MARCH 2014 ISSUE 4 5 7 8 9 12 14 15 16 18
JESUS MUSIC FASHION: THE RECORD LABEL MATTHEW SCHWARTZ MUSIC SPOTLIGHT DANIELLE SMITH: SURRENDERING MY LIFE TO CHRIST FASHION BLOG: THREE FAVORITE NYFW COLLECTIONS CHARITY MAURER PHOTOGRAPHER SPOTLIGHT CHARITY MAURER PHOTO- SHOOT EDITORIAL ANGELIC OPINION: MEDIA & SEXUAL ASSAULTS ANGELIC EDITORIAL: MASKS & MIRRORS MICHELLE MOGHINA TESTIMONY JENNY TARAU PHOTO- SHOOT EDITORIAL
WWW.ANGELICMAG.COM
INFO@ANGELICMAG.COM
@ANGELICMAGAZINE
W
By Angelic Magazine
hen I was seventeen I said at the age of twenty seven I wanted to own a record label. I received two turntables that year and my affinity for all genres of music, beats, lyrics and creativity began to manifest. At the time, it wasn't obvious to me, but God was planting a seed in my heart. At twenty seven, ten years later, I recorded my first album; an electronic album utilizing electro, house and hip-hop influences with electronic voices rhyming God's word over the beats. I call it electronic Jesus music. Music labels wouldn't sign me. They told me my stuff didn't belong in the Christian world and rather than being discouraged, it encouraged me to do it myself, so I did. In the summer of 2013, a few months before the first print issue ofAngelic was released, my debut album debuted on Amazon, iTunes, Spotify and a host of other platforms. It didn't look like the way I pictured when I was seventeen, but ten years later, I had my record label. The name of my album is "I See My Dreams".
The next phase of Jesus. Music. Fashion is beginning: A fullfledged music record labe The vision is to sign and represent artists who have the unique ability to represent Christ with talent that explores both the Christian and non-Christian worlds. We're more than a religious label, we're a music label that will distribute music the entire world will be able to identify with. JMF LABEL: Jesus. Music. Fashion. Label. The concept is: Jesus, music and fashion isn't just a tagline, it's a lifestyle that we live. We are music and we are fashion. The JMF Label is a brand that will represent Christ along with Angelic Magazine. Together as a seamless team, Angelic and the JMF Label exist to proclaim Jesus across the globe The first artist signed to the JMF Label is singer/songwriter Matthew Schwartz. With our eyes on an album release for early 2015 and a record release party planned for Las Vegas, the excitement to distribute Schwartz's first album has begun. l.
.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MALLISA SCHWARTZ - LOCATION: DOWNTOWN PHOENIX
WITH VOCALS THAT ARE ONE OF A KIND AND A GIFTING TO PLAY THE PIANO, MATTHEW SCHWARTZ IS THE FIRST ARTIST SIGNED TO THE JMF LABEL WHY DO YOU CHOOSE JESUS?
Because he's taken the first step towards me. He pursued me. Me choosing Jesus was in response to Him choosing me. He's always made Himself very real to me.
IF YOU COULD ASK JESUS ONE QUESTION, WHAT WOULD IT BE ?
WHAT DO YOU INTEND TO ACCOMPLISH WITH MUSIC ?
What would you have me do in Truth. I want to record an album life? This question has haunted that speaks truth musically, me my whole life. I know He's in lyrically and vocally. Whatever me, what's my part in his will for God wants to do with my music, my life? it belongs to Him. I'm excited about recording the album. 5 ANGELICMAG.com
6 ANGELICMAG.com
HAVE YOU EVER FELT FATHER-LESS? DANIELLE SMITH SHARES HER STORY OF FINDING HER TRUE FATHER, GOD.
M y name is Danielle Smith and I was made in the eighties and now I have an amazing career as a hair
stylist at Influence “The Salon of Style” in Oceanside, CA. I am a lot of things but the best part of me is the Christ that is within me. I love doing hair and I love the relationships acquired in the process. I get the opportunity to “do life” with my guests and in turn they see what Jesus has done for me. I had a very unconventional upbringing as most of my life my mom has done foster care. I am the oldest of nine kids and have had over 200 “brothers and sisters”. I think it’s safe to say that I am now a “people person”. Growing up, I was raised in the church but at the age of nine everything changed. My dad had an affair, had a child and decided to replace our family with a new one. He just walked away as if we were nothing. For the first time I felt something I have never felt before, abandonement. My view on God had changed and walls went up fast as I lost sight of the kindness of Christ. At this point, my mom took a break doing foster care to focus on our family. It was hard for a few years with just my mom and my brothers. I remember when I was sixteen I was at my lowest and I cried out to God out of desperation; “God I can’t do this anymore reveal yourself to me”, wouldn’t you know, a classmate invited me to youth group the next day. I said no but the thing is, Jesus is in constant pursuit of us and will go above and beyond to grab hold of our heart and my friend wouldn’t let up until I agreed to go! WWW.INFLUENCE-SALON.COM
OCEANSIDE, CA
I eventually surrendered my life to Christ (at a youth convention) and have never looked back. I have been a Christian for over 10 years and I love Jesus with all of my being. He loves us in the mist of our mess. When I gave my life to Christ I remember reading Psalms 27:10 “Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close”. My dad is not in my life still to this day. It’s crazy how you can carry around hurt without evening knowing it’s there. For years I have never dealt with the affect my dad has had on my life. And the Lord has used Influence and the people I work with to face my hurt and surrender them to God and to truly forgive my dad (that was huge). I never thought starting at Influence Salon would be so life changing. It’s what I call a “God Shot”. At the end of the day I want to live my life in a way that honors God and I strive to live out Romans 12:10-13 “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” I also don’t mind making the world a little prettier one head at a time!
PICTURED: DANIELLE AND THE OWNER OF INFLUENCE SALON, JUSTIN JACHURA.
J
ust when we are itching for springtime florals and flirty spring dresses, New York Fashion Week comes along and makes us pine for layers, winter whites, and cozy sweaters all over again. The Fall 2014 New York Fashion Week collections showed us exactly what we wanted to see—Karlie Kloss in Oscar de la Renta, fabulous deep side parts, and chic boots. With hundreds of amazing looks showing on the NYC runways, it would take weeks to tell you about them all, so, we have narrowed it down to our three favorite collections.
BCBG Max Azria served up a bevy of color-blocked dresses and ponchos for a modern seventies feel.
Ralph Lauren displayed a
PHOTOS VIA STYLE.COM
beautiful palette of wintry whites, sophisticated greys, and soft blushes that took our breath away.
Oscar de la Renta reminded us just how red-hot
his designs are, offering up everything from tailored pinstripes to uber feminine florals.
And we can’t forget the fabulous knee-high boots, and those oh-so-chic side parts!
We must say that we are big fans of the poncho and kneehigh boot trend that seems to be emerging for fall. Karlie Kloss stole the show in this whimsical
polka dot gown—seriously, who doesn’t love polka dots, ruffles, and Karlie Kloss? 8 ANGELICMAG.com
1. Why do you choose Jesus? When I look around the world, I’m overwhelmed by the brokenness. Something about this place just isn’t the way it’s supposed to be; we feel it in death, the dissension in our families, and in global disasters such as the storms that have just hit our nation this year. I have found a hope in Jesus Christ that one day all things, including the failings and brokenness in me, will be made right. I choose Jesus because no where else can I find a promise so secure and hopeful than in Him in the midst of a crazy world. 2. How does God influence you as a photographer? God is wondrously creative—I see it every day as I look at this meticulous earth and His crowning act of creation, mankind. God’s creative character inspires and intrigues me! Seeing God’s careful attention in creating and fashioning each individual person, I’m encouraged to look at the people I get to photograph as having immense value and purpose. The fact that I get to capture a piece of who they are and celebrate that with a camera is truly incredible. 3. What are your feelings on modesty in fashion? Modesty when it comes to fashion is a tough one. I’d have to admit that I probably don’t always get it right. It’s a struggle to be a girl, have a drive to be desirable and beautiful, and to be faced with a world and industry that tells you that beauty is found in, ironically, unclothing your body. With that said, I would totally agree that it is completely possible to be fashionable and modest--it just takes discretion. And let me just
4. What are your goals as a photographer? My goal as a photographer is to show the beauty in the simple, the every day, and the mundane. It's to show the value and purpose in individual people. It's to bring together so many different elements to tell a complete story. Being a one-tract minded person, whatever I put my mind to is something to be done with excellence. Creating work that is quality, purposeful, and inspiring is always a priority to me. 5. How would you communicate Jesus isn't scary? I think this question points back to the first. This world is broken. Frankly, this world scares me. But in Jesus, we have this profound gift: that though God offered us a perfect world and relationship with Him, that though we rejected that and turned to our own way, He still provided a hope and a way for us to know and be saved by Him. Jesus isn’t scary—no, a world without Jesus is scary. Jesus promises grace, hope, security, and, ultimately, Himself. And what do you have to do to get it? Humble yourself before Him and admit your brokenness. That’s it! Incredible.
10 ANGELICMAG.com
MODEL: LINDSAY PETERSON MAKEUP: ARIELLE RONDEAU HAIR: CHELSEA RESTO WARDROBE : ALEXANDRA EVJEN BOUTIQUE : FRANCES VINTAGE
13 ANGELICMAG.com
O
By Angelic Magazine n December 16th, 2012 a young Indian woman was savagely attacked and raped in New Delhi. Five men held her down, raped her at the back of a bus and the police report stated the men were out for a “joyride.” She was dumped on the side of the road naked and bleeding. The woman was so violently raped by the five men that she died in the hospital two weeks later on December 29th. She was only twenty three years old. In the aftermath of her assault, India Real Time, a leading newspaper in India conducted a study. They asked Indian men what they felt prompted a man to sexually assault a woman? The three highest percentage of answers included: 34% blamed gaps on policing and law enforcement, 33% said lack of respect for women and 26% blamed western influences such as revealing clothing. Western influences, our culture, was one of the highest reasons to be blamed for rape, so this leads us to ask the question, does our culture really play a role in prompting sexual assaults? According to rainn.org (Rape Abuse Incest National Network) every 2 minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted. Think about that. In the time you’ve spent reading this so far, somebody, somewhere, someone innocent was assaulted for the rest of their life. Sexual assaults didn’t just start happening once America came into prominence though. In the book of Genesis, God sent two angels in the form of men into the city of Sodom and Gomorrah. The angels were to observe the wickedness of what was occurring in the city. God revealed, unless 10 righteous people were to be found within the city, He was going to destroy Sodom because of the evil ways of the people. A hostile mob surrounded the house of where the angels were and demanded “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can
have sex with them.” Genesis 19:5 In the Holy Bible, the desire for sex, the documentation of an attempted sexual assault was noted. So what does this mean? Since the beginning of time people have craved sex and some will use sexual assault as their means to get it. Think about the bikini pictures people post of themselves on Facebook and Instagram, the beer or chip commercials we see on TV where half naked women are selling the product, cologne commercials where the models are hot and steamy for one another, and the pictures on the covers of magazines. Usually, an attractive woman is teasing the audience with her skin, her figure, her lips and her gaze is the center of attention. It’s sexually suggestive. Sex sells. Sexual imagery gets your attention. Sexual imagery evokes thoughts about sex. So if we know people want sex and sexual imagery promotes thoughts about sex and we know that every two minutes in America someone is sexually assaulted, why do we continue to exploit sex in our media? The human body is beautiful. Sex is natural. But God created sex between a man and a woman for marriage as a way to express love for one another and to procreate. Not for pornography, not for advertisements, not for sexual assaults, not for human trafficking. Perhaps western influence, our culture, does play a role in sexual assaults. The role it plays is in the barrage of sexual imagery it promotes in everything we see. However, women are never to be blamed for being assaulted because of their clothing selection or because of an advertisement a person sees. The person doing the assault is to be blamed for their action of wickedness. In an ideal world, we’d promote the goodness of fashion, the purity of sex in marriage and the word of God. Imagine how things would be different if we did?
I
By Angelic Editor used to think the Christians had life figured out. But then I got exposed to them and realized they’re just as twisted as everyone else in the world. I find that I like people better in person than I do on social media. The person always spilling their business on posts. The person always talking about how amazing their life is. The guy who thinks he’s the second coming of John the baptist who’s always preaching his wit and people commenting on how amazing he is. The girl posting pics of her outfit everyday so everyone can tell her how fashionable she is. The person who lets everyone know they’re at the gym. I like people better in person. But I still really don’t know them. We wear so many masks and hold up so many mirrors that most people in life never get to know or see the real us. I’ll include myself in this. They know us by a perception of who we want people to believe we are. It’s not real life. It’s a mask. Over the last few years I’ve crossed paths with many people who identify themselves as Jesus followers and of every single one of those people, including
myself, we’re all messed up in one way or another. Like really messed up. Backstabbers, gloomy depressed people, liars, deceivers, fake people, egotistical, pride driven, jealousy filled, status seeking, insecure, lust filled, money motivated, power driven, sexually immoral, drunks, drug addicted, seducers. The list goes on. But in life we’re taught to put on our best face. A mask. When people see us, the reflection of the mirror we present should be perfection. A mirror isn’t us though, it’s the illusion we want our eyes and others to see. I have a point with this article. I identify myself as a Jesus follower as do so many others and Christ is supposed to be seen through us but we wear masks. An illusion, not reality. Our mask is our costume for the act we play and if it’s all masks and mirrors, we’re frauds. I’ve found that the loudest person in the room is usually the person with the biggest void to fill. The annoying person on Facebook, the one seeking attention is usually the most insecure and the one who’s hurting the most. I don’t say this to put anybody down, I say this because what if we let people know we’re imperfect, we’re flawed, we’re human, we need help? The masks wouldn’t exist. The perception that to follow Jesus means you have to paint a mirror of perfection would disappear.
What I’ve learned by reading the Bible is that God knows we’re not perfect. We can’t trick Him or paint an illusion to Him like we do to everyone else. He sees through us. He doesn’t want people who think they’re righteous without Him. That is something I’ve been guilty of. He wants people who seek Him, who realize they need Him. In Matthew 9:13 Jesus says, “I have not come to call those who think they are righteous, but sinners who know they need to repent.” Today, I’m taking off my masks. Allowing my reflection in the mirror to be real, not an illusion. I don’t want to be an actor. I’m imperfect. I’m selfish. I’m envious. I’m egotistical. I’m jealous. I’m wicked. I’m a sinner. I am loved. I am forgiven. I am redeemed. I need Jesus. 1 Timothy 1:15 “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the worst.” 15 ANGELICMAG.com
A
s far back as I can remember I’ve always had two dreams for my life: to someday be a mommy and to own a library akin to Beast’s in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast”. I grew up in a loving Christ centered home filled with joy, laughter, stories, and books. I love my family and my childhood and I’ve always wanted to recreate that within my own family someday. In 1999 I met a young man at a Christian conference. He was a kind man who loved the Lord with all his heart. It didn’t hurt that he was also very good looking. Two years later I married him. While married I finished college and graduated with a degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in History and English Literature. By all accounts life was great. I had a happy marriage, a good job teaching junior high and many travel adventures. But there was one key component missing in our lives.
We lacked children. Infertility is too often a taboo subject. It isolates and creates shame. It’s an exclusive club that no one wants to be a part of. No invitation is required to join this club and we wander about bewildered as to why exactly we have been chosen. We put on a brave happy face when our friends have their second or third child and when everyone wants to know why we haven’t started a family yet. Those who struggle through it feel alone, abandoned and broken. Prayer and tears are constant companions. I empathized with all the barren women of the Bible and would often find myself on my knees crying out to my Lord like Hannah did. The emotional cycle of infertility took a toll on both my husband and myself. Month after month we’d experience hope, expectation, sadness
and despair. Months turned into years and while our lives settled in a routine, infertility was still our constant companion. Ten years passed before we seriously considered adoption. I was much more hesitant than my husband because I was terrified of being hurt. We prayed and felt led to open up our home to foster children in the hope that someday we’d be able to adopt one or more of these children. While I’m now convinced that God had this planned for our lives, I admit that at the beginning of this journey I had numerous fears and doubts. We anxiously awaited the phone call for placement. When it finally arrived we were asked to take in a 2.5 months old baby girl and her 2.5 years old brother. We said yes and in one swoop became instant parents to a baby and a toddler. We were elated. This is what we wanted and longed for year after year. But instant parenting hit us like a ton of bricks. Once again we turned our faces towards heaven and asked the Lord if this was really what he had planned for us. It was hard. Eventually everything fell into place and we could clearly see the hand of God at work in our family. Less than a year later Joey and Becca became our forever children when we adopted them. They have blessed us in unimaginable ways. They have brought laughter and sunshine into our family. Six months after finalizing their adoption we received a phone call informing us that a half brother had just been born and their birth mother wanted us to adopt him as well. Of course we said yes and Jacob, our perpetually happy baby, joined our growing family. We are forever grateful that their birth mother chose life and that we have been given the privilege to love and raise them. Our prayer is that they grow up to be happy adults who love the Lord with all of their being. Not everyone may be called to foster or adopt but we are all called to “act justly and to love mercy”. Micah 6:8. We can all pray for these children that are in foster care, their biological families, and all the foster/adoptive families. Currently in Arizona there are almost 15,000 children in care. There are not enough homes so some babies and children sleep in CPS offices or are put in shelters. Pray that more families open up their homes to those children in need. Every child deserves to grow up loved and happy. My dream of becoming a mommy has finally come true. Throughout my heartache and struggle with infertility God has sustained me. His plan is perfect even
even if I didn’t always believe that. His timing is always perfect. While I would’ve never imagined this journey, I thank God that He has granted me the privilege to call myself the mother of three precious children: Joseph, Rebecca and Jacob. As for my second dream; I have yet to acquire a library like Beast’s but I’m working on it.
"Throughout my heartache and struggle with infertility God has sustained me. His plan is perfect even if I didn’t always believe that."