JESUS.
MUSIC.
FASHION.
ANGELIC OCTOBER 201 6
@ANGELICMAGAZINE
ANGELIC OCTOBER 2ù16
JESUS. MUSIC. FASHION.
OUR STORY MAGAZINE IS A MONTHLY PRINT AND DIGITAL PUBLICATION THAT BLENDS MUSIC, FASHION AND THE REAL STORIES OF PEOPLE SEEKING TO LIVE FOR JESUS. WE BEGAN IN SEPTEMBER OF 2013 FEATURING CONTENT SOLEY FROM THE SOUTHWEST OF THE UNITED STATES AND SINCE OUR BEGINNING, WE'VE SPREAD TO NOW FEATURE EDITORIAL CONTENT FROM THE PACIFIC TO THE ATLANTIC, AND BEYOND. WE HAVE READERS ABROAD COMING FROM PARTS OF EUROPE, SOUTH AMERICA, ASIA AND AUSTRALIA. ANGELIC HAS A MAGAZINE NAME BUT WE ARE A MINISTRY FOCUSED ON FEARLESSLY PROCLAIMING JESUS. WE SPOTLIGHT MUSICIANS AND BANDS WHO HEARTS STRIVE TO BEAT WITH HIS. WE FEATURE FASHION PHOTO-SHOOTS WITH PHOTOGRAPHER'S, STYLISTS AND MODELS WHO DESIRE TO PROFRESS THEIR FAITH IN HIM. OUR ARTICLES ARE GUIDED BY THE BIBLE. WE HIGHLIGHT ORGANIZATIONS AND MINISTRIES WHO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH. THE TESTIMONIES WRITTEN ARE FILLED WITH WORDS OF REDEMPTION AND GRACE. WE DESIRE TO STEP INTO THE WORLD AND BRING THE WORLD BACK TO JESUS. WE ARE NOT A RELIGIOUS MAGAZINE. WE STAND FOR JESUS.
A
NGELIC
WWW.ANGELICMAG.COM
JESUS. MUSIC. FASHION.
2 TIMOTHY 4:17 "THE LORD STOOD AT MY SIDE AND GAVE ME STRENGTH, SO THAT THROUGH ME THE MESSAGE MIGHT BE FULLY PROCLAIMED"
register to vote in the presidential election www.rockthevote.com
UNITE P
THE CO
UNITING PHOENIX
band l
MATT AND MIS TAYLOR A FOSTE CATIE
JESSE A
JOSH CA
tickets on sale now ANGELICMAG
.COM/UNITEPHOENIX $10
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH THIRD STREET THEATER DOWNTOWN PHOENIX 7PM10PM
HOENIX
ONCERT
X IN JES US ' NAME
lineup
SSY SCHWARTZ NDERSON RSON SPADE
ANAYA
ABALLES
BE A PART OF THIS AMAZING NIGHT
PRAYER REQUESTS
we want to pray for you
submit your prayer requests
MATTHEW 18:20"where 2 or 3
u.
s to angelicmag.com/prayer
gather in my name, there i am with them."
we want to gather in his name for you.
ANGELIC
Bree Marie PHOTOGRAPHER
WWW
.
WWW
.
FO BREEMA FO BREEMA
R R R R
BO IEP BO IEP
OK HO OK HO
INGS TOGRAPHY INGS TOGRAPHY
.ORG .ORG
T V G
T H E
V I N T A G E
G U I T A R S
ORDER THIS ISSUE IN PRINT
5TH & GET 1 5% OFF C O D E : JESUSMUSICFASHION A T C H E C K O U T
BEFORE OCTOBER ENTER
SHOP ONLINE
:
THEVINTAGEGUITARS
.COM
FOR BOOKINGS
WWW
.BREEMARIEPHOTOGRAPHY.ORG
ORDER THIS ISSUE IN PRINT
SPECIAL SALE ORDER THIS ISSUE IN PRINT
5TH & GET 1 5% OFF C O D E : JESUSMUSICFASHION A T C H E C K O U T
BEFORE OCTOBER ENTER
WWW.ANGELICMAG.COM/THEMAG ORDER SINGLE ISSUES OR SUBSCRIBE YEARLY
OUR STORY
REACH OUR CONNECT YOUR BUSINESS WITH OUR C OAST TO C OAST AUDIE NC E , AND GROW
READERS WWW.ANGELICMAG.COM
/ADVERTISE
EDITOR LETTER LET'S UNITE
N ext month (November) we are putting on our first ever UNITE concert in Phoenix, AZ, the city where our mag first originated.
The concept is, let's bring together the community, ministries from the city and let's come together in Jesus' name with music in His name from musicians in the city unfied for one purpose. Let's forget about our individual names, our ministry titles, our brands and let's put Jesus first. Let's Unite in Jesus' name, not for a 1 night concert but so we can build relationships so that our city can be United, so that your city can be United. Picture it, cities all across America are working together and are linking arms for Jesus Christ. This is our purpose, this is our goal. If you are from Phoenix, come to the concert next month. And if you're not, we may be coming to your city. In the early part of 2017 we are working on putting on two new Unite concerts in 2 new cities. One on the west coast and one in the South. More details will be coming soon. As a reader of Angelic you are a part of us. We don't create magazines just for the sake of it, we create it for Jesus and for you. It is our goal to build a friendship with you because Jesus has not asked us to do life alone but to do it together. Know that this issue, events we do, anything we do, is done in the name of Jesus so that we can build a relationship with you. Let's unite.
--
Jesse Anaya
Devotional W . E ARE NOT MEANT TO DO THIS ALONE B Y EMILY S ENFF - @EMSENFF
One glance at Hebrews 11 and I am both inspired and intimidated all at the same time. As I read through each hero of faith and their story, I am more and more in awe of how powerful and faithful our God is. I also wonder more and more about why He chooses to use us to show his power and faithfulness. Despite my questions, He does this time and time again. God uses the stories of others to inspire us, and Hebrews 11 is the Faith Hall of Fame. So how did these people get there? How did Jacob and Rahab and Enoch and the countless others replace their fear and incompetency with calling and courage? Faith. Why is this so difficult for us to grasp at times? Because where perseverance is lacking, stories of faith are often silent and distant. Before you read Hebrews 11, take a look back at Hebrews 10 for a call to persevere. If stories of faith seem like an insurmountable mountain and you aren’t sure where to even start, start here. let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and a full assurance offaith (10:21) let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful (10:23) let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds (10:24)
We are not meant to do this alone. While it seems so simple, we can forget these things when fear has a grip on our hearts and discouragement is shouting in our ears. Our faith does not work in isolation; it falls on the shoulders of the Almighty God. What holds us back from living out of a posture of faith? If faith is being sure of what we hope for, what are we hoping for and why are we so unsure? If it is being certain of what we do not see, what are we uncertain of? What do we want to see? Let your sincere heart draw you to God. Hold on as tight as you can to the hope that He brings. Encourage and love those around you. God has incredible things in store for you as you discover this kind of faith.
Ever After PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMILY FRAZIER MODELS
:
BRIAN AND ELLIE LANDRY
LOCATION
:
ALEXANDRIA
,
VA
E M I L Y F /R A Z I E R / , PHOTOGRAPHER
MEMPHIS TN
It begins with a little girl dancing barefoot in the streets. She is holding hands with a bride swinging side to side. The music
is ringing through every window of every apartment around them. Lights are strung from balcony to balcony. Spirits are high, and the food is generous. That little girl was me. My story starts in a city named Izmir. Residing on the coast of the Mediterranean, I grew up playing with gypsy kids, walking brick roads, and eating fresh vegetables. The sea air was as familiar to my lungs as the sound of seagulls to my ears. Though many told me my country was far from Christ, I can’t remember a day I didn’t know His name. He was everything to my mom and dad, and they made that clear every day. It’s hard for me to believe I didn’t see how empty my heart was until I was twelve. Though our mornings were filled with Chris Rice lyrics and my dad reading Bible stories and proverbs to us, the truth stung my heart on a summer evening at a mosquito-rich bungalow campground. In a thick German accent, one of our counselors was displaying how small this life is next to eternity. That day we had watched him unravel a rope from the camp meeting area, over a road, a mile down the beach, into the water, and all the way past where any of us could see the bottom of the sea. I was sitting on a wicker mat surrounded by kids from around the world all waiting to hear the purpose of his endeavors. He took the rope in hand and pointed out the very edge which was taped about an inch. “This little part of the rope is our life here. The rest of the rope is eternity.” I’ve wrestled with knowing when I had “the moment.” The moment I asked Jesus into my heart. The moment I felt the spirit in me. However, I know for a fact, that analogy is etched in my memory. The entire evening was surreal. It was one of the shortest teachings I have heard, but nothing has pierced me to the core like that. The night closed with voices lifted high, baptisms in the Mediterranean, and worshipful acoustics. The coast breeze was making its way through the bungalows around us as we prayed for hearts to be changed, beautiful fellowship, and safety over all of us and our families. Going home after those two weeks, I felt different. I had a passion and desire that had never been there before. The Lord had stirred me, and my journey began. Since then, I have felt passionate about the pursuit of life and The Lord’s will. To live this life with an eternal perspective. My parents always told me people were the most important part of the world. To have community and fellowship. To pursue individuals. Pour into relationships. To not let material things get in the way of friendship, story telling, and heart to heart conversations. Souls are eternal.
I moved to America at age fourteen, and the Lord provided one of the most incredible opportunities for me to love, serve, and know people. It started with one couple who offered to let me shoot their wedding. They assured me if I failed completely it was okay. All they wanted were a couple of photos of the day. I cannot thank Alex and Mary Grace enough for the chance they took on the little girl with the little camera who took pictures of her friends and flowers. That wedding launched me into the world of professional photography. I have been able to love and capture couples on their wedding days for two years now. The ability to come alongside them as they experience one of the richest seasons of their lives is undeniably the greatest part of my job. On the wedding day, I get to stand next to them every step of the way. I have prayed over nervous brides, driven couples to their receptions, and cried happy tears with them after the wedding. My passion to cherish every story has taken flight, and I never want to lose sight of the reason the Lord has given me this work. I never want to stop being a friend first. When couples look back through the galleries I deliver, I want the photos to spark memories. The way they felt. The way he held her moments after “I do”. That look she gave him as they joined hands on the dance floor. I always encourage my couples to build their day out of moments that will be meaningful, not just out of seemingly obligatory wedding traditions. During portraits, I try to prompt laughter, stories, and authentic touch. It’s the images that reflect their story, their love, and their marriage that I strive to capture. I want them to praise God for that day, and to walk away knowing a love like Christ through me and each other. I know that a huge part of my love for what I do sparks from watching my parents. When they said their vows, they knew, before God and witnesses, they were committing to every word. Like the rings they placed on their fingers, their love would not end. They were young, but eyes set on living a Christ filled life. I know living in a host country 6,000 miles from their family and roots meant leaning on each other to point back to God more than ever. They raised my sister and I displaying a selfless love. My parents act on their love; they don’t just use sappy words. Cliches aren’t their thing, nor are roses, but to know a love as they have is all I could ever pray for my couples. They have fought for where they are, have been through thick and thin, and are more in love than ever. This month the Lord has constantly been reminding me “It's about the marriage, not the wedding.” In the midst of florals and color schemes, it is so easy to lose sight of the purpose of your wedding. Even as that little girl dancing and celebrating in the streets of Izmir with the bride and groom, I saw the perfect wedding as the ideal and end goal. I have grown to a place where I stress to each couple I work for, “No matter what, you are getting married today.” Because honestly, the caterer may fall through, your dress might get dirty, and yes, it could even rain, but this day, no matter what, you two are joining hands and promising each other your today and tomorrow forever.
Bold faith
Courageous
ANGELICDATING
why do christians get married so quickly? "WAITING TO BE WITH MY HUSBAND PHYSICALLY IS A DECISION I WILL NEVER REGRET."
I
BY LAUREN PRATHER - @THESTYLISTLAUREN ’ve heard this question debated many times. My husband and I dated for year, engaged for six
months, then married. That’s pretty quick. Especially considering when we were two weeks in to our relationship we had a conversation that declared we knew we wanted to marry to each other and ended with him saying, “Well, I guess we should date for about a year to make it seem legitimate to other people.” So what is it that makes followers of Christ so apt to walk down the aisle? The most popular hypothesis points to it being that we don’t have pre-marital sex. We seem to live in a society that makes you believe it is impossible to have a healthy, functioning relationship without sex being a major part of it, if not the major part of it. Dating in this day and age is usually with an end goal of sex, rather than a relationship. Or even sex first, then trying to make a relationship out of it later. I myself spent the majority of my dating years with an unhealthy view on what defined a “healthy relationship.” Intentionally putting myself in the worst of the worst situations all the while daring it to work out. Somehow betting on a plot twist that we would have happy ever after. It wasn’t until I had a relationship with Christ and Him alone that I learned how to really pursue a partner in my life. After living out so many bad experiences, often times you expect your partner to live up to the mistakes that other people in your life have made. This also causes you to keep your expectations low as to not get disappointed….again. Jesus doesn’t do that. Being in a relationship with Him is being in a relationship in which the other person will never fall short of your expectations, only exceed them. He will never make you relive past pain and He will not hold your past mistakes against you. Once I established my relationship with Jesus, He redefined my definition of a healthy relationship and showed me why I was worthy of nothing less. The deepest secret that I never admitted, even to myself, is that I never thought myself worthy. I never thought I deserved better. I chased after broken because I was broken. I valued the worthless because that was how I felt. I chased after physical relations because I thought it somehow bonded the relationship with value. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says… “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” He will provide a way of escape. He has given you ability to overcome any temptation. He will show you that you are worthy, and you are able to wait no matter your past circumstances. Waiting to be with my husband physically is a decision I will never regret. While difficult, it certainly was not impossible. If I had continued to date the way the world thought was acceptable there is no way that I would have ended up with the amazing gift that is my husband. When you get married quickly your motives are questioned and your love is questioned. In reality it is between no one but husband, wife, and God regardless of how long it takes you to walk down the aisle.
I
ALL LIVES MATTER, AND DOGS TOO
THEY HAVE NO VOICE AND IF WE DO NOT SPEAK FOR THEM, IF WE DO NOT PROTECT AND CARE FOR THEM, WE WILL LOSE THEM. BY KAREN HIGUERA
do not think anyone would be shocked to learn that violence is on the rise. September 7, 2016, CNN reported that the killings in Chicago hit a 20 year high. CNN gave a comparison that 6,888 Americans died in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and 7,916 people have been killed in Chicago since 2001. The numbers seem staggering when compared. People have voluntarily killed each other in their own city, just one city in the US, more than soldiers have died fighting a war. There is plenty of research to show that most people will not jump in to help someone being murdered. One less gory example I am sure you have heard of is the study in which participants gave a fake electric jolt to a participant in another room. There was fake screaming and the participants were not actually delivering the electric jolt although they believed they were and they continued to give the jolt as they were instructed to even knowing they could potentially be killing someone. This is definitely a trait we need to work to overcome. Albert Einstein is credited with a very powerful quote, “The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.” This human on human violence we discuss often is getting out of control and many of us actively pray and work diligently to spread a message of love instead of hate. We cannot say we are doing enough by simply trying to be good people, we have to take action to eliminate the evil we see and counteract it with good. But murder is not the only way that people die. If you check your insurance policy, you will likely see that “acts of God” are not covered. Yep, they are actually legally called that. It is a term of art if you will that pertains to things such as floods, earthquakes, etcetera. On August 24, 2016, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake crushed Amatrice, Italy, leveling more than half the city and killing hundreds of people. The quake devastated the town and many lives and homes were lost. Rescuers scoured the location trying desperately to save anyone they could. Nine days later, while still looking for survivors, rescuers found a dog, Romeo, alive under all the rubble. The dog was reunited
ANGELICSOCIETY with his family and what a beautiful reunion it was. Miracle? God’s work? Most definitely. Even more unbelievable? A cat named Pietro was saved after 16 days buried in rubble. A natural disaster like this changes lives. It changes the world and brings people together. We always think of people, only people, dying. We strive to eradicate violence and try to work through our issues with love and understanding but we cannot forget about our animal friends. They have no voice and if we do not speak for them, if we do not protect and care for them, we will lose them. Human or not God cares about all His children. Animals are His children as much as we are. He put us together on this Earth. In the flood, Noah was instructed to take 2 of every animal. Can you imagine? Only a handful of people were worthy of being saved but every animal was worthy. There were many more animals saved than humans. Animals can teach us love, compassion, loyalty, friendship and any other positive attribute you would like to improve in your life. We are learning more and more about animals every day (did you see the new findings when researchers took MRIs of dog brains?!). Each and every animal is vitally important just as is each and every human. Do not forget about them as God did not forget about them. There are rescue agencies and animal sanctuaries all around the country that could use an extra set of helping hands. Each step we take is important. Animals are living, breathing, thinking, sentient beings created by God. He would not cast them aside as insignificant or unimportant. He made it a point to save them as should we. We cannot hide from the world and hope things will change. We cannot condone animal abuse or neglect. We must step up. We must be the voice for those that are voiceless. I leave you with the words of arguably the most famous doctor – Doctor Seuss. “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
Eternity PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSICA SULLIVAN LOCATION
:
O
'AHU,
HAWAII
Jessica Sullivan
PHOTOGRAPHER// O' AHU, HI
W
hen I was growing up, I didn’t know God. It wasn’t until I was about 12 when I first recognized His presence in my life. My cousin took me to church with her while I was visiting in California. I had only attended church a few times in my life before then and never thought too much about Jesus. As a child I said my “now you lay me down to sleep” prayers with my mom but that was the extent of my knowledge of God: that He kept me safe while I slept. Now, I don’t even remember what the message was in church that day, but what I do remember is feeling overwhelmed with the presence of God, something I had never felt before. I stood there during worship crying like I had never cried before and I couldn’t stop. My cousin hugged me and cried with me. I didn’t know what I was feeling, but I knew I wanted more of it. At the end of the service, the pastor encouraged everyone to come back for the night service. When we got home, I asked if we could go back, and we did. As soon as the worship band started playing, the feeling came back. All I could do was put my hands up and cry uncontrollably. From that moment on I have had a hunger for the Lord. When I got home from that trip and for a few years after, I was in no way anywhere close to surrendering my heart to God. I was lost, but I didn’t know it. However, I was still always looking for that feeling. I felt it again when I was baptized. I felt new, but even then, I thought, “I don’t do enough good, so there’s no way I’m good enough to give my heart up to God.” Throughout those years, there were short moments like the one in church that day where I could feel Him drawing me in closer, but I never took the time to pause life and listen to Him. I wanted to know God, but never enough to pick up a bible. I wouldn’t say there was one defining moment where I let Him in, because it just happened over time. My hunger grew as I did and as I learned more about
Jesus and our salvation. How incredible is it that despite what I’ve done or haven’t done, and for all my life, He was always right there working with me and waiting patiently for me to realize His goodness? He was after my heart the whole time, and in His timing alone, I would surrender. Today, my hunger for the Lord persists in everything I do. I crave to know His word, share my love for Him in community, and do my best to emulate the spirit of Christ with every person I meet through conversation and fellowship. I take chances in life because I know that He is always on my side. I seize every single opportunity that He lays at my feet with faith in His plan and a willingness to please Him. With every goal I never thought I could reach, I went for it knowing that if it didn’t work out, God had something better in store for me. I urge every young artist to jump at every opportunity that God gives you without fear of rejection. It’s impossible to please everyone, but as long as you please God with the work you do, you have nothing else to worry about. My journey to surrender, because it was how God intended it, was absolutely perfect. The journey that follows is one that has been and will continue to be filled with the highs and lows of life, but it is one I am willing to jump into fearlessly, with Him establishing my steps now into eternity.
ANGELICOPINION
I
EDITORIAL: DONALD OR
ANGELIC MAGAZINE EDITOR SHARES HIS OP VOTE FOR IN THE UPCOMING NOVE
BY JESSE ANAYA
visited Lexington, Kentucky for the first time a year ago and my friend was driving me through the Lexington countryside, showing me her city. The beauty of the lush greenery of Lexington and the pristinely landscaped horse farms were unlike anything I had ever seen before. My roots were originated in California but my Southern imagination was fully captured. As we drove through the rolling backroads of Lexington she told me the building we were about to pass on the right is where people go to vote. Confidently, she proceeded to tell me she was republican. Christian. Southern. Republican.
You hear the stereotype that Christians are conservative and conservatives are more often than not republican. In my experience, Christians aren’t keen on being the black sheep of the flock. Perhaps I’m generalizing but Christians have the tendency to feel the need to blend in. Christian. Conservative. Republican.
So, I find myself in a bit of a Christian dilemma as the upcoming presidential election approaches. I want to use my voice and vote, but I am not certain for who I should vote for. The mere thought that Donald Trump may be the next president of the United States seems like a weird oxymoron type of dream you can’t wake up from. And as a Christian, the notion that Hillary Clinton who supports gay marriage and whose stance on support of abortion gives me apprehensive pause to push my vote button in support of her. “I think abortion should remain legal, but it needs to be safe and rare. And I have spent many years now, as a private citizen, as first lady, and now as senator, trying to make it rare, trying to create the conditions where women had other choices. I have supported adoption, foster care. I helped to create the campaign against teenage pregnancy, which fulfilled (the goal) of reducing teenage pregnancies by about a third.” -- Hillary Clinton I lean to agree more with Donald Trump’s stance on abortion: “I am opposed to abortion except for rape, incest and life of the mother” but am confused with his stance on gay marriage: “Same-sex marriage is an issue that should have been decided by the states.” – Donald Trump He’s not directly stating his personal stance. I ask myself, are gay marriage and abortion the only 2 factors I am holding onto in making my decision for who I should vote for to be the next president of the United States or should I weigh the bigger picture and take into consideration the whole sum of each candidate? “They're bringing drugs, they're bringing crime, they're rapists,” Trump said of undocumented Mexican immigrants. My late great grandfather on my mother’s side was an undocumented Mexican immigrant. My father was born in Mexico and crossed the border legally as a child with his family in the early 1960s. I am a
: TO VOTE FOR R HILLARY?
PINION FOR HOW HE DECIDED WHO HE' LL EMBER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
" DO I FOLLOW THE PATH OF THE TRADITIONAL CONSERVATIVE C HRISTIAN AND BY DEFAULT VOTE FOR D ONALD TRUMP BECAUSE HE IS THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE ? O R DO I VOTE FOR HILLARY C LINTON WHOSE STANCES ON CERTAIN PERSONAL ISSUES DIFFER THAN MY OWN?" byproduct of Mexican immigrants and no one in my family is a drug dealer or a criminal or a rapist. Angelic Magazine, the very magazine you are reading now was created by the son of Mexican immigrants. Inwardly, I wonder which candidate would be willing to personally help me if I was in need? If I was dying and needed a doctor, who would go out of their way to make sure I wouldn’t die? If I was hungry and had no food, who would spare me a piece of bread off of their plate to eat? In my heart I cannot picture Donald Trump sitting at my bedside if I was ill and I cannot see him giving me a piece of bread or sharing anything with me unless he had something to gain from it. His business acumen on the surface appears to be a refined skill but how he treats people isn’t. How he talks about women is disrespectful and demeaning. How he isolates all Muslims as terrorists is wrong and hurtful. He speaks about supporting the troops but the revelation that he doesn’t pay federal taxes during the first presidential debate between himself and Hillary Clinton on national television show his actions are much different than his words. ‘Make America Great Again’ is his campaign slogan but his behavior and actions hurt Americans. I did some research and found a transcript from a Compassion Forum that featured Hillary Clinton speaking about her faith. “You know, I have, ever since I've been a little girl, felt the presence of God in my life. And it has been a gift of grace that has, for me, been incredibly sustaining. But, really, ever since I was a child, I have felt the enveloping support and love of God and I have had the experiences on many, many occasions where I felt like the Holy Spirit was there with me as I made a journey. It didn't have to be a hard time. You know, it could be taking a walk in the woods. It could be watching a sunset. But I don't think that I could have made my life's journey without being anchored in God's grace and without having that, you know, sense of forgiveness and unconditional love.” – Hillary Clinton So, do I follow the path of the traditional conservative Christian and by default vote for Donald Trump because he is the republican candidate? Or do I vote for Hillary Clinton whose stances on certain personal issues differ than my own? I sit back and weigh the options, sift through the process and think. This will make me a black sheep in the eyes of conservative Christians, but I cannot use my vote to vote for a man who’s actions separates our country instead of unifying it. My vote for the 2016 presidential nomination is Hillary Clinton. You don’t have to agree with me, but you should use your own voice and vote. Register to vote at www.rockthevote.com
NAME: TAYLOR ANDERSON Hometown: Sandy, OR Current City: PHX
Name: Catie Spade Hometown: Tacoma, WA Current City: Flagstaff, AZ
Credentials: WORSHIP PASTOR, RENEW PHX MINISTRY LEADER, SINGER/SONGWRITER
Credentials: WORSHIP LEADER, YOUNG LIFE LEADER, SINGER/SONGWRITER
Connection to Angelic Magazine: FRIEND OF THE MAG, PERFORMED AT ANGELIC'S 2014 JESUS MUSIC FASHION EVENT.
Connection to Angelic Magazine: FRIEND OF THE MAG, FEATURED IN THE MAY 2015 ISSUE OF ANGELIC
Name: Matt & Missy Schwartz Hometown: PHX Current City: San Diego, CA Credentials: MISSION TRIPS WORSHIP LEADERS, SINGER/SONGWRITERS Connection to Angelic Magazine: FRIENDS OF THE MAG, PERFORMED AT ANGELIC'S 2014 JESUS MUSIC FASHION EVENT.
UNITE P
band/singer‐so
UNITING PHOENIX IN JES US ' NAM TICKETS ARE
$10
ONLINE
PROCEEDS GO TOWARD WWW.ANGELICMAG.
Name: Josh Caballes Hometown: Bakersfield, CA Current City: PHX
Name: Fosterson Current City: PHX
Credentials: WORSHIP PASTOR, SINGER/SONGWRITER
OF MINISTRY LEADERS AND
Credentials: COLLECTION SINGER/SONGWRITERS UNIFIED IN
Connection to Angelic Magazine: FRIEND OF THE MAG, WILL BE FEATURED IN ANGELIC'S UPCOMING NOVEMBER 2016 ISSUE
1 BAND.
Name: Jesse Anaya Hometown: Templeton, CA Current City: PHX Credentials: CREATOR OF ANGELIC MAGAZINE, DJ, SINGER/SONGWRITER
Connection to Angelic Magazine: SINGER RACHEL O. FEATURED IN THE DECEMBER 2014 ISSUE OF ANGELIC AND SINGER ELIJAH ATKINSON FEATURED IN THE JANUARY 2016 ISSUE OF ANGELIC.
HOENIX
ongwriter lineup
ME THROUGH THE VOICE OF MUSIC
DS SPONSORING THIS CONCERT TO UNITE PHOENIX COM/UNITEPHOENIX
Fearless
Equipped
Kaytie Gaus ANGELIC WRITER SPOTLIGHT
ANGELICWRITERSPOTLIGHT
KAYTIE GAUS ANGE LI C MAGAZ I NE WRITE R S PO TLI GHT
H
DALLAS, TX
@KAYTIEMAY_ i there, it’s me Kaytie, fellow Angelic writer. This month, I am excited to expose a little more about myself and what I enjoy doing when I am not writing content for the magazine. My hope is to connect with whomever is reading this on a more personal level. So don’t be shy, connect with me on Instagram or follow my blog. I would love to communicate and share life with you! First, I want to say that I believe that every passion God has instilled in us, He will use for His glory. It might be unclear in the present, but just take a quick look back or a dare to dream about the future, and you might get a glimpse of His Divine plan and how your passions are intertwined to reveal His glory. I have always thought of myself to be a creative person. However, it wasn't until recently that I allowed myself to explore my creative passions. In the past, I assumed that if I wasn't the best at what I was passionate about or was making a career out it, then I shouldn't devote much time to it. I would push my enjoyment aside because I constantly compared the beginning of my creative journey to someone else's years of practice or investment. Speaking from experience, don't do it. Comparison it the thief of joy. With all judgment and self criticism aside, a few of my interests I want to share are interior design, fashion styling, taking photographs, doing hair and makeup, volunteering, traveling, entertaining, and conversation over coffee. When I was 16, I asked my parents if I could attend cosmetology school in conjunction with high school. They said yes, as long as I promised to continue on and attend college. I agreed and ended up completing about a year of hair and makeup classes and then ended up deciding to quit. Yep, beauty school drop out right here. But! I learned all the skills I needed to do what I loved. For the past 10 years, I have colored my own hair (with the exception of a few times), have done hair and makeup at weddings, and have found a love for how different every woman's features are. I love to give tips and tricks to friends and family and see their face light up when they see how beautiful they truly are. As I have grown up, I have found I had a love for interior decorating. In the beginning of my marriage, I embraced the challenge of decorating with hand-me-down pieces and a limited budget and somehow created a cozy and inviting home for my husband and I's first years of marriage. This year, my husband and I bought our first home and slowly but surely we are filling it with decor and love. My current style obsession is all credited to the show Fixer Upper. Seen it? Obsessed with it? Wanna be best friends and go to Waco every weekend? Great, me too. In my little fixer upper, live my people. My husband and I, our two mutts, and usually a handful of foster puppies. I have such a soft spot in my heart for animals and truly wish I could save them all. Through volunteering with the SPCA of Texas, I made the decision to be a foster mom and it is one of the best decisions I have ever made. I love knowing that I am providing puppies with a loving home until they are able to find the forever families. If you have ever considered doing that, I say go for it. It is so rewarding and will cure any case of puppy fever you might have. Another one of my favorite things is sharing a cup of coffee over good conversation. There is something about coffee and a comfy chair that allow people to open up and be transparent with others. Some of my best life moments and toughest, but strengthening, conversations have occurred in coffee shops. In my heart, I have this dream for all of my passions to unite and become my livelihood. I want to be able to glorify the Lord by doing what I love and not wonder at the end of my life wonder, what if?
What if I took a chance to share the interior of my home with others? What conversations could occur around my table or on my couch? How many people could learn about the Lord by being in my home? What if I shared more beauty tips without the fear of being scrutinized by others? What if I posted my outfit ideas even though others tend to see me in the same flannel and lululemon leggings day in and day out? Who would see the photographs I take be inspired to travel or to see the beauty in small things? What if I shared my educational background in Kinesiology to others and motivated them to be healthy? A bunch of what ifs. But here I am, starting this conversation with myself and y'all. Dreaming of creating a community of gals with the goal of glorifying the Lord through things we are passionate about. I dare you to give in to some of your what ifs. Allow God to show you WHAT He could do, IF you trust him. Until next time! Kaytie
"IN MY HEART, I HAVE THIS DREAM FOR ALL OF MY PASSIONS TO UNITE AND BECOME MY LIVELIHOOD. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO GLORIFY THE LORD BY DOING WHAT I LOVE AND NOT WONDER AT THE END OF MY LIFE WONDER, WHAT IF?"
Together PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALYSHA MILLER MODELS
:
DOMINIKA AND KENNY
LOCATION
:
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
Alysha Miller PHOTOGRAPHER// S OCAL
BI devalued efore Christ, I did things brashly and irrationally. my body and myself.
I defied my parents. I was obsessed with thoughts of having the perfect relationship. I craved attention. I chose guys over my friends. I prided myself on being a rule breaker. I did whatever I pleased with total disregard as to who I was hurting in the process. I tolerated guys who treated me horribly and believed the abusive words they’d say. I’d drink to get drunk, numbing myself to any feelings that could cause remorse with all the bad choices I continued to make. I would make stupid, foolish mistakes as I tried to haphazardly balance my social life with my responsibilities. I was a mess. The summation of my life without Christ in one word would be: threadbare. I was barely holding on. I had gotten to a place in my life where I was on life support (figuratively speaking), weak and run down, sick and tired of the headaches and hangovers, deep wounds and lies. There were times my chest would feel an emptiness as big as the hole I felt I was falling through. I managed to keep the people who loved me so far removed from the life I had created — a life where I voluntarily inflicted pain upon myself by choosing to be around people who treated me so poorly. The very remedy which could put life back in me was at my fingertips — in Jesus Christ, in the Word of God. By taking just a moment to find a quiet place away from all the chaos, I would have heard the still whisper of Love beckoning me. I knew Who I could call on and in my more desperate times of need, I did cry out. I asked God numerous times, “If You’d help me out of this one thing, I promise I’ll be better next time.” God kept good on His word while I didn’t keep good on mine. The selfish, selfdestructive nature in me continued to sin against Him after He had clearly protected me time and time again.
There were tiny moments here and there where I would talk to Him. Laying my head down to sleep at night, I’d ask Him to watch over me. I would sing a worship song in my heart that my mom used to sing. Love was slowly but surely, piercing through my hardened heart. In 2013, I became so destitute that I picked up a devotional my mom had given me called Daily Light. It had Scripture for the morning and the evening and the words on the pages began breathing new life into me. The words I continued to read broke down every defense I had built up. It calmed every anxious thought. It freed me from the guilt and shame I had accrued. It led me straight into His love. It changed me from the inside out. The knowledge of God’s infinite mercy keeps me bowed in grace. I need Jesus like I need oxygen. I don’t ever want to leave decisions up to me. I want to measure every move I make in accordance with God’s Word because He is infinitely wise and knows what’s good for me. What Jesus has done for me and continues to do in my life brings me to tears. Tears of gladness. Tears of gratitude. I live in the light of Jesus’ forgiveness of my sin and live in security knowing that the road I’m on is leading me inevitably to Heaven, where I will spend eternity praising the God who gave me back my life and saved me from myself. If you seek God diligently, you will find Him. The things which once were so important pale in comparison to life renewed in Christ. He delicately extracts the things which bring more harm than good in our lives and replaces them with things which cause growth and maturity in us. He loves us perfectly, uniquely and keeps every one of His promises. One of those promises I cling to is, “He will never leave you or forsake you” (Deuteronomy 3:16). What I love most about Jesus is His trustworthiness and knowing that nothing can separate me from His love.
ANGELICHEALTH
I
FALL INT BY CLARE TUCKER - @CTUCKY
've been doing a workout challenge for about two weeks now. It was hard enough when I was doing this workout only 3-4 times a week, but I'm up to an hour every single day pushing through the pain because I want to prove to myself I can conquer this physical challenge. I don't love working out, but this has had me feeling competitive and motivated. And I've never felt more beautiful. I wanted to share my beauty tips with you this month, but I couldn't dive into that without giving notice to what's behind the beauty: Confidence. Strength. Endurance. Overcoming. Watching your body accomplish things you thought it couldn't and then seeing that inner satisfaction literally glow out of your face heightens what is seen in the mirror. I'm connected to my temple, my body, and knowing I'm caring for it in the best way I can translates what God thinks of me into something I can actually fathom and SEE. For a girl with so many self-image issues, a history of eating disorders and drug abuse all for the sake of losing pounds I didn't even have to lose, seeing myself in the image of the Savior of the world is so beyond difficult. God has a way of answering me with thoughts I must share when I ask Him to allow me to reflect in my writing what He desires, instead of just giving you another shallow mascara recommendation. With that being said, my first-line beauty go-to's are: find inner peace and take care of your body, always pushing yourself to be physically stronger as it will ALWAYS manifest into an equal mental and spiritual strength. Once you have your beautiful, peaceful foundation from within, the rest is just complimentary to your outward appearance, and I believe it's important to take pride in being your best self. I believe in always wearing a little makeup and fixing your hair (even if it's a quick, cute ponytail) to work and social events. Please don't wear pajamas anywhere in public, please care about yourself and those you may encounter. I’m not encouraging that you should put too much into what they think of you, but more about caring how you might make them feel. As humans, we notice others physically first. It's innate. Our first impressions of others and how they make us feel is affected by physical appearance whether you accept that as a fact or not. I have coached myself to literally think, what if Jesus were to bring me someone in here? How do I want to be perceived when I have the chance to share my light with someone He sent me? Even if I am running a quick errand, I can still put on a clean shirt and leggings or trouser shorts versus choosing to throw on pajama pants or my old, torn, cotton shorts with stains all over them. It’s a mindset and you begin to pay attention and realize that either choice takes the same amount of time to put on, but what is your appearance showing others about you? Does Jesus shine through how you choose to present yourself to His world? Carry an extra shirt, emergency stash of makeup necessities, travel size deodorant, ponytail holder, some gum and a hairbrush in your car and take two minutes to clean yourself up before you go in somewhere. You never know who needs your light.
TO YOU MY FIRSTLINE BEAUTY GOTO'S ARE: FIND INNER PEACE AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY
As a daughter of the king, I feel responsible for reflecting his light and I can't do that if I'm a literal physical mess. I believe you can accomplish being “put together” at low cost and with little time, as well. I'm on a budget and I'm always running out of time to get somewhere, but I try to do what I can to make it work. I am a strong advocate for $10 Target tees, dry shampoo, a few swipes of powder-foundation, a little eyeliner, mascara and good lipstick. Invest in a cute ball cap and you can always put this on, covering up a bad hair day when you just don’t have the time to deal. Cute ball caps never go out of style, are always in season and take focus away from tired eyes. I believe it’s absolutely appropriate to care about your appearance and putting effort into being the best version of you. It adds value to all of the other aspects of your daily life and you’ll begin to feel the improvements in numerous different ways. There may be others who negatively receive these bits of advice as vanity, putting yourself before your family, seeking attention or finding identity in your appearance… I’ve heard them all. But through gaining intimacy with the Lord, I know that He cares about the influence we carry to share His name and that He will always be proud of us being THE BEST US we can be! Inside AND out. What the world, co-workers and other moms think of you is none of your concern. Instead, be ready for those God places in your path to impact. And then be proud when you reflect on the fact that you’ve done everything you could to shine your light outwardly just as beautifully as you shine from the inside. It’s all Jesus. Never be scared to be as perfectly beautiful as He sees you.
Focused
Ready
Sister in Christ
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ASHLEIGH MARBUTT MODELS
:
TAYLOR RONEY AND SHELBY SANTA CRUZ
LOCATION
:
BIRMINGHAM
,
AL
UNCOVERING YOUR NEXT CREATIVE IDEA By Rachel Heisel
Models: Hunter Wilson Morgan Foitle Alex Klemoeich Rachel Heisel Location: Dallas, Texas
PHOTOGRAPHED
H
UNCOVERING YOUR NEXT CREATIVE IDEA
& WRITTEN BY RACHEL HEISEL
RACHELHEISEL . COM
ave you ever looked at a finished product, whether it was a photo, a video, or a song – and you were amazed and thought to yourself “How did they do that?” The truth is everyone has the creative potential inside of him or her; but it is learning to uncover and unleash these potentials that will define your creative work. Our God is so incredible, because he has uniquely designed all of us to discover ideas and truth in a way that is exclusive and intimate to our personal being; allowing us all to have infinite creative potential. Here are four ways I have found to help in uncovering that next “Big Idea”. 1. Devoting time to God Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God CREATED the heavens and the earth.” The first thing written in our Bible is that God created. He wants to create with us and it is so important that we are spending time with God and that we listen to Him. True creativity is working with the Creator. It is not about striving in our own strength, but being sensitive to the Spirit and open to how God wants to work in us and through us. He is also the one who has given each individual his or her gifting and talent. As we spend time and position ourselves to hear from Him, he will reveal his purposes to us. 2. Collaborating with others There is so much that we can learn from others and that is no different in the creative realm. Don’t be afraid to work with or learn from new artists or innovators. Working with other creative minds allows us to think of even better ideas and to expand our minds. R. G. Collingwood said it this way, “If an artist may say nothing except what he has invented by his own sole efforts, it stands to reason he will be poor in ideas. If he could take what he wants wherever he could find it, as Euripides and Dante and Michelangelo and Shakespeare and Bach were free, his larder would always be full, and his cookery might be worth tasting.” 3. Listening to the heart ofyour client When you are producing a new graphic, video, or campaign it is so important that you are honoring the vision that was presented to you. This will no only stretch you creatively in a way that may be different then you are used to, but it will also be kingdom building to the mission and call of your client. You may never fully see or know the impact of your creative work, but it could be the difference between someone stepping foot into a church, or sponsoring a child in anther country, the possibilities are endless. That is why it is so important to visually represent the heart of your client and to learn what they are saying, so that you can communicate it to the world. And at the end of the day I am a firm believer that the work will speak as loud as the work needs to speak. 4. Staying inspired How are you keeping your mind fed? We have so many tools at our fingertips to keep thoughts stirring. All you need to do is pick up a book or a magazine, watch a movie, play video games, listen to music or just take a walk on the beach. There are so many ways that God can expose new ideas to us in our day to day, we just have to be open to it. “You don’t get to pick your family, but you can pick your teachers and you can pick your friends and you can pick the music you listen to and you can pick the books you read and you can pick the movies you see. You are, in fact, a mashup of what you choose to let into your life. You are the sum of your influences. The German writer Goethe said, "We are shaped and fashioned by what we love.” ― Austin Kleon In short focus on developing your relationship with God, your partnerships with others and investing your personal creative works so that new creative ideas will drop into your mind and be brought to fruition.
ANGELIC
MAY JESUS BE GLORIFIED JESUS. MUSIC. FASHION.