LOCAL EVENTS

EVENTS

Southeast Homeschool Expo

Fri – Sat, July 24-25 Cobb Galleria Centre, Atlanta A two-day expo devoted entirely to the display, sale, and discussion of educational materials, with entire exhibit hall displays of materials by the best Christian, secular, and specialty publishers.

southeasthomeschoolexpo.com

Georgia Bridal Show

Sun, August 2 Cobb Galleria Centre, Atlanta Your dream wedding begins here! You’ve been online searching wedding ideas and trends. Now it’s time to see all of this come to life.

georgiabridalshow.com

Summer Adventures Family Fun Day

Sun, August 2 from 12-4pm Chattahoochee Nature Center, Roswell Celebrate the end of summer with canoeing and other outdoor skills. Enjoy craft s and games, discover water science and conservation, and experience so much more at this event fi lled with adventure.

chattnaturecenter.org

 e Global Leadership Summit

Th ur – Fri, August 6-7 West Ridge Church, Dallas Your infl uence matters. Join online or in person with your peers to learn how to maximize it with two days of world-class leadership training.

globalleadership.org

Kennesaw Outdoor Movie

Sat, August 8 at 6pm Swift -Cantrell Park, Kennesaw Arrive early for games, activities, fun, and more. Th e free animated feature, Frozen II (PG), will be projected onto a giant infl atable screen aft er sundown.

kennesaw-ga.gov Pinners Conference & Expo

Fri, August 14 Cobb Galleria Centre, Atlanta Featuring 100 Pinterest-based classes taught by the best presenters in the nation and an expo with nearly 200 top businesses providing beautiful options in the worlds of DIY, craft s, cooking, self-improvement, photography, party planning, scrapbooking, holiday, beauty and fashion, and much more.

ga.pinnersconference.com

Georgia Mountain Fair

Fri – Sat, August 14-22 Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, Hiawassee Family-friendly musical performances, an arts & craft s show, carnival rides, a parade, unique attractions, and a glimpse into North Georgia’s rich history and culture

georgiamountainfairgrounds.com

Big Daddy Weave Concert

Fri, August 21 at 7pm Mount Paran North Church, Marietta Enjoy a live performance of their “When the Light Comes” tour.

transparentproductions.com

Born Again Blessings Consignment

Fri – Sat, August 21-22 Riverstone Church, Kennesaw Children’s and maternity clothes, shoes, toys, nursery items, baby equipment, furniture, and more!

bornagainblessings.com Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival

Fri – Sat, August 21-22 Adams Park, Kennesaw It’s time once again for festival fans and music lovers to converge in Kennesaw for two days of smoked and seasoned barbeque bliss!

pigsandpeaches.com

Women’s Conference with Lysa TerKeurst

Sat, August 22 First Baptist Church Woodstock Featuring Lysa TerKeurst, president of Proverbs 31 Ministries and a #1 New York Times’ best-selling author.

 cw.org

Acworth Classic Car Cruise

Sat, August 29 Th e Lake City Cruisers partner with the city and the downtown Acworth merchants to benefi t Horizon Field, an all-inclusive special needs sports facility in Acworth.

acworthtourism.org

Annual Art in the Park

Sat – Mon, September 5-7 Glover Park, Marietta In addition to 175 fi ne artists, the festival also features Chalk Spot, a street chalk art display for aspiring artists young and old; Children’s Art Alley, a free interactive “make and take” area; and Food Truck Row, for those who want to grab a bite to eat on the go.

artparkmarietta.com

Atlanta Home Show

Fri – Sun, September 11-13 Cobb Galleria Centre, Atlanta Th e Atlanta Home Show off ers innovative products and hundreds of experts under one roof—featuring home improvement exhibitors, live radio broadcasts, product demonstrations and on-stage presentations by celebrity speakers, and home landscape experts.

fallatlantahomeshow.com

Transformed, Not Conformed BY: WILL GRAHAM

Quick question, just to make myself feel better: Are you perfect? No? Okay, that helps. I’m not perfect either, and it’s good to know that I’m not in this boat all by myself! All joking aside, the Bible tells us, of course, that all men have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. You’ve sinned, and I’ve sinned. Th ankfully, God sent His Son Jesus as a sacrifi ce for us, to take our sin as we repent and turn to Him. Th e Bible shares many things about both sin and the victorious Christian life, but today I want to focus on the words of Paul in Romans 12:1-2: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifi ce, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (ESV) Yes, we are all sinners, and ultimately our human stumbles are a matter between us and God. It’s a “vertical” issue, so to speak. However, it’s naïve to pretend that there isn’t a “horizontal” component to our sinfulness as well, especially as it pertains to our ability to eff ectively share the love and hope of Jesus Christ with those around us. It’s all of our responsibility as Christians to share Christ with those around us. Th is isn’t just the realm of the evangelist or the pastor but of every believer. In order to do this well, however, we need to make sure that we are living in such a way that we aren’t a hindrance to the very gospel we preach. In Romans, Paul calls on each of us to be a “living sacrifi ce,” and commands us to not be “conformed to this world.” Let me get straight to the point: As you go through your days, do your actions exhibit sacrifi ce—avoiding the sinful pleasures that surround us—or do they scream conformity and lack of self-control? If your answer to that question is the latter, you can bet that your friend is going to use those things against you as you attempt to share how God has changed your life. I’ll put it a diff erent way using a saying I’ve heard many times before: If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? If not, you better believe there will be horizontal ramifi cations, that your eff ective Christian witness will be harmed as you fail to be a living sacrifi ce. As I share this, please know that I’m not advocating for legalism or, as we’ve already ascertained, trying to pretend that I’m perfect. I’m not. But I do try to be mindful of how my actions would be perceived by those I’m seeking to reach. I’ve spoken with men who stay out all night at the bar—away from their families—drinking, cussing, and laughing it up with “the boys.” Th eir excuse is that they’re “ministering” because they’re the only Christian in the group, and this is their way of fellowshipping. My friend, if this is you, I strongly suggest that you look in the mirror and contemplate your actions, the path that you’re on. It’s fairly brazen for you to ask God to minister through you while you’re living the exact same broken and sinful life as those around you. Of course, as you really consider your motivations, you’ll likely be convicted of the fact that you aren’t acting this way for ministry purposes at all but simply following your own sinful desires. Eternity is at stake. It may all be fun and games now, but when you miss opportunities to share Christ and instead become a stumbling block by participating in and condoning sin, there are eternal consequences. My challenge to you is to examine your life and intentionally seek to be a living sacrifi ce for Christ, not conformed but transformed, for the glory of God. If you do that, my guess is that your friends will notice that change in you, and you’ll fi nally have the opportunity to really tell them about how Jesus has worked in and through you.

“If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

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

Five Questions to Ask Before You Start Dating

I just turned nineteen, and I have never been on a date...

“A boyfriend or girlfriend won’t complete you, no matter how much culture tries to convince you otherwise.”

...Seriously, no coff ee, no dinner, no movie, no one-on-one—ever. Th at’s not because I don’t like boys. Or because I never want to get married. I do, on both counts. It’s because I’m waiting to date until I can marry, and I’m not ready yet. Within a few years I think I will be ready, and the idea of dating with intentionality and gospel-fueled motives excites me. Th at’s why I’m trying to use this time now to cultivate the right kind of heart. I want to do as much as I can to avoid heartbreak, painful consequences, and naïve mistakes. As I think about dating for the right reasons, in the right season, for the glory of God, I’ve considered fi ve questions to ask myself before I start dating—fi ve indicators that I’m ready (or not) to date.

1. Am I dating to fi nd validation?

Dating is inherently validating. Here is someone who is living, breathing, chocolate-and-fl ower-giving proof that you’re interesting and attractive. And let’s be honest: that’s really fl attering. But if dating is the source of your validation, it indicates soul-damaging idolatry. A boyfriend or girlfriend won’t complete you, no matter how much culture tries to convince you otherwise. Dating—just like food or sex or television or money—does not secure (or create) your ultimate peace, happiness, and satisfaction. You can’t fi nd your identity in dating. If you follow Christ, your identity is fi rst, fi nally, and fully in him. Before you consider engaging your heart in a romantic relationship, are you confi dent in your identity as a child of God? If you’re doubting that, now is not the time to tempt your heart toward idolatry. Wait to date until you can say with surety that Christ alone is the source of your validation.

2. Am I dating because it’s expected or pressured?

Th e pressure to date young is subtle yet powerfully pervasive. Our cultural narrative weaves an overwhelming expectation for teenagers to date frequently and intimately. Th ere it is in our sitcoms and schools, in our commercials and magazines, on our smart phones and in our homes— one theme pounding its way into our psyches: To be accepted in this society, you must date. If conformity and expectation drive you to do anything, don’t do it, especially in dating. Other people’s desires or opinions may be the worst reason to go out with someone. Romance is risky and serious business and should never be entered from a place of pressure. As teenagers who follow Christ, we shouldn’t want to conform or cave to culture’s standards for relationships. We should want something better. We should chase something higher. We should be diff erent. And what’s more diff erent than remaining joyfully single as a teenager? Wait to date until you are emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually prepared to pursue romance.

“Other people’s desires or opinions may be the worst reason to go out with someone. Romance is risky and serious business and should never be entered from a place of pressure.”

3. Am I dating in 4. Am I dating with short5. Am I dating in community? term intentions? submission to God?

If you watch two people date in a movie, Most teenagers want to get married When I was sixteen, I remember there being it usually goes like this: Th e couple meets someday. I defi nitely do. But too many of a lurking loneliness in my heart. I saw my and there are intense and immediate sparks us don’t want to wait to date until then, peers dating and thought, I want someone of attraction. So, they go out together, just and so we suspiciously wonder: What’s to prize me like that, too. Yet my reasons for the two of them, to get to know each other. so dangerous about dating purely for fun wanting to date were enormously selfi sh. Th en they keep going out together alone— now? How can it be so bad when almost Th ey were fueled by a desire for satisfaction, an intense and isolated romance—until every teen we know has done it? signifi cance, and self-glory. fi nally, at a big, dramatic moment in the relationship, they introduce one another to their parents. We’re told this is normal. We meet, we date, and then we involve our community. Ultimately, the problem with (and danger of) short-term dating is far greater and more serious than we imagine. Th ese relationships distort and demean the sacredly beautiful, God-given vision of Dating then wouldn’t have been in submission to God. It would have been outright, self-focused rebellion. Godly dating is submissive dating. We submit our desires, temptations, timing, preferences, What an emotionally unhealthy picture! romance. and bodies to Christ, and sacrifi ce ourselves Where’s the accountability? Where are the for the holiness and good of another person. “...so we suspiciously wonder: What’s so dangerous about dating purely for fun now? How can it be so bad when almost every teen we know has done it?” counselors? Where’s the outside protection from naïve heartbreak? Where’s the community that can come alongside the couple and provide spiritual maturity, insight, and objective advice? It’s all been killed by a culture of convenience and speed. In relationships, we’re trained to want all the rewards without any of the work. But pursuing this kind of reckless, selfSo, wait to date until you can joyfully submit every part of your relationship to God’s loving authority. Wait to date until he brings you a person who will aid your sanctifi cation and chase Christlikeness with you. Wait to date until you’re satisfi ed in Christ, when you’re free from expectation and pressure, when you’re supported by a gospel community, and when you’re contained relationship is inconsistent committed to a long-term, lasting with the counsel of Scripture. Compare relationship. it with Paul’s sober words to Timothy: “So fl ee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a In God’s word, love, intimacy, and marriage are all profoundly linked. Nostrings-attached fl ings are antithetical to this image. Th us godly dating should be Teenager, wait to date until it brings more glory to God in your life to date than to remain single. pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22). Paul’s advice a conscious movement toward marriage. Jaquelle Crowe (now Ferris) wrote and originally to young people: fl ee isolated romance Our hearts are not made to be put on the published this article in 2016 before she began and embrace purity in the context of line for quick and casual intimacy, and the dating her now husband, Joe. She is the co-founder community. Wait to date until you’re ready consequences confi rm that. Wait to date of Th e Young Writers Workshop and author of Th is to be held accountable by others, and until you can have long-term, marriageChanges Everything: How the Gospel Transforms the they’re ready to hold you accountable. motivated intentions. Teen Years (2017). You can fi nd more of her writing at JaquelleCrowe.com.

COLTON DIXON: FAITH IN THE DESERT SEASON

Like most of us, Colton Dixon had no idea doing?’ But He’s always faithful, and His We Must Remember God But it’s okay to not know; that’s where faith comes in. We don’t know what’s going to happen. “ ” how much his life would be aff ected this season. But when his managers canceled Word never returns void.” Always Has a Plan his shows as a result of COVID-19, the singer-songwriter started to feel the distress of uncertainty. His income took a hit, leaving him with one option: trust God. “It’s easy to fi nd security in your job or source of income,” he explains. “But this season feels like a desert right now,” he adds, explaining that touring is a major source of a musician’s income. “So, I’m just learning that God is our source, not what we do or how we do it. He’s still a supplier of our needs,” he declares, admitting he struggles with trust. “I’ve had great days, and I’ve had days where I’m like, ‘God, what are you Colton’s newly released EP (or mini album) is a creative expression of his own journey of faith in desert seasons. “It’s been three years in the making, but we fi nally just put out some new music that I’m so proud of,” he shares. “Out of my season of doubt and the unknown and questions, I was able to write these songs, which came out during this quarantine season where most people are dealing with thoughts, questions, and the unknown. We’re all kind of saying to ourselves, ‘We don’t know what’s going to happen.’ But it’s okay to not know; that’s where faith comes in.” Th at’s a truth Colton knows fi rsthand. “At like seven or eight years old, I gave my life to the Lord. It wasn’t until I was thirteen, though, that I actually felt a calling on my life, and that was to do music,” Colton explains. But even in that moment of certainty, he had to trust God. During a piano recital, his music teacher decided that he should sing the song that he was supposed to play on the piano. “I was a nervous wreck—scared to death.” Yet, with sweaty palms and a rapid heartbeat, he walked up to a single microphone, swallowed hard, and sang “I Can Only Imagine” by Mercy Me. “I knew [at that moment] that’s what I was going to

“Fear creeps in, and it has a bunch of different shapes, sizes, and forms. But ultimately, we all know where it comes from: the enemy. But God, on the flip side, comes to give us life more abundantly.”

do with my life, but I didn’t know what it would look like.” He started pursuing opportunities, but once again, he came face to face with the t-word: trust. That was exactly what he did—for years—until American Idol tryouts came to his town.

“My sister really wanted to audition,” Colton emphasizes. So, his entire family went to show her their support. “I didn’t really know if I was going to sing or not,” he recalls. But he did. He made it to the Top 40. It was exciting and exhilarating and seemed like God’s perfect plan until he got cut from the show. “I thought, ‘Alright, that was fun. Time to move on to other things and see where this takes me.’” His sister wanted to audition again. Colton did not. But he agreed to support his sister. Then, things took a crazy turn, and before he knew it, Colton was auditioning for American Idol once again. Not only did he make the show but ended up in the show’s Top 10. “I made the live show and got to do the tour and all that fun stuff. That was the year that the doors opened,” he remembers. It was a very tangible reminder that God always has a plan.

“I signed a deal with a Christian record label. We made three records, and it was amazing. And then something crazy happened, which no artist ever expects,” he divulges. The American Idol deal came to a close, and he was dropped from the label. Shocked, stunned, and at a loss for words, Colton was once again forced to trust God in an unexpected desert season.

Uncertainty Is a Breeding Ground for God’s Next Move

“So, the label was like, ‘Things are going well, but it’s in our best interest to do something else,’” Colton continues. However, his wife, Annie, reminded him that uncertainty is often a breeding ground for God’s next move. She told him, “I know this seems like a setback, but what if this is actually God’s way of setting you up for what’s next?” So, they clung to their faith, hoping, waiting, and praying to God for clarity.

“Faith is the one thing that pleases God,” Colton stresses. “So, when we come with faith, God can’t help but bring the miracle. It’s almost like He’s waiting on us to come to Him with faith. Then, He’s like, ‘Alright, that’s the right attitude,’ and boom. But it’s not always immediate either.” Month after month went by as Colton waited for God to reveal what was next for him. Nothing happened. “It was like crickets,” Colton recounts. “We had already written ten songs or so for a new project and didn’t know what was going to happen.” But, once again, God proved himself to be faithful.

“A new record label came to the table, which exceeded all of our expectations” says Colton, referring to Atlantic, a label so mainstream that it forced him to step out of his comfort zone. However, “I knew it was right and had peace about it,” he affirms, explaining that it’s up to us to trust God when we’re waiting, expecting, and afraid.

Trust Makes our Faith Greater Than Our Fear

“Fear creeps in, and it has a bunch of different shapes, sizes, and forms. But ultimately, we all know where it comes from: the enemy,” Colton asserts, pointing out, “But God, on the flip side, comes to give us life more abundantly. So, when fear tries to creep in, [we] need to push that down and choose faith over fear, and we need to trust.” This is especially true for us as we live through a worldwide pandemic, conflict, looting, and racial tension. We’re surrounded by panic, fear, and anxiety, but trusting God makes our faith greater than our fears. “We formed this new normal, but there’s the fear

of Will the way we do whatever be the same? Will the way that we church ever be the same? Or, you know, touring, will that ever look the same? But it’s in those moments that we have an opportunity to choose faith over fear. So, no matter what season that you’re in, choose [true] faith over fear-based faith,” he encourages.

For Colton, trusting God has helped his music reach people who don’t typically listen to Christian music or go to church. “Th ose people still need hope and love. Even if they want nothing to do with God, God created them, and God is love. So, when you love people like that, and they accept it, they don’t even realize that they’re accepting a form of God.” Despite everything that’s happening in the world today, spreading God’s love, developing our faith, and modeling Christlikeness really is all that matters.

All that Matters

“God wants the best for His kids. He’ll open doors that no man can shut,” Colton testifi es. “We take a lot of God’s handiwork for granted and categorize [it] as coincidence. But no. Th at’s not it. God is at work for us every single day behind the scenes.” But we’ve got to trust Him, especially in the desert seasons. In 1 Kings 17:2-16, God sent ravens to feed Elijah. He supplied his needs. He’ll do the same for us even in times of great anxiety, worry, fear, and cultural tension. He will make a way in the desert, create a path in mighty waters, open up ways in the wilderness, and provide streams in the wasteland, as it says in Isaiah 43:16-19. But will we trust Him?

“God wants the best for His kids. He’ll open doors that no man can shut.”

Colton’s EP is about having hope in the midst of the unknown. As we cling to our faith in desert seasons, we must remember to focus on all that matters, which is the title of one of Colton’s songs. Th e lyrics read:

What would I live for

If I don’t have You in my life?

What would I gain

If You take the Holy Ghost?

What would become of me

If I didn’t see Your light?

What would have been said of me If You didn’t hold my hands? Now I’ve come to realize Th at You are all I have You’re all that matters.

Perhaps this is the message God’s trying to send us as we sit back wondering when things will return to normal. Maybe desert seasons are God’s way of reminding us that He—not our titles, possessions, accomplishments, or dreams—is all that matters.

We take a lot of God’s handiwork for granted and categorize [it] as coincidence. But no. That’s not it. God is at work for us every single day behind the scenes “ ” 12 goodlifemagazine.org

C EN TER O N C HRI S T . C HAN G ET HEW O RL D . O N - C A M P U S . O N L I N E . G RA D U A T E . D U A L E N RO L L M E N T . T F C . E D U

EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME

BY: DR. KIRK WALTERS

Have you ever wished you could be several places at one time? Maybe you double-booked appointments and had trouble choosing which one to keep and which one to cancel. Maybe your children had school functions at the same time, and you attempted to tread the murky waters of decision, knowing that the choice will please one child and haunt the other (or haunt you). Th is dilemma can cause much anxiety to us as humans, but what about God? Does He struggle with this issue, knowing that over 7.8 billion “                  people inhabit this Earth? Obviously, there must be some serious scheduling issues in Heaven. However, God never has a problem keeping up with His creation, especially those He calls children.                     Th ere is a strange theological position called                     omnipresence. Th is big                   word simply describes the attribute of God in that He is present everywhere at all times—not just present, but fully present. How is that possible? God is present by way of the Holy Spirit. Psalm 139:7-12 in the Message translation states: “Is there any place I can go to avoid your Spirit—to be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you’re there! If I go underground, you’re there! If I fl ew on morning’s wings to the far western horizon, you’d fi nd me in a minute—you’re already there waiting! Th en I said to myself, ‘Oh, he even sees me in the dark! At night I’m immersed in the light!’ It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to you; night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to you.” Th is is diffi cult for us to comprehend because of our human limitations, but God is not limited by our human reason or thought. God is not confi ned to our three-dimensional world. However challenging this may be to us, God’s omnipresence can be life-changing when we live with the knowledge that God is right here, right now, wherever we are. God is with us at home with our families, at school with our friends, and at work with our peers. God’s omnipresence gives us assurance that we will never face another life situation alone. His omnipresence literally fulfi lls the promise Jesus made in Matthew 28:20 when He said, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age,” and the promise in Hebrews 13:5 that declares God will “never leave us nor forsake us.” Maybe that’s why Jesus is called Immanuel, which means “God with us.” Maybe this is why one of God’s descriptive names in the Old Testament is Jehovah Shammah—“the Lord is there” (wherever you are!). Maybe God doesn’t have a problem keeping up with you and me because He’s everywhere—all the time.

Dr. Kirk Walters is the Senior Pastor of Mount Paran North Church in Marietta. He was raised on the Mississippi Gulf coast and comes from a four-generation legacy of ministers. He is married to his beautiful wife, Laura, and they have two wonderful children, Bradley and Lauren.