas Family Experience! Join us for a high-energy, interactive family worship experience where parents and their kids of all ages use their crime solving expertise to uncover clues behind the reason for the season. Canvass the campus for clues, encounter suspicious characters, decipher some unforseeable codes, and taste some yummy treats. Food for purchase starting at 6pm. Event starts at 6:30pm. 8
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SLEIGHBELLS ON THE SQUARE 5K December 10 Location: Marietta Square Website: Active.com The 16th Annual Sleighbells on the Square 5k/1k/Tot Trot is a festive event for the whole family. BREAKFAST WITH SANTA December 10 Location: Ben Robertson Community Center Times: 8am to 9:15am; and 10am to 11:15am Website: kennesawparksandrec.com Guess who’s coming to breakfast? The KennesawAcworth Optimist Club is hosting an “all-you-careto-eat” breakfast, complete with pancakes, sausage, juice, coffee, and table-to-table visits with the jolly old elf himself. Advance tickets are only $6 per person and can be purchased online or at the Ben Robertson Community Center. Tickets can also be purchased at the door for $8 per person (based on availability, space is limited).
DISNEY LIVE! MICKEY AND MINNIE’S DOORWAY TO MAGIC December 17 - December 18 Location: Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre Times: December 17, 2pm & 6pm; December 18, 11am & 2pm Join Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and the comical duo of Donald and Goofy as 25 of your favorite characters surprise and captivate you. In Disney Live! Mickey and Minnie’s Doorway to Magic, you hold the ultimate key to unlocking your imagination. Tickets may be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, charged by phone at 800-745-3000, or purchased at the Bank of North Georgia Box Office at Cobb Energy Centre. CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES – “Light into Darkness” December 23 - 24 Location: NorthStar Church Times: Friday, December 23 at 6pm and 7:15pm; Saturday, December 24 at 2:15pm, 3:30pm, 4:45pm & 6pm NorthStar will have six incredible Christmas Eve services, entitled “Light into Darkness.” COOKIES, CARDS, AND COCOA! Now - December 17 (Recurring daily) Location: The Art Station-Big Shanty in Kennesaw Times: During Regular Art Station Hours Bring the kids and come to The Art Station for FREE holiday card making, cookies, & hot cocoa, all while you shop for unique gifts at our annual Gift Box Holiday Market! HOLIDAY LIGHTS AT LIFE UNIVERSITY Now - December 31 Location: Life University Times: Nightly 6pm - 10pm The annual “Lights of Life” holiday display at Life University takes place every night from Thanksgiving evening through New Year’s Eve. The event features more than a million lights spanning across over a mile of campus. WINTER WONDERLAND ICE SKATING Now - Late February Location: Marietta Square Times: See website for times Website: winterwonderlandmarietta.com Winter Wonderland is returning to the Marietta Square with ice skating in Glover Park. Viewing areas have been expanded and great care has been given to see that the experience is exceptional. Due to the overwhelming response last year, ice skating is currently planned to be available through late February.
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by GABRIEL BLAND The holidays are here and that can mean so many different things for every person. The stress of being pulled in many different directions mixed with the joy of getting to be with the people you love. And with each passing year, new traditions begin and old traditions continue. As Christmas grows closer, one thing is for sure…the sounds of the holidays are here. The voices of familiar artists that have been a part of every Christmas season almost singlehandedly remind everyone of the holidays, of years past and of the excitement of another Christmas. One such voice, that has for so many become synonymous with the holidays, belongs to the incredibly gifted, talented, and warm-hearted Amy Grant. Over the past thirty years, she has released music that has touched the hearts of generations worldwide. She’s not only become an icon in Christian music, but also a constant in the lives of so many families during the holidays. And for the first time in nearly twenty years, she has released a new Christmas album, Tennessee Christmas. By combining original new pieces alongside classic favorites, this album captures the incredible crossroads of new and old that embodies the holidays. Sitting down with Amy, I learned what the holidays mean to her, what God has been placing on her heart to share, and how Tennessee Christmas came out of her desires to meet people where they are at this holiday season. “I wanted the record to feel as though it were created for an audience of one. I want this to feel appropriate when the whole house has gone to sleep, and someone is up late doing something alone; that the music would feel like a companion. And in being a companion, articulate all the emotions of life, but within a Christmas context.” She went on to talk about how in her own life the holidays come with a mix of emotions and memories that are characterized by one constant thing, God’s love. As the seasons of life come and go, everyone experiences mountaintops and valleys, but by keeping her eyes on God’s love in the midst of it all, Amy was able to find such peace and joy in Him. One thing Amy prays to continually communicate not only through her music, but also through her life, is calling people back to the simple love of Christ. It may not always be easy, but God has been continually bringing her back to the scripture where Jesus summarized the entire law by saying, “Love God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as (continued on page 12) 10
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yourself.” So often this simple truth gets lost in the craziness of life, and even during the holidays, as Christmas cheer is felt in the air. It can be so easy to lose focus on what it looks like to love like that. “A toolkit that was attached to that, kind of a how-to, was given to me by a WWII veteran named Jimmy Gentry,” recalls Amy of a conversation she had years ago. In a gentlemanly Southern drawl, he told her, “I have seen the worst of what man is capable of doing, and that’s why every time I look at my hands, I want to be reminded of the five most important phrases.” Amy explains that he then held up five fingers and said that the most important fiveword phrase is “How can I help you?” He told her to say it as often as she could to her children, to her spouse, to her family, and to strangers. He then counted down the rest of his fingers, asserting that the remaining most important phrases are “I’m proud of you,” then “I love you,” then “Thank you,” and he ended by holding up one finger, for the most important one-word phrase, “We.” This idea has been on the forefront of Amy’s mind this year as she continues to be brought back to the simple truth that we are called to love, which in practice can look different for every person. A powerful tool that people often overlook is prayer; no matter what season of life people find themselves in amongst the body of Christ, they are still able to show love to the world and to people they would never be able to love in their own strength. Amy asserts, “If I’m not on my knees praying for the vilest offender on the planet, I’m missing an opportunity.” These are the thoughts on her mind and heart as this album has been released and as she has been preparing for her Christmas tour. Her prayer is that she can use these outlets as a means to communicate this incredibly simple, yet incredibly powerful truth. After sharing all of this, these were the words she wanted to close with, “I don’t understand the mind of God. I just look at the simplicity of Jesus saying, ‘Love God and love others.’” The multi-platinum singer/songwriter’s first all new holiday album in nearly 20 years, Tennessee Christmas captures the joy, laughter, anticipation, and even melancholy the Christmas season brings in its 13 tracks. A perfect blend of familiar carols, hymns, raucous Santa songs, and thoughtful new originals, there is something on this project for every listener. In addition to a new version of Grant’s classic “Tennessee Christmas,” the record begins with the fresh and uplifting anthem “To Be Together,” calling to mind the nostalgia of holidays spent in the company of family and friends. Grant also intentionally included songs on this record that accurately portray the feelings of sadness and grief that so often accompany the holidays for many of us. With offerings like “December,” “Another Merry Christmas,” and “Melancholy Christmas,” her hope is that those who are struggling will find a sense of peace by realizing that they are not alone. “Melancholy Christmas,” which Grant cowrote with Marshall Altman, has already stirred up social responses from fans finding solace in the relatable and vulnerable lyrics. 12
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The Gift of Giving by Craig Jones
by Craig Jones Where were you the day after Thanksgiving? Did you brave the wild mobs of shopping fanatics that descended upon doorbuster sales and stocking stuffers on Black Friday? Christmas in recent years has lost its luster in the eyes of many since the holiday has been hijacked by retailers who are catering to shoppers’ compulsive desires to “get more for less.” During a season when we should be focused on the joy of giving, we are consumed with the art of getting. The Bible says in Acts 20:35, “It’s more blessed to give than to receive.” This is more than a saying intended to encourage generosity, it is a biblical truth that multiple studies have shown to be effective. Giving truly is a gift to the giver. Giving makes you happy A 2008 study by Harvard Business School found that giving money to someone else lifted participants’ happiness more than spending it on themselves. This study sounds contrary to what most people think. In fact, studies have shown that many people try to use shopping as therapy. They believe that buying something for themselves will bring them happiness. What if next time you needed a lift in your spirit, you decide to make someone else’s day? Giving makes you healthy Schools and research centers have spent years studying the effects of giving on personal health. Researchers at USC Berkeley have shown how consistent giving can help a person overcome chronic illness and improve longevity. They believe one of the major factors to this result is that giving helps decrease stress, which is associated with a variety of health problems. What if the key to a healthy life is actually found in helping others experience a happy life? Giving makes the world a better place I know that this sounds dramatic, but when we give, we don’t only help the person we give to—we also start a chain reaction of generosity throughout our community. A National Academy of Science study shows that when one person behaves generously, it inspires observers to behave generously later, toward different people. In fact, they said that “each person in a network can influence dozens or even hundreds of people, some of whom he or she does not know and has not met.” It’s amazing to me that the generosity of giving can actually make this a better world to live in. So whether you are buying gifts for your family and friends, volunteering your time to help someone in need, or donating money to your favorite charity this holiday season, your giving is much more than just a sacrifice. You are actually giving yourself the gift of health and happiness, and you could even jumpstart a cascade of generosity throughout your community that changes the very world you experience every day. During this Christmas season, you will get many gifts that you could live without, but giving is a gift you should never live without.
Craig and Janna Jones are the senior pastors of Abiding Church located in Kennesaw, GA. Learn more at www.abiding.church
photo by kbg photography
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Spanish Rum Cake by Krista Messic We all have family traditions and must-haves at Christmas time. One of mine is an old family recipe passed down from my grandmother for Spanish rum cake. When I smell the cake baking, I spontaneously break into a Christmas carol or two. I wanted to add a little extra enchantment to the already delicious confection, so enter the ganache. Now, for those who are concerned about the rum, you can make sure that the alcohol is cooked all the way out of the glaze by allowing the mixture to remain on the heat for an additional minute stirring continuously. There is no need to worry about the amount added to the cake as the baking process will eliminate the alcohol. Cake Ingredients: 1 cup chopped pecans Yellow cake mix 1 box instant vanilla pudding (3.4 oz.) 4 eggs ½ cup cold water ½ cup oil ½ cup dark rum Glaze Ingredients: ¼ lb. butter ¼ cup water 1 cup granulated sugar ½ cup dark rum Ganache Ingredient: ½ lb. semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 cup heavy whipping cream
Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease a Bundt pan with butter. Use a small amount of the cake batter to “flour” the pan. Return any excess cake batter to a mixing bowl. Sprinkle nuts on the bottom of the pan. In the mixing bowl, mix together the cake mix and all remaining ingredients. Pour batter over nuts in pan. Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour. Set on rack to cool and then invert on serving plate. Prick top of cake with a skewer. Prepare the glaze by melting butter in a sauce pan. Stir in water and sugar. Boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in rum, and immediately remove from the heat. Once the glaze thickens slightly, drizzle over cake. Let cool. To prepare the ganache, put the chocolate chips in a glass bowl. Heat the heavy whipping cream on the stovetop in a heavy-bottom sauce pan. As soon as the cream begins to simmer, remove from heat and pour the cream over the chocolate chips. Swirl the bowl ensuring that the chips are fully covered. Tightly cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let sit undisturbed for 5 minutes (seriously – do not mix this!) Remove the lid and begin to swirl the mixture from the center and working outward until smooth. Once the ganache is slightly cool, drizzle over cake. Merry Christmas! 14
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Evolving our home throughout the seasons with simple refinements can enhance our everyday experiences all year round and inspire us to live more fully in each moment. Each of us may gravitate toward a particular season’s style for a variety of reasons. Perhaps we prefer the climate of one season, or were inspired by our region during certain months, or we hold special childhood memories of a particular season. Whatever our preferences, a well-loved home is enjoyed throughout the year. By allowing our spaces to reflect the mood and ambience each season represents, we can be oh-so-cozy in fall and winter with a warm and natural style, and then we can have our spirits lifted by the bright colors and freshness of spring and summer. Making simple changes is the best way to fall in love—and stay in love—with your home throughout the year. Christmas Cheer Around the holidays, our homes evolve even more. Traditions are something to look forward to! Whether you go all out with festivity or keep things subtle and natural, your home can inspire you to celebrate and remember what each season represents. Try to keep things simple at Christmas and bring warm touches in layers: • Layers of winter linens on the table • Baskets filled with throw blankets (try plaid and extra thick knits!) • Seasonal art or tapestries on walls for layers of warmth • Nooks for reading holiday stories • Warm area rugs in living spaces and by the bed Incorporating elements you love will add the right amount of cheer for the season without too much fuss. You want your sanctuary to be stressfree so you can savor this special time of year. Here are a few things to help you get into the holiday spirit… Accessorize Your Senses Have you ever thought of aromas as a seasonal or holiday accessory? Why not? The cooler months are especially fun to “decorate” with yummy scents. You can enhance the cozy factor with freshly baked cookies, lit candles in seasonal fragrances, and one of everyone’s favorites, spiced cider simmering on the stove. Hot Spiced Cranberry Cider • 8 cups cranberry juice (not cocktail, just cranberry juice) • 8 cups good quality apple cider (get it fresh from the farm if you can) • 2-4 tablespoons brown sugar • 4 cinnamon sticks • Pinch of allspice • 8 whole cloves • Orange slices with peel (wash oranges and then slice) In a large pot, mix all of the ingredients together. Heat until the liquid begins to simmer and then reduce heat and continue simmering until the brown sugar has melted. Taste the cider and adjust as needed (it may need a bit more brown sugar). Strain out the cloves before serving. Taken from: The Inspired Room. Copyright © 2015 by Melissa Michaels. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon. www.harvesthousepublishers.com. Used by Permission.
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by Jon Bloom Love flourishes and grows in relational soil rich with trust. As long as sufficient trust is present in a relationship, love is likely to be healthy and resilient. But if trust erodes, love withers. Too much erosion and it dies. Satan knows this — which is why he works diligently, subtly, and insidiously to incite and encourage the erosion of our trust in one another. He wants to kill love. Most Powerful Apologetic Since God is love (1 John 4:7–8), it is no exaggeration to say that love is the greatest thing in the world. Love is the omnipotent cohesive core of intra-Trinitarian relations and the explosive impetus for the triune God putting his glory on display in creation (John 17:24–26; John 1:1–3; Colossians 1:15–17; John 15:9–10; 3:35). Love motivated the Father to initiate his plan to redeem lost, rebellious people (John 3:16). Love motivated the Son to lay his life down for us (John 15:13). Loving God and other people were the greatest commandments under the old covenant (Matthew 22:36–40) and remain the greatest commandments under the new covenant (John 14:15; 15:12). Love is the single greatest distinguishing mark of a disciple of Jesus (John 13:35). The one who is born of God and knows God loves (1 John 4:7). Love is the foremost fruit the Holy Spirit bears in us (Galatians 5:22–23). Love is more excellent than any gift or miracle of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:31). It does not matter how spiritually gifted we are or how much we achieve or how much we sacrifice in Jesus’s name, if we do not have love, we are nothing and gain nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). Christ-like, sacrificial, forbearing, hopeful, enduring love is the greatest apologetic to the existence and nature of God on earth. It is more compelling than brilliant, well-reasoned arguments (which can be brilliantly countered) and more powerful than signs and wonders (which can be counterfeited — Matthew 24:24). And any Spirit-filled Christian of any gender, ethnicity, social class, age demographic, intellectual capacity, or spiritual gifting can demonstrate love. Christian love is the force most threatening to Satan’s kingdom and therefore what he seeks most to disarm and destroy. Satan Takes Aim at Trust But when Satan attempts to kill love, he frequently aims at trust. He knows better than we do how trust can affect love. The more we trust someone, the easier it is for us to love them. We feel confident in and safe with those we trust, and we can bear with a lot of their idiosyncrasies, foibles, and even sinful stumbles. And we tend to be far more willing to receive correction from them. 16
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But it’s harder for us to love someone when we lack trust in them. We are more guarded and prone to question their judgment. It’s far easier to see potentially serious moral issues lurking in their idiosyncrasies, foibles, and sinful stumbles, and we are much quicker to suspect sinister motives when they bring us correction. A trust deficit usually results in strained relational distance, and broken trust usually results in a broken relationship. This means our relationships are quite vulnerable. It does not take much to damage trust and cool our love for another. We are incredibly finite beings whose sin natures have a monstrous sized ego, making us highly prone to take offense. It only requires a misunderstanding or presumption to begin changing the prescription lenses of our trust in one another. When trust begins to erode, love begins to wither. And when love begins to wither, the greatest evidence of the reality and nature of God on earth becomes obscured. That’s why Satan is always trying to erode our trust in God and one another. He’s seeking to obscure the glory of Jesus by killing love. If he can do that, he can render our gospel witness impotent, fragment our churches, and isolate us, making us increasingly vulnerable to his temptations, while keeping us preoccupied with justifying ourselves and suspecting others. Pursue Love More than anything — anything— we must “pursue love” (1 Corinthians 14:1). We must pursue love with a jealous zeal for the glory of Christ and the good and advance of his church. We must be doggedly determined and unswervingly committed in our pursuit of love because Satan will aim at our trust in every relationship in effort to destroy or at least severely weaken love, especially our relationships in the church. We must not let him outwit us or be ignorant of his schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11). We must beware of allowing minor differences to grow out of proportion in our imaginations. We must resist assigning sinful motives to others’ actions based on our assumptions. If we suspect sin may be present, we must not remain silent, allowing those suspicions to fester. We must not trust our perceptions, but ask clarifying questions with humility. And if we become aware that someone has something against us, we must go quickly to them and seek resolution (Matthew 5:23–24). Wherever we have damaged relationships due to trust erosion, particularly with other Christians, Christ and the apostles call us to pursue reconciliation — to pursue love. It’s not an option. We must live at peace with all as far as it depends upon us (Romans 12:18). In cases where severe damage has been done due to very real serious sin, we must seek sound pastoral counsel and facilitators skilled at peace-making. But most of our trust erosion happens due to common-to-man, garden-variety sins of pride, exacerbated by uncharitable judgment, gossip, slander, and resentment, which Satan encourages and exploits. Punch Him in the Mouth It’s possible that the greatest act of spiritual warfare we can engage in right now, the greatest blow we can deal Satan, is pursuing love by humbling ourselves and seeking reconciliation with an estranged or relationally strained brother or sister in Christ. Who knows what breakthroughs might be achieved by such obedience? Love is the greatest thing in the world, because God is love and love comes from him (1 John 4:7–8). To love is the greatest commandment God ever gave us. And the glory of Christ, the proclamation of his gospel, and our testimonies as his disciples are at stake in the way we love one another. So let us pursue love with all our might, and in doing so, punch Satan in the mouth.
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Have a holly, jolly Christmas at Stone Mountain Park, where the true magic of the season is in the air. Enjoy the glow of more than two million lights, festive music, and visits from some your favorite holiday characters. Start a new tradition and create memories that will last a lifetime for your kids...and you. Visitors can climb aboard the Singalong Train to hear your favorite Christmas tunes, as well as the heartwarming story of the first Christmas in “The Gift.” There are picturesque holiday shops offering items such as hand-blown glass ornaments, homemade fudge, unique toys, and seasonal apparel to help park-goers check a few items off their gift list. Come check out the new Rudolph the Red-Nosed-Reindeer 4-D as Rudolph, Clarice, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, and the Misfit Toys all come to life! Kids of all ages also have the opportunity to meet these heartwarming characters. One of the best parts of the experience is the parade, which also features Rudolph and friends, performers from the various shows, and of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus. Grab some hot cocoa before the show begins and then line up along the street’s edge for a spectacular parade of dancing, singing, and more. It is break time in Santa’s Workshop and the elves are ready to party! This immersive Skylights Spectacular is a musical walk-through experience that puts you in the middle of the celebration as you feast your eyes on thousands of lights, projections, special effects, and photo opportunities. And remember, at the North Pole, there’s always a chance of snow! It seems that almost every building or attraction glows with thousands of lights. With plenty of spirited live shows, such as the hilarious take on Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol,” the story of Angelina the Snow Angel in “A Wish For Snow,” and “Forever Christmas!” a musical journey from doo-wop to current pop and more! There are shows for audiences of all ages. And as nighttime arrives, come share in the Christmas magic as you end the night with the Snow Angel Fireworks Finale. It does not have to end there. You can then walk on over to the luxury Evergreen Marriott Resort or Stone Mountain Inn for marshmallow roasting with the family and a peaceful night’s sleep. Then wake up and have another full day of family fun at Snow Mountain! There’s nothing better than gathering with friends and family for the holidays! So just sit back, relax, enjoy a hot cocoa, and let the traditions start this holiday season. Snow Mountain offers additional winter fun throughout the season including sledding and snowman building to snowball shooting and snow tubing. The park will generate about 50,000 tons of snow for winter fun. Enjoy all the moments that will make for the perfect snow day. Snow Mountain is open Now – February 26, 2017. For more information about Stone Mountain Christmas and Snow Mountain, visit www.stonemountainpark.com/events.
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december 2016
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ONE NAME ONE VOICE ONE MOMENT A Gathering of 18-25 Year Olds and Their Leaders January 2-4, 2017 Atlanta Georgia Dome