Only
$1.50
Now in our 10th Year! • August 2014
Ben Carson for President? see bio in centerfold
Inside This Issue: Israel Best Enemy One Could Hope For see page 19
Prophetic Ministries see page 17
5 Reasons Pastors Don’t Preach on Gluttony see page 31
Billy Graham Once Questioned His Beliefs as see page 37 a Preacher!
FULL PAGE OF
PUZZLES!
see page 27
s” d n st! a H nte age 9 d e ft Co see p i “G VD D
August 2014
Is God’s Favor Reigning Upon Israel? by David Parsons
F
lares fired by the Israeli military continued to be seen above the northern Gaza Strip. After several failed truces. Israeli leaders played down prospects of a permanent Gaza ceasefire and fighting continues in a familiar pattern of Palestinian rocket launches and Israeli bombing. The conflict in Gaza over recent weeks marks the fourth time in the past eight years that we have awakened to a rocket war here in Israel. I remember the first one started in summer 2006 with sketchy early-morning reports of a Hezbollah cross-border attack. By noon, 1 million Israelis in the Galilee and Haifa regions were scrambling for bomb shelters to avoid deadly Syrian-made Grad rockets packed with added shrapnel. The next came on a quiet Shabbat morning in 2008 when Hamas rockets from Gaza suddenly started pounding southern Israel, triggering Operation Cast Lead and its tense standoff on the outskirts of Gaza City. In November 2012, the second rocket war with Hamas in Gaza erupted just as quickly, prompting the IDF to launch Operation Pillar of Cloud, which ended without any ground incursion due to the successful debut of the Iron Dome system. In this latest escalation, the Kassam
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com rockets came raining down on Israel's southern cities for more than a week before the Israeli military finally responded with Operation Protective Edge. This time, most of the nation is scurrying for bomb shelters and once again Israel is anxiously teetering between a possible ceasefire and a risky ground invasion. I've had my own private source of anxiety over recent days, as we sent our 14-year-old son, Yonathan, off to summer camp in the north of Israel last Wednesday, thinking he would be safe up there. But the area has now been hit by three rocket barrages aimed at the nearby coastal town of Nahariya, and one rocket landed less than a mile from his camp. The blast was so strong it knocked down a couple of the youngsters as they were running for a shelter. Where we live in Jerusalem, residents have around 90 seconds of warning to find shelter from incoming rockets, and the Iron Dome battery guarding the capital city has eased the locals' fears somewhat. But at my son's summer camp, located just a few miles south of the Lebanese border, there's no Iron Dome and the warning time on rockets fired from Lebanon is a scant 15-to-20 seconds. As a worried father, I was ready to go fetch my son this week. But the camp operators assured all the parents that there were sufficient shelters on site and they were in constant touch with local IDF commanders. And besides, all 80
teenagers at the camp were bonding in a
Page 3 the current conflict does seem to have restored a sense to Israel that God is indeed watching over them. In Proverbs 30:8-9, we find a unique prayer offered up to God which essentially pleads: "Lord, don't make me so rich that I forget You, nor so poor that I curse You." In many ways, the Jewish nation is living between similar extremes of sorrow and success.
special way from the experience. They were still getting in some fun beach days and mountain hikes, while the prayer times and Bible studies were taking on a lot more meaning for these young Christians. Sadly, there were three Israeli teens that never made it to camp this summer. They were cruelly kidnapped and murdered by a Hamas cell while hitchhiking home from yeshiva classes one evening in June. Their disappearance set off a massive prayer effort nationwide, yet an 18-day search ended tragically with the news that they were likely shot dead just moments after their abduction. This led some voices to question why God had not answered the nation's prayers the way everyone had hoped. Whatever doubts crept in because of that tragedy, the low number of casualties in
Sometimes, Israel's enemies slip through the hedge of protection and inflict pain and suffering, yet God never allows it to get so bad that they curse Him. At other times, people can truly sense the providence and blessing of God over this embattled yet thriving nation and their achievements always point back to Him. Without a doubt, we live in a time of God's favor upon Zion. Israel has been restored against all odds and is emerging as a resilient and innovative "start-up nation," with a windfall of newly found oil and gas wealth only promising greater things ahead. Her adversaries are jealous of Israel's success and frustrated that they cannot stop it. But they will try to hinder it by bleeding Israel wherever they can. Ultimately, these efforts will be for naught and the faithful God of Israel will have the last say. David Parsons is media director for the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem and lives in Jerusalem with his wife, Josepha, and son, Yonathan. The ICEJ has some 45 staff members living in Israel, many with spouses and families.
Page 4
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com
August 2014
Need a Qualified Professional Service?... Choose one of these Experts! Licensed & Insured • Training Available www.MobileMikesPCRepair.com
ATTORNEYS Dee Wampler & Joseph Passanise Criminal Trial Attorneys 2974 East Battlefield Springfield, MO • (417) 882-9300 Gregg E. Stade - Real Estate, Business Law and Estate Planning 600 W. Republic Rd. Ste. A 100 Springfield, MO • (417) 889-5572 Timothy S. Davis, Esq. Attorney at Law 487 Sourwood Mountain Branson, MO • (417) 294-1083
Family Christian Store Spring Creek Centre 637 East Joyce Blvd Fayetteville, AR • (479) 521-3611 Healthy, Wealthy and Wise Inspirational Books & Gifts 110 W. Stephenson Avenue Harrison, AR • (870) 365-0018
AUTO SERVICE
Branson Collision Center 548 Gretna Road 417.335.3775 When It Must Be Right! Branson Pennzoil 10 Minute Lube 249 Shepherd of the Hills Expy. Branson, MO • (417) 335-5182 Roy Rogers Foreign Auto Parts We’re Here to Serve You! • In Business Since 1988 • For all your Foreign Auto Parts Needs • Local Store Hours: M-F 8am-5pm & Sat 8am-Noon 933 E. Kearney • Springfield, MO Call (800) 844-7348 Smart Buy Tire & Auto Service 1045 S. Campbell • Springfield, MO (417) 831-3589 • SmartBuyTire.com The Tire Crew Full Automotive and Transmission Service • 13149 U.S. 160 Forsyth, MO • (417) 546-7433 BEDS Balboa Bed Company 220 W. Battlefield • Springfield, MO (417) 823-9604 • www.BalboaBed.net BOOKSTORES CPO 4145 S. National • Springfield, MO (417) 891-2200 • www.CPOBooks.com
Mardel Christian & Educational Supply 1533 E Battlefield Springfield, MO • (417) 881-6338 Redeemed Music & Books 4140 S. National Springfield, MO • (417) 877-9294 BUSINESS SERVICES Big 3 Design • Tom Elledge Web Design & Hosting, Business Cards, Posters, Signs, Banners, Vehicle Wraps, Ad Specialties & More! 497 Van Buren Rd • Branson, MO (417) 337-1388 • www.Big3Design.com CHIROPRACTIC CARE Victory Chiropractic Dr. Bo Bandy - Life Extension Expert 800 State Hwy 248, Ste. 2-B Branson, MO • (417) 337-7077 Find out how we can help you achieve Victory in your life! CLOTHING Heavenly Wear & Gifts 112 W. Main St. in Downtown Branson, MO • (417) 544-9071 • www.HeavenlyWear.com John’s Suit Shop We Make The Look Affordable 1315 S. Glenstone Springfield, MO • (417) 863-6919
COMPUTERS Mobile Mike’s PC Service & Repair Serving Springfield, Branson, MO & Harrison, AR • (417) 365-5504
DENTISTRY Kay E. Knipschild, D.D.S. Quality, Caring, General Dentistry 3841 S. Jefferson Springfield, MO • (417) 887-2929 DOLLS We’re Makin’ Dolls in Branson 1120 W. Hwy 76 Branson, MO • (417) 239-3655 www.WereMakinDollsInBranson.com EDUCATIONAL SUPPLIES Apples & Amen Educational Supplies, Inspirational Gifts, Toys, Party Supplies, & Balloons 1520 N. Main Street Harrison, AR • (870) 741-1880 GLASS Binswanger Glass Home & Auto 616 S. Business 65 Hwy Branson, MO • (417) 334-5179 HAIR STYLING Tim’s Headquarters Salon 180 Mall Road, Ste. C (Next to Family Pharmacy) Hollister, MO • (417) 348-1958 HEALTH & BEAUTY Renu Health & Beauty Feel Great, Look Great & Live Great Branson Town Center • 566 B Gretna Rd Branson, MO • (417) 348-1958
INSURANCE American Family Insurance Teresa Zucchini-McClish 3050 E. Battlefield St. Springfield, MO • (417) 883-3039
PHARMACY
INVESTMENTS Edward Jones - Xavier Sinniah Financial Advisor see page 35 255 Financial Dr, Ste. E Hollister, MO • (417) 334-4290 www.EdwardJones.com
PROSTHETICS J.P. & O Prosthetic & Orthotic Lab 526 Branson Landing Blvd. Ste. 1 Branson, MO • (417) 213-3128 www.jpo-online.com
FAMILY PHARMACY www.TheFamilyRX.com American Christian Voice Available at all locations!
RADIO STATIONS JEWELRY
Gerzen’s Jewelry & Repair 3532 S. National • Springfield (417) 887-2330 (417) 894-4485 gerzen@sbcglobal.net
LODGING Carriage House Inn 3015 Green Mountain Dr. Branson, MO • (417) 335-4248 www.BransonCarriageHouseInn.com Classic Motor Inn Family Owned & Operated 2384 Shepherd of the Hills Expy. Branson, MO • (417) 334-6991 Stonewall West Motor Inn 1040 W. Hwy 76 Branson, MO • (417) 334-5173 MONUMENTS
REALTORS
HEALTH CARE Ozark Mountain Healthcare 509 Meadowlark Ln Crane, MO • (417) 723-5281 www.OzarkMountainHealthcare.com HVAC Goff Heating & Air Serving Taney, Stone, Christian, & Boone Counties, MO • 24 Hour Emergency Service • No Overtime Fees (417) 334-3681 Patrick Yerby Heating & Air Service Fayetteville, AR • (417) 313-4229
Wommack Monument Company
Express your love with a quality monument of faith
(800) 346-9875
SEAMLESS SIDING Seamless Siding & Windows of the Ozarks • Jeff & Debbie Holden Seamless Siding & Guttering • Thermally Advanced Vinyl Windows & Doors • (417) 239-4555 jeffholden@gmail.com
For Subscription Information See Page 38
August 2014
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com
Judgement is God’s Job by Max Lucado There is power in revenge. Intoxicating power. Haven’t we tasted it? Haven’t we been tempted to get even? As we escort the offender into the courtroom, we announce, “He hurt me!” and jurors shake their heads in disgust.
Page 5
“He abandoned me!” we explain, and the chambers echo with our accusation. “Guilty!” the judge snarls as he slams the gavel. “Guilty!” the jury agrees. We delight in this moment of justice. We relish this pound of flesh. I don’t mean to be cocky, but why are you doing God’s work for Him? “Vengeance” is Mine,” God declared. “I will repay.” Proverbs 20:22 says, “Don’t say, ‘I’ll pay you back for the wrong you did.’ Wait for the Lord, and He will make things right.” Judgment is God’s job. To assume otherwise is to assume God can’t do it. God has not asked us to settle the score or get even. Ever!
American Christian Voice P.O. Box 336 • Rockaway Beach, MO 65740 Office: (417) 336-3636 • John’s cell: (417) 353-7598
editor@americanchristianvoice.com www.AmericanChristianVoice.com Log online for FREE Online Subscriptions Experience Jesus Christ’s last week on earth, performed under the starry Ozark skies in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Just an hour south of Branson. With nearly 200 cast members, several live animals, beautiful costumes and excellent sound and lighting, this is a MUST DO experience! See website for schedule, prices and to make reservations –
www.PassionPlayTickets.com or call 800-348-0752
From When God Whispers Your Name Listen to UpWords with Max Lucado at
OnePlace.com
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com
Playing God? Meet the Newest Christian Dating Show by Evy Baehr and Lydia Jambazian / from MovieGuide "It Takes a Church" premiered on GSN (Game Show Network airing at 9 pm EST on Thursday nights) last June. For years Hollywood has produced TV programs about finding love— or, as is often the case, mere sexual attraction. We all know these programs, "The Bachelor," "The Bachelorette," "I Wanna Marry Harry," etc. Mostly, these programs are filled with catty reactions from girls who will put themselves out there to get the guy. It takes only a few minutes to realize that these programs do not have the same morals you have nor do you want your children's, your own, or your grandchildren's dating life to be anything like this! Now this new program is allegedly applying Christian, biblical values to the subject. The premise: What happens when you let your church play matchmaker for your love life instead of Hollywood? "It Takes a Church" is totally different from any Hollywood dating program. Hosted by Multi-Grammy nominated and Dove Award winning singer Natalie Grant, "It Takes a Church" focuses on one single church member who desires to find a life partner, but what he or she doesn't know is that his or her congregation, guided by the church's pastor, is helping the unsuspecting bachelor/bachelorette find God's perfect mate for him or her. Each episode of "It Takes a Church" follows a different congregation throughout the country in a competition to help a fellow church member find God's match for him or her. editor’s note: As a former high school teacher I suggested to my students that arranged marriages would be a blessing to them and their futures because parents were not wearing “love goggles”. I was met with a response that instantly conjured up an angry mob with pitchforks.
They laughed at such a ridiculous notion. Most of them felt like their parents were totally out of touch with what they would want in a spouse. I reminded them that more than half of all their families were broken or blended families from the poor choices their folks made when they were their age. I showed them from a historical approach that arranged marriages normally fared much better. I explained to them that (think Fiddler On The Roof here) thier parents ultimately wanted them to be happy with successful relationships and after all, your pick will affect the outcome of who their grandchildren would turn out to be. In the past parents would bring many different suitors that had good potential of being better providers and a mature ambition to make something of themselves. They would then chaperone the couple at a discreet distance to allow them enough privacy for personal conversation but drastically reduced the chance of inappropriate intimacy and pre-marital sex. Chastity during the courtship made the chances of a successful marriage soar. There has always been pressure on young girls to engage in pre-marital sex but it has evolved from preassure to expectation, even wanting it. In our sexually saturated culture, girls submit their bodies to secure a relationship for fear their love interest will dump them for a girl with less convictions, and guys will “put up” with a relationship to achieve a sexual partner. An alarming amount of adolescent boys have told me that many girls have become sexually aggressive; so the idea that a girl held the power to secure a better relationship has also gone by the wayside. While most main stream Christians have serious reservations about the doctrines surrounding the dating and marriage habits of Mormons, no one can refute the success of the stability of most of their unions. Everyone could take a lesson from their tenacity to help keep their offspring pure and wise in their choices for a mate. We may not be married for all eternity as they teach it but our marriages definitely have eternal consequences when they fail.
August 2014
Miss an issue? Physical copies of back issues available for only $4.00 each. See mailing info on page 5. Past issues are FREE on line under “previous issues” button on our website.
The Classic Motor Inn is a family owned and operated Branson hotel that is conveniently located at 2384 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway so we have easy access to all of the best Branson attractions. Opened in 1993 by the Carter family, the tradition continues with the Morin family. The Classic Motor Inn is Branson's premiere hotel for the classic car enthusiast. A clean, comfortable, family atmosphere make the Classic Motor Inn the hotel you will return to again, and again, while staying in Branson Missouri.
(417) 334-6991
www.ClassicMotorInn.com
Re New mo ly de led !
Page 6
Barbara Fairchild appearing in the Golden Corral Showroom
Everyone deserves a good meal
3551 Shepherd of the Hills in Branson, MO
"The human spirit needs to accomplish, to achieve, to triumph in order to be happy." - Ben Stein
The ACV is available in the General Store at Morningside!
August 2014
.YAK BAK Feed Back from our Readers I loved your Faith or Medicine feature in the July issue. It was a great balance of what God can do through people’s trust in Him and what He has revealed to those doctors to heal through understanding of medicine. Edward Gouler, M.D. (ret.) Broken Arrow, OK ____________________ I am not a big Glenn Beck fan but was impressed he admitted that liberals were right after all in the opposition of the invasion of Iraq. I think all peoples in the west now realize that there is a large majority of Muslims that do not wish to have democracy or interference in their internal affairs.
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com and had laid the baby on his tummy to sleep. I wish the AMA had a better track record on all of their advice but it is becoming apparent that they build cases out of twigs and turn them in to tree trunks.
RARE PEOPLE
are great, and I want to be a great kid too.”
Child’s deathbed thoughts focused on helping others
He told his parents he wanted to donate his organs so others could live.
Dawn Wallace, Nashville, TN _________________________ I am a fan of the serious Dave Ramsey and Edward Jones financial articles as well as the puzzle page each month. Meat and potatoes followed by dessert. Nice Mix!
Chinese boy on his death bed offered to donate his organs and the medical team’s reaction is absolutely stunning
Sammy Lawoski, St. Lois, MO _______________________ I have always been a fan of Ann B. Davis as I followed her career for over 50 years. I was delighted to find out in your July issue of the ACV what a committed Christan she was. It must have been fun for you to have known her personally.
As cancer ravaged his body, the fifth grader from the Chinese city of Shenzhen focused on how he could save others if he could not survive his own battle.
Martha Bates, Branson, MO Brenda Wainwright, Joplin, MO ______________________ I LOVED the baby/dog photos in the July ACV. Thanks for realizing that Christians can enjoy articles that help us grow but not to the exclusion of having fun in this life as well. Love every issue! I get the ACV online but now I want a subscription to get the magazine sent to me so I can cut out special articles and cartoons and photos. I like the technology of the online publication but I still miss sitting down with a good cup of coffee and devouring each new magazine. Karol Hart, Plano, TX _________________________ I was surprised by the article “A Quiet Revolt Against the Rules of SIDS.” Even if they (medical community) have been wrong about the association of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome with laying babies on their backs to sleep, I will always have fear to do so because of how ingrained they put these thoughts in our heads. I would not be able to live with myself if I lost a child to SIDS
Page 7
Martha, she truly was a delight (and so gracious when they stole her car from my studio parking lot while we were taping a television special!) ______________________ We recently visited Branson with no plans in particular for shows and food. We saw Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede in you publication and decided to try it. We were so thrilled with both the quality of food and entertainment from the very talented performers and horses. Also we saw Jerusalem at the IMAX. That is a must see for everyone of faith!
11-year-old donates organs after brain tumor takes his life
Shenzhen, China — The parents of 11-yearold Liang Yaoyi were stunned by his request.
“There are many people doing great things in the world,” he said from his sickbed according to the ChinaDaily.com. “They
On Friday, the brave young boy who dreamed of becoming a doctor lost his battle with brain cancer. Immediately, doctors went to work removing his organs for transplant. Hospital officials said his kidney and liver were transplanted into other patients who were suffering from life-threatening ailments. As his body was wheeled for the surgery room, the medical team stopped and formed an honor guard, bowing to the gurney carrying Yoayi’s remains in honor of the brave boy. The photo triggered social media responses from around the world. In his final hours, Liang Yaoyi’s choice and life had touched the lives of millions.
O R D E R A C U S TO M M A D E VINYL DOLL! LOOK ALIKE DOLLS!
Darman family, Denver, CO _____________________ Send your “letters to the editor” to:
editor@ americanchristianvoice.com or mailing address: ACV • P.O. Box 336 Rockaway Beach, MO 65740 Letters may be edited for space consideration. Please indicate if your whole name may be used.
www.weremakindollsinbranson.com 1120 W Hwy 76, Branson, MO Mon-Sat: 9am-7pm n s o ok! Sun: 12pm-7pm u e o Se ceb (417) 239-3655 Fa Email us! weremakindollsinbranson@yahoo.com
National healing prayer. Call every Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:00 cst. 1-805-399-1000 access code 124763#. Give us a call and we’ll pray for you in Jesus name. Facebook.com/healingprayercall
Page 8
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com
Report: Christianity in Middle East ‘Shadow of Its Former Self’ by Newsmax Wires
M
ore members of religious communities around the world were forced to flee their homes last year than at any time in recent memory, the United States said in its annual report on religious freedom. "In almost every corner of the globe, millions of Christians, Muslims, Hindus and others representing a range of faiths were forced from their homes on account of their religious beliefs," the report said. The report said that in much of the Middle East, the Christian presence is becoming "a shadow of its former self." Hundreds of thousands of minority Christians have fled Syria after three years of civil war.
homes in the area of the town of Meiktila in early 2013. It said organized hate-speech and harassment of Muslims continued and Buddhist-Muslim rivalry was often exploited for political gain. The report also pointed to sectarian violence in Pakistan, which had killed more than 400 Shi'ite Muslims and 80 Christians were killed in a church bombing. In China, seven Christians were sentenced lengthy prison terms for recording and copying sermons. The report also noted China's prosecution of relatives of people who had set themselves on fire in religious protests. In Egypt, churches and Christian-owned homes and businesses were raided and looted.
"In the city of Homs the number of Christians dwindled to as few as 1,000 from approximately 160,000 prior to the conflict," according to the report.
"Islamist-led mobs carried out acts of violence, intimidation, compelled expulsions, and punishment against Christians," the report said.
In the Central African Republic, lawlessness and sectarian violence between Christians and Muslims had reportedly resulted in 700 deaths in December alone and the displacement of more than a million people in 2013.
At least 42 churches, schools, orphanages, and other Christian-affiliated organizations were attacked.
The report also highlighted anti-Muslim violence in Myanmar that led to up to 100 deaths and 12,000 being forced from their
"The violence resulted in the looting and destruction of at least 37 churches and the deaths of at least six Christians who were targeted because of their religious identity," according to the report.
August 2014
Attacks on religion were not confined to the developing world, the report said, with anti-Semitism throughout Europe evidenced in Internet fora and in soccer stadiums "leading many individuals who are Jewish to conceal their religious identity."
leaders protect mosques, the report said.
The report focuses on 2013, but attacks against Christians and other religious groups continues in 2014.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report. © 2014 Newsmax. All rights reserved.
The BBC reported this month that Islamist militants have threatened Iraqi Christians with death by "the sword" unless they accept Islam or pay a protection fee.
For Subscription Information See Page 38
Other such interfaith solidarity included Muslims helping to protect Christians by forming human chains around churches in Pakistan and similar actions by Muslims in Egypt.
And in Sudan, a Christian woman was sentenced to death for not recanting her faith. She has since been allowed to leave the country and recently had an audience with Pope Francis. The report also said that there were instances in which people of different faiths had worked together to protect each other. An increase in mosque attacks in Britain had led an orthodox Jewish neighborhood watch team to help Muslim
13149 US Hwy 160 in Forsyth, MO Paul Gillispie
Binswanger Glass 616 S. Business 65 Hwy Branson, MO 65616
binswangerglass.com
p. 417.334.5179 f. 417.334.5181 pgillispie@binswangerglass.com facebook.com/binswangerglass twitter.com/binswangerglass
Did you know the
American Christian Voice has postal subscribers in 20 different states? Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. Is your state represented? Subscription information on page 38! That is just the printed edition. The online edition covers the entire country! (according to the unique IDs as reported by Constant Contact)
“Another flaw in the human character is that everyone wants to build and nobody wants to do maintenance.”-Kurt Vonnegut
“In today’s culture there is only one sin... calling anything a sin.” - Mark Driscoll
August 2014
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com
Chonda Pierce’s Husband Dies Following Emergency Brain Surgery by Gina Meeks honda Pierce's husband, David, died Tuesday after emergency brain surgery. The couple had been married 31 years.
C
he had no chance without surgery, minimal with surgery, and he was headed in for emergency brain surgery. "This is his only hope to remove the portion of his brain and try and stop the bleeding. I have no other words," she wrote. Later that morning, Pierce thanked her supporters and wrote
"David is home," Pierce wrote on her Facebook page after posting several earlier updates about his condition. Pierce reported on July 15 that her husband had suffered a stroke in two areas of his brain, and she wrote about his condition multiple times a day since then.
David and Chonda Pierce
At 1:26 a.m. EDT on July 22, she wrote, "David has taken a very bad turn. He is not responding, and they've called in the neurologist... Please say an added prayer for him." She followed that up with an update at 5 a.m. saying he had a "hemophragic stroke" and was bleeding in his brain. Pierce said
another update: "David is out of surgery, and now we just wait and see. There was quite a bit of damage," she said. "Removed a large portion of damaged area, and there was a lot of bleeding. The surgeon said it is very serious and just not certain of anything... He is in God's hands completely now. I have loved him since I was 16 years old. He is one of the greatest men I've ever known... I have begged God to allow him to stay here -- whole and healthy.
Page 9
Thank you for praying with me and believing for me even when my faith was tired and weak."
FREE Drawing to win a copy of the DVD movie “Gifted Hands”.
One of Pierce's former managers set up an online fundraiser for Chonda and her family, which has raised more than $50,000.
This great film stars Cuba Gooding, Jr. who plays Dr. Ben Carson. Just email editor@AmericanChristianVoice.com. Enter the words GIFTED HANDS in the subject line.
"Chonda Pierce has brought laughter to our lives for so many years in spite of all of the tragedy in her own life," the donation site says. "Let's now return the gift by helping lighten her financial load in this heartbreaking time of the loss of her sweet husband, David W. Pierce."
In the body of the email include what you like about the Amercian Christian Voice magazine, and a mailing address if your entry is chosen. There will be Two winners selected. Brought to you by the American Christian Voice and:
The site explains that funds will go toward funeral expenses, medical bills and lost income for this season. Pierce has been open about her testimony of enduring abuse, depression and the death of two sisters, which she has used to heal hearts through laughter for more than 20 years. She was recently named the top certified female comedian by the Recording Industry Association of America for having sold more comedy DVDs than any other comedian— secular or Christian.
ACV Contributors Tim Davis- Columnist Veeda Smith - Branson Frontline Jeremy Storch - Ask the Rabbi... Mike Endecott - Computer Tips Dave Ramsey - Act Your Wage Dee Wampler - A Minute with a Man Lee Grady- Fire in My Bones Stephanie Hallowell - Poetry George Kurland - Staff Photographer Max Lucado - Crosswalk John Sacoulas - Steward & Editor Lorri Sacoulas - Steward & Publisher Harriet Ford - Monthly Devotionals Marvin & Regina Reynolds- Archivists Jeff Wilson - Account Manager
Cross-Word Answers from Page 27
The ACV is available at:
Healthy, Wealthy and Wise Inspirational Bookstore & Gifts 110 West Stephenson • Harrison, AR Mon-Fri: 10am-5pm • Sat: 10am-4pm
(870) 365-0018 www.healthywealthyandwise.us
Page 10
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com
God Theology Doesn’t Matter Nearly As Much As This by Justin Lathrop
Father—if we aren't about his mission and purpose—we will eventually be cut away and thrown into the fire and burned (v. 7).
I
So what is Jesus' mission and purpose? This is the part where Jesus really drives his point home. He says:
don't know a pastor—or even a believer—who isn't concerned with getting the theology of faith right. We want to do the research and settle on answers about the rapture, marriage, creation, communion, and heaven and hell. We want to find our "tribe." I can understand the urgency we seem to feel. Theology is important. It's important to know what we believe and why we believe it. It's important to be connected to people who will support us in those beliefs and who will constantly be pointing us toward truth. Yet in Scripture, Jesus makes it clear: There is one thing more important than good theology: Love. Consider John 15. This is the passage where Jesus reminds us He is the vine and, we are the branches. He explains how the Father is like a gardener who is constantly pruning the garden, cutting back and clearing away the things that are getting in the way of his ultimate mission and purpose. If we want to be a part of the larger garden, so to speak, if we want to have influence, Jesus shows us, we must remain in him and he in us. As long as we remain connected to Jesus and the Father, and He remains connected to us, we will bear much fruit. On the other hand, apart from him, we can do nothing. In fact, if we want to have influence but we don't remain connected to the
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." Just a few verses earlier, in John 13:35, Jesus says, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (emphasis mine). Notice he doesn't say, "by your perfect theology" or "by your hard stance on all the issues" people will know you are my disciples. He says: people will know you are my disciples—that you are followers of Jesus—because you will love like I love. Love is the most important commandment we are given. I don't know about you, but this feels a little surprising to me. In fact, I know there have to be a few of you reading who feel surprised by this declaration because every time I talk about this idea in public, I get a little bit of pushback. Not in a bad way. People are genuinely trying to find the right answer, but often people will say something like, "OK, but Jesus also said we would be hated for being his followers ... so it can't just be all rainbows and fairy dust ... can it?" No, it can't, and it won't be perfect all of the time, and of course there will be disagreements. In any healthy family there are disagreements among the
(417) 581-9192
Ozark, MO
Stained Glass Theatre: “Serving Christ Through the Arts”
www.sgtheatre.com Next Showing: The Land of Nod by Ginger Casebeer Performing July 31 through August 30, 2014 The King travels away and leaves his Son in charge of the kingdom. The Dreamweaver takes advantage of the situation and slowly turns the people of the Kingdom against the Prince, with deadly results. Find out what happens when the King returns to The Land of Nod.
August 2014
members. But I find it interesting that the passage they're talking about— where Jesus warns us the world might hate us for following Him—is directly preceded by the passage I shared above.
department.
In other words, just before Jesus says, "people might hate you for being connected to me," He says, "the most important thing about being connected to me is this: You must always love."
Yet if we want to be leaders, if we want to be a part of what God is doing, if we want to be connected to the garden of his goodness, this has to be our number one priority. We can't delay any longer.
How many Christians do you know who are living up to this commandment?
We must become people who love.
If you're like me, you know a few, but you also encounter dozens on a daily basis who aren't acting in ways that would help others "know us by our love." Just log onto Facebook for a minute. Social media seems to provide a great platform for people who want to argue about theology and forget about love.
I know I see areas in my life where bystanders might not know me by my love.
With more than a dozen years of local church ministry, Justin Lathrop has spent the last several years starting businesses and ministries that partner with pastors and churches to advance the Kingdom. He is the founder of Helpstaff.me (now Vanderbloemen Search), Oaks School of Leadership and MinistryCoach.tv, all while staying involved in the local church.
And at the same time, if we're really honest with ourselves, my guess is we each have a long way to go in the love
For the original article, visit:
ACV Mission Statement:
are made from a fairly moderate to conservative viewpoint.
The American Christian Voice is published under the direction of the Ozarks Christian Foundation, a 501(c)3 non profit agency. Its primary purpose is to edify the body of Christ through inspirational articles of Christian faith and courage, educate the body of Christ through informative articles promoting the cultivation of a Christian world view, and encourage the body of Christ to support one another. We are dedicated to be Kingdom builders as re realize that our unity can only represent God in our diversity. Our focus is on, and to, the invisible church which Jesus Christ said, “The gates of hell would not prevail against.” We announce the current events of the visible church, and we believe the Body of Christ is made up of people who have found salvation by faith in Jesus Christ evidenced by the good works they are doing and have done. We report the good as well as the bad within our church family as a testament for the necessity of a Savior. Our observations
justinlathrop.com.
We encourage our readers to eschew religion and persue a relationship with God through Jesus Christ as led by the Holy Spirit, thus allowing an open mindedness to differing opinions on non-essential matters.
We strive not to be the fire alarm, but the fire extinguisher Please be advised that the contents of this publication often do not represent the positions held by many of the sponsors of the American Christian Voice (or for that matter, the publishers). Would you remember to favor the advertisers here in the ACV. They help keep our cover price John & Lorri Sacoulas so low!
The ACV is available at: 2722 St. Hwy 248 • Branson, MO 65616 Across from Branson Events Center (417) 544-0206 • 248pizzacompany@gmail.com Open Mon - Sat 11 AM - 9 PM • Sunday Closed
Publishers, ACV
EBT
ACC
EPTE
D
August 2014
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com
When Sin Loses Its Appeal by John Burke
H
as sin lost its appeal for you? I’ll never forget a quote by a guy who joined Gateway’s recovery group. He had just found faith earlier that year and had been growing to experience this moment-by-moment life with God.
doing it some day for the entire day. It is a matter of acquiring a new habit of thought. Now I like the Lord’s presence so much that when for a half hour or so He slips out of mind—as He does many times a day—I feel as though I deserted Him, and as though I had lost something very precious in my life.”
When asked what he hoped to get out of the group, he said, “I’m here because this thing I’m experiencing with God right now is so good, I just don’t want to do anything to screw it up!”
I can now believe him, but this was not always the case for me. For many years, my spiritual life felt dutiful. I would say it was the right way to live or a good way to live but not amazing, life-giving, exciting, thrilling and fulfilling like nothing else.
Too often we focus on not doing this or that—it doesn’t work. The more longterm, successful approach is to focus on staying connected and responsive to God, and when we stick with it long enough, we start to experience something better that replaces the old behavior until it’s not such a struggle.
Now I can say that because that’s been my experience as I’m staying more and more connected in a daily, hourly, sometimes even moment-to-moment way. When we learn to stay connected and responsive, sin begins to lose its appeal.
Paul put it this way: “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desires of the [old nature].” (Gal. 5:16, NASB) Frank Laubach wrote this in his journal after the first five months he spent seeking moment-by-moment life with God: “Oh, this thing of keeping in constant touch with God, of making Him the object of my thought and the companion of my conversations, is the most amazing thing I ever ran across. It is working. I cannot do it even half of a day—not yet, but I believe I shall be
Page 11
For Reading and Supporting the American Christian Voice!
For Subscription Information See Page 38
We sin (go against God’s will or ways) because we think it will get us something we want or need, but the more you stay connected and experience the fulfilling inner life God’s Spirit produces, you selfishly don’t want to sin because you don’t want to ruin something much better with something less satisfying. That’s when lasting change takes root. John Burke is lead pastor of Gateway Church in Austin, Texas, (satellite church service in Branson, MO see page 13 for details) and the author of No Perfect People Allowed. johnburkeonline.com
www.GraceCommunityAssembly.com Sun. 9:00 am & 11:00 am • Wed. 6:30pm Grace Community Assembly 440 State Hwy 248 Branson, MO (417) 336-2422
Pastor Pastor Allen Asbury David Betzer Equiping our families for ministry to each other and outreach to the needy and lost. Spirit-filled Davidic style Praise and Worship Annoited Bible-based teaching Fellowship after each service Nursery & Children’s Shabbat School
Meeting at Branson Hills Ministry Center 256 Church Road, Branson, MO 65616 417.334.7373, www.TheTabernacleinBranson.com Discover the Hebrew roots of your Christian faith!
Join us for weekly services: Erev Shabbat (Friday) 7:30 pm Shabbat (Saturday) 11 am • (417) 334-7373
Page 12
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com
August 2014
Seamless Siding has revolutioned the siding industry. Before
After
We manufacture seamless siding on the job site without ...
Seamless Guttering Seamless Siding Seamless Roofing ... the laps, gaps, seams or splices.
417.239.4555
old r r u yo e fo e c m pla g in ti ing! e R in pr S sid
www.SeamlessSidingExperts.com
Jeff & Debbie Holden
No matter what length is needed, each piece is custom fit to your home...
giving it the crisp, clean seamless look! Dear Father, Forgive me when I lose sight of what is really important in life. Help me to keep my eyes focused on your truth. Enable me to show others that you are the real treasure in life.
"Historians will conclude that we of the 20th century had the genius to create a great civilization, but we lacked the moral wisdom to preserve it." - A.W. Tozer
August 2014
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com
Page 13
LEAVES ON THE VINE Agape Life Fellowship • Pastor Twila Bridges • 6185 W. State Hwy 266 Springfield, MO • (417) 831-2333 www.agapelifefellowship.org
Calvary Chapel of Branson, MO 611 6th Street • Branson, MO (417) 561-1000 • (417) 336-1297 Sunday Service 10:15 AM Pastor Sparky Ferguson Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa, CA 3800 S Fairview St • Santa Ana, CA 92704 (714) 979-4422 Calvary Chapel of Fayetteville, AR 2418 N Gregg Ave Fayetteville, AR • (479) 301-2313 Phil Heppner www.calvaryfayar.com Carpenters House (417) 334-0081 • 187 1st St Hollister, MO 65672 Faith Center Church/ CRA Ministries, Int'l 8537 Missouri 76 Reeds Spring, MO • (417) 338-8537 www.christianrodders.org El Shaddai Ministries 4501 Quail Court Harrison, AR. 72601 (3 miles down Bellefonte Rd.) services: Saturdays at 2:30pm 870.365.0004 www.ElShaddaiMinistries.net
Faith & Wisdom Church 3950 Green Mountain Drive Branson, MO • (417) 335-9991 www.fwcbranson.com Gateway Austin, Texas Northwest Austin: McNeil Campus South Austin: South Campus Internet Campus: email to get connected internetcampus@gatewaychurch.com Branson, MO: Gateway Branson www.gatewaychurch.com
Gateway Branson, MO Located in the Vista Plaza Shopping Center on the backside 2005 West Highway 76 • Suite 106 Branson, MO • (417) 335-9915 www.gatewaybranson.org Grace Community Assembly 440 State Highway 248 Branson, MO • (417) 336-2422 www.gracecommunityassembly.com Morningside Church • Pastor Kevin Shorey • 180 Grace Chapel Rd Blue Eye, MO • (417) 779-9000 www.jimbakkershow.com/morningside/ church-services/ Peace Lutheran Church (ELCA) 350 State Drive Hollister, MO • (417) 334-1499 www.peacelutheranchurchhollister.com Springfield Church of God (7th Day) 1521 East 24th Street North Springfield, MO • (417) 831-6721 www.springfieldcog7.org
Jonah at Sight & Sound Theatres! Now playing in Branson, MO Jonah was enjoyed by more than 800,000 guests in its opening season in
Still Waters International Ministries 124 Deer Mountain Road Walnut Shade, MO • (417) 598-1231 www.stillwatersintlministries.com
Through it all, God reveals His extreme mercy and love not only for Jonah but His love for all.
The Tabernacle in Branson 256 Church Road Branson, MO • (417) 334-7373 www.thetabernacleinbranson.com United Methodist Church 1208 W 76 Country Blvd • Branson, MO (417) 334-3423• Rev. Stacie L. Williams Sunday Services: 8 am Traditional 9:30 Contemporary, 11 am Traditional www.bransonumc.org
For a donation as little as $10.00 per month your church can be listed in Leaves on a Vine. What a great gift you can make to your fellowship! Call John at: (417)336-3636 or (417)353-7598 Pastor: Andy Hassen
Springfield Church of God (7th Day)
1521 E. 24th Street N. Springfield, MO 65803
"Sharing Freedom in Christ"
(417) 831-6721
of God, begins when he disobeys God and runs away from the Lord. His adventure takes him through a terrible storm, an encounter with an enormous fish, his new life in a wicked empire and the struggles he faces through what becomes the greatest revival in history. Jonah is a story of extremes we face as we trust in the Lord.
Lancaster County, PA, Jonah is the epic adventure that has delighted audiences young and old. An uplifting, powerful show full of surprises set 700 years before the birth of Christ, Jonah delivers a powerful and timely message that resonates no more clearly than today. The journey of Jonah, a faithful, righteous prophet Sabbath School: 9:45 am Worship: 11:00 am Wednesday night: 6:30 pm
www.springfieldcog7.org
With spectacular staging, immersive special effects, beautiful original music and a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, Sight & Sound brings the action front and center to each visitor in our majestic theatre in Branson, MO. See the show that visitors call "aweinspiring," "uplifting" and "amazing."
www.Sight-Sound.com
A week without a Sabbath is perpetual bondage.
Page 14
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com
CoMPuTEr tIPs & sTUfF sponsored by Mobile Mike’s PC Service & Repair
Back those bits up!
T
he majority of computer users have little or none of their personal data backed up. That means that if disaster strikes, you could lose all of your precious files forever. This might include irreplaceable pictures, documents, videos and other files. If you have a backup solution in place then take a moment to pat yourself on the back (I’ll wait…), you’ve just saved yourself from a major headache when your hard drive fails. For the rest of you, well… you’re in luck because this article will help you get started before it’s too late. Before we get into that though, if your computer is crashed or not working and you can’t retrieve your files there still might be hope. Many times when that happens the software on the computer is what’s damaged and your files could be still sitting
&
August 2014
Mention this ad with any service call and receive a $10.00 gift certificate to McFarlain’s Restaurant in Branson’s IMAX Center! offer expires September 15, 2014
safely on your hard drive awaiting retrieval by a professional computer repair company like • We come to your home or office! Mobile Mikes (shameless plug). • Affordable Rates • Guarantee on all services But my • Licensed & Insured • Home or office readers are networking • New computer set-ups • Virus Help Me the ones that removals • PC optimizations & upgrades want to be • Training sessions available at your Mike! ir proactive location on your equipment & Repa e c i v r e and have a PC S Serving Branson, Springfield & backup surrounding areas solution in place before it’s too late. There are files. One such service that many of so you’ll have them if your computer many ways to my clients have used is called crashes, and you can move them back Carbonite. Carbonite is a program over once it’s repaired. Flash drives back up data. ploading a that can be installed on your computer are often used for backing up or picture to and will search and automatically storing specific files and folders Facebook is a form of back up all of your personal files because often the user has to manually backing up, once securely. Your files are encrypted and copy the files over themselves so if you’ve uploaded that photo or video protected with a user name and the flash drive does not contain the latest files you’ll lose any files not to Facebook they store it on their password that only you know. ince Carbonite automatically copied if your computer dies. An servers forever, but that only works backs up your files, if disaster automatic backup is best, but no for photos and videos. The best ever strikes you can retrieve your files matter what method you use it will be overall solution for backup is a newer method called “Cloud Storage.” and get back up and running once better than no backup at all. So back Cloud storage allows you to upload your computer is repaired. Other those bits up before it’s too late. your files through the internet to a methods of backup are with flash secure server maintained by a drives and external hard drives. Mention American Christian Voice and we will give you a FREE remote tuneup. If company that you pay to store your This is the classic method of backing up, many external hard drives come there are any situations that require a preloaded with software that will back charge we will give you 15% off your bill and buy your lunch at McFarlain’s to up your files to the external hard drive boot!
417-365-5504
U
S
Send your questions to Ask Mike at:MobileMikesPCRepair@gmail.com
1315 West Hwy 76 Branson
% 0 1 F OF
Mon - Thu 11:00 AM to 9:30 PM Fri & Sat - 11:00 AM to 10:30 PM Sun & Holidays - 11 AM to 9 PM
Open 7 Days a Week! 10% off Super Buffet with this Coupon (Cannot be combined with other offers) (417) 334-8838
August 2014
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com
The Ministry Directory is brought to you in part by: Love In the Name of Christ (Love INC) is a movement of Christian churches working together to show God’s love to the poor and needy. • 7347 W. Hwy. 76 • Branson • (417) 336-7056 • Toll Free: (866) 568-3462 • Emails: Anita Pugh, Executive Director: apugh@omcloveinc.com • Jenifer Maupin, Office Administrator, jmaupin@omcloveinc.com ADOPTION Cherish Kids may be contacted at 6100 North 19th Street, Ozark, Missouri 65721, by telephone at (417) 581-KIDS (5437) or by emailing: info@cherishkids.org . MBCH Children & Family Min. Adoption & foster care services 1837 E. Cherry St. Springfield • (417) 831-2342 ASSISTANCE Salvation Army Lt. Shawn DeBaar 1114 Stanley Branson MO 65616 (417) 339-4434 CHILDREN Dolly Parton's Imagination Library FREE books for children John Richardson PO Box 6850 Branson MO 65615 (417) 337-9400 johnr@dixiestampede.com www.imaginationlibrary.com EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE
Jobs for Life Work training program 5004 West Hwy 76 Branson • (417) 335-9915 DISASTER ASSISTANCE Convoy of Hope Assisting those in need 330 S. Patterson Ave. Springfield • (417) 823-8998
Ozarks Regional YMCA Julie Eaton, Director of Marketing, jeaton@orymca.org • 417 S. Jefferson Springfield • (417) 862-8962 ext. 2117
FOOD Smart Choice Foods Discount food program To find a local host: www.smartchoicefood.com National Office (866) 643-0877 Christian Action Ministries Food assistance program
610 South Sixth Street, Ste 102 Branson • (417) 334-1157
GREIF COUNSELING
Grace Community Assembly Ask about Divorce Care Tuesday night meetings held at 440 State Hwy 248 Branson • (417) 336-2422 Grief Share Grief recovery support group If you’ve lost someone close to you, or know someone who has, please call us to find out more information about our weekly seminar/support groups. We know it hurts, and we want to help! Branson/Forsyth • (417) 544-4177 HEALTH
Health Care FAMILY ASSISTANCE
Gift of Hope Inc Meghan Connell 15366 US Hwy 160 Forsyth MO 65653 (417) 546-8062 dcampbell@nationalenzyme.com www.giftofhopeinc.org
for the uninsured.
(417) 336-WELL( www.FaithCommunity Health.org
PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH (ELCA)
YMCA Fitness for families 175 Industrial Park Dr. Hollister • (417) 337-9622
HOMELESSNESS Victory Mission Residential work program 824 W Commercial St. Springfield • (417) 864-2244 PORNOGRAPHY Fight the New Drug exists to provide individuals the opportunity to make an informed decision regarding pornography by raising awareness on its harmful effects using science, facts, and personal accounts. blog.fightthenewdrug.org
PRISON Bill Glass Ministries Prison visitations 1101 S. Cedar Ridge Drive Duncanville, TX • (972) 298-1101 REHABILITATION Church Army Branson Cary McKee PO Box 6224 Branson MO 65615 (417) 339-3804 cmckee@churcharmyusa.org www.churcharmybranson.org Rancho Poiema
Page 15
month Discipleship though The Holy Scriptures and personal involvement with a team of dedicated staff members, who were once also in bondage to drugs and alcohol but have been set free by The Power Of God and The Holy Spirit! Cesar Delgado is The current Director of Rancho Poiema and can be reached at the 0115216461630752 international number. Antonio Sanchez is a current Board Member for The Ranch and will assist in helping those that will be coming from The U.S. who desperately need deliverance from these addictions. Antonio lives in The U. S with his wife Olga and has been alcohol and drug free since January 5th 1975. He was once a leader of AA but JESUS delivered him! Antonio can be contacted at 562-3224480 or at antonioolga @aol.com. The only requirement to come to Rancho Poiema is that a person be willing to provide $150.00 dollars a month to help offset cost of food and utilities and not be detoxing at the time of entry. There are other ministries that can assist with that need. WOMEN
WORSHIP SERVICES: Praise & Worship Sun. @ 8:30 a.m.
Pregnancy Life Line Crisis pregnancy center 15765 Missouri 13 Branson West • (417) 272-5210 YOUTH Bridges For Youth Youth ministries 834 N National Ave. Springfield • (417) 864-8430 Lives Under Construction Boys Ranch 296 Boys Ranch Rd, Lampe, MO 65681 • (417) 779-5374 Teen Harvest Youth Ranch Christian, Bible-centered ministry To boys mainly between ages 12-17 who need assistance in a good home to establish a proper environment in which to grow and learn. Located at County Road 402, Ava, MO 6560. Call Pastor Paul Neighbour at (417) 683-1080 For more info or visit web site:
www.teenharvest.com
Caring People Single mothers assistance 164 Corporate Pl. Branson • (417) 334-0131 Concerned Women for America (CWA) Conservative political women ministries 1015 Fifteenth St. NW, Ste 1100 Washington, D.C. • (202) 488-7000 Crisis Center Becky Vermeire PO Box 282 Branson MO 65615 (417) 561-5105( 866) 379-0074 crisiscenter@centurytel.net www.womenscrisiscenter.net
The vision of Pastor Chris Martinez of Calvary Chapel Tijuana, Mexico. The goal of this Ministry is to reach out to those individuals that are dealing with drug and alcohol problems. The Ranch is 25 miles inland from the city of Ensenada, Mexico and is located in a place of serene and tranquil atmosphere which is ideal for seeking The Lord and far removed from old friends and contacts. The Ranch offers 9
Options Pregnancy Center Crisis pregnancy center 192 Expressway Ln. Branson • (417) 336-5483
Man has two great spiritual needs. One is for forgiveness. The other is for goodness. -Billy Graham For Subscription Information See Page 38
Branson Collision Center 548 Gretna Road 417.335.3775 When It Must Be Right! Education Hour - 9:15 a.m.
Liturgy &Traditional Service - 10:30 a.m. HIGHWAY #165 AND STATE DRIVE
350 State Dr. • Hollister
VISITORS WELCOME
(417) 334-1499 Pastor Emil Bartos peacelutheranchurchhollister.com
Page 16
Exposed by My Children for What I Really Look Like by Bridgette White
F
lipping through the pictures on my phone, I see it.
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com "I took that of you in Tahoe," he says. "You looked so beautiful lying there. I couldn't help it, Mom."
helped her kids across the rocks and hot sand so their feet wouldn't hurt.
Well... not exactly. But something like that.
"You need to ask me before using my phone to take pictures," I say.
I still see a fat woman wearing a black dress bathing suit to try to hide her weight issue.
Is it because I'm getting older? Is it that I have more to worry about than just how I look? Or maybe it's because my kids look at me with such adoring eyes.
"I know," he says. "But Mom, seriously, look how pretty you look!"
I also see an adventurous mom who loves her children something fierce.
I look at the picture again and try to see what he sees.
Like many women, I have struggled with my weight most of my life. It's not something that will ever go away for me. I don't have a naturally slim body. Never have.
My daughter walks over and takes a look. "That could be a postcard, Mom," she says smiling. "You're so beautiful. I love it." I take a deep breath. My first reaction is shock. Who took this hideous picture of me?
This is exactly what I needed.
Self-loathing and disgust swell up and threaten to bring me to tears.
My default mode is to see and focus on my flaws and imperfections. I'm starting to see a bit more.
Just as I am about to hit "delete," my boy walks in the room.
I still see my dimply, fat thighs.
"Do you know anything about this picture?" I ask him.
I also see a mom collapsed on the shore who just explored the lake for hours with her children.
I turn the screen so he can see it. He smiles huge.
August 2014
I still see chubby arms. I also see the arms of a mom who just
Right now I'm the heaviest I've been in 10 years. Yet...
Really, it doesn't matter. I don't hate anymore.
my
body
That's huge for me to admit, and hard to even wrap my mind around. I'm not giving up on exercising and getting healthy. Those are things I will continue to strive for, because I want to be around awhile.
I have not let my weight stop me this time. I am wearing tank tops, sundresses and bathing suits in public. I'm running around playing with my kids this summer and I sometimes even feel attractive.
Right now, though, I just want to love my body where it is. I want it to be OK to see myself the way my kids do.
Yes. You heard me.
Bridgette White is a stay-at-home mother of two and author.
"I feel pretty. Oh so pretty. I feel pretty and witty and bright!"
Thank you, kids.
BridgetteTales.com
As seeing and knowing, God is one. As being seen and known, God is three.
See page 2 for details!
Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened. -Billy Graham
August 2014
The 9 Ms of Prophetic Diversity by James Goll
P
rophecy isn't a one-size-fits-all gift.
I would love for it to be said of me that I was like Anna (Luke 2:36-38), someone who focused on nothing and nobody except Jesus. In every prophetic word, long ones or short ones, in every vision, every dream, every inspired prayer, I want to be declaring the testimony of Jesus (Rev. 19:10). I want to be like John the Beloved, leaning my head on His chest and then telling others about Him. Do you love Him? If you love Him, your heart will overflow with words about Him. In loving Him, none of us will be exactly like Anna, because the overflow will take different forms. The message of love will come in different wrappings, and it will be presented in different styles. Marketplace manners are a little different from prophetic conferences. Culture differs from place to place. But the simple truth is that all adventures in the prophetic realm must be rooted in the same soil: expressing the love of God. How Much God Loves Somebody Else The prophetic gift helps us understand how much God loves us personally. But as the gift operates upon, in and through you, it becomes a demonstration of how much God loves someone else. When you stir up the gift and release it, you are doing what the apostle Paul taught: "Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy" (1 Cor. 14:1). Prophecy, in its pure form, is supposed to be about loving people with Jesus' love. God has put into you a tiny measure of His massive heart of love, and His Spirit decides to open up a little spigot. Even a tiny measure of His love overwhelms us, whether it comes with signs and wonders or in the midst of a quiet, calm, little conversation. For each of us, the various expressions of the prophetic gift differ, depending upon our personalities and what God has called us to. Each of us is a unique creature. God never uses a cookie cutter. The varieties of giftings and ministries that we read about in the New Testament become further varied as they are expressed
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com through such a wide variety of individuals: "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all" (1 Cor. 12:4-6).
3. Marketplace ministry. Though never heard of until recently, it is increasing. Guided by the Holy Spirit, Christians exercise their prophetic gifts in their places of secular employment, bringing much-needed wisdom and prophetic intercession into new situations.
Page 17 Whether we face more storms or times of fulfillment, it is time to seize the moment, listening to the Holy Spirit for direction. The body of Christ is accepting an incredible opportunity to shift and move into kingdom alignment. Getting It Together
Relevant Shifts Besides the differences in personalities and in applications of the prophetic gifts, I am continually noticing additional diversity in the prophetic realm. Within the body of Christ, we are finding a wider ethnic diversity than ever before, and we are also hearing fresh voices. More new people are just over the horizon. We are hearing new prophetic sounds, in terms of up-to-the-minute media presentations. Continuous change seems to be the new norm. New ways of thinking require flexibility and adjustment. From prophetic evangelism at New Age fairs to solemn assemblies of hungry, passionate young people, the name of Jesus is being proclaimed as never before. Year after year, new models of kingdom life are developing. They include everything from megachurches to small house churches, from crowded stadiums to widely dispersed webcasts. Some flourish in places that have become centers of spiritual life, while others remain hidden from the public eye. Such a wide variety of new possibilities abound in this shifting prophetic landscape that I have tried to capture them in a memorable way. Here are my nine Ms: 1. Mighty streams of prayer and praise. This, combined with the worship movement, is maturing and bringing us into higher realms of glory. 2. Miracle manifestations. They are proliferating, not only in Third World countries, but also in the West.
4. Matrix of relationships. The gifts do not thrive in isolation; they require a healthy, relational community of faith. 5. Missions outreach. In spite of world recession and the wellestablished indigenous church, both long-term and shortterm missions continue to be launched, based in many countries, including new places.
I wish personal character could have been an outright gift of the Spirit like the gift of prophecy or the word of wisdom. Our character flaws contribute more to our ministry failures than any other factor. And yet bequeathing us such puny character represents a stroke of genius on the part of God, who wants us to rely on Him for everything. Here He is, living inside each person who names Him as Lord, with a goal of transforming us into His image day by day. As we come into union with the Creator of the universe, who knows us better than we will ever know ourselves, we grow in our experience of new creation realities. Christ in us is the hope of glory (Col. 1:27).
6. Middle East emphasis. God is doing something in Israel and in the regions surrounding Israel as people bring the gospel of the kingdom to the Jew first and then to the Gentile (Rom. 1:16).
The Spirit who dwells inside us is also the spirit of prophecy, and, as you will remember, the spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus (Rev. 19:10). As the spirit of prophecy draws you continually to the Lord of love, you will know God better and better.
7. Ministry training. With the proliferation of ministry training centers and the organic spreading of the mentoring movement, established prophets, pastors and teachers are able to give away what they have earned and learned. People are realizing that the little bit they have may be someone else's magnificent meal.
That is our cure for weak character—and our primary prophetic message. What an adventure this life with Him is turning out to be! Yes, there will be a generation that walks in the double: fullness of fruit (character) and fullness of power (gifts of the Holy Spirit). And when we add the spirit of wisdom to that—oh, what an adventure that will truly be!
8. Mercy ministries. My late wife, Michal Ann Goll, responded to a call for this one. She ministered in Mozambique, Thailand, Burma, among the First Nations and wherever else she was able to release the message that compassion acts.
Dr. James W. Goll is the president of Encounters Network, director of Prayer Storm, and coordinates Encounters Alliance, a coalition of leaders. He is director of God Encounters Training, an e-school of the heart, and is a member of the Harvest International Ministries apostolic team. He has shared Jesus in more than 50 nations worldwide, teaching and imparting the power of intercession, prophetic ministry, and life in the Spirit. James is the prolific author of numerous books and has also produced multiple study guides and hundreds of audio and video messages. James was married to Michal Ann for 32 years before her graduation to Heaven in the fall of 2008. James has four adult children who all love Jesus, and continues to make his home in Franklin, Tennessee.
9. Media mania. This is another way of saying that every new means of communication, public and private, is being used by people of the kingdom. The Holy Spirit is helping the worldwide church to achieve a remarkable level of unity and energy in "doing the stuff."
Page 18
Military: Gay Pride Parades Are OK, Vacation Bible School Is Not by Todd Starnes ible Baptist Church in Carthage, Missouri, is a small country church bursting with American pride. Old Glory stands proudly in the sanctuary. And every morning at summer youth camp, the teenagers pledge allegiance and sing the National Anthem.
B
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com kids what the military does." But the National Guard did not visit Bible Baptist Church on Thursday night, and the reason has caused great anger and frustration among church members. "We were told it was against military policy for National Guard troops to
Patriotic holidays are big doings at Bible Baptist. On Memorial Day, the church ladies put out quite a spread—fried chicken, potato salad. Veterans wear their uniforms, and the preacher would salute them during the morning worship service. "We are a very patriotic church," Pastor Kent Hogan told a reporter. "We love America. We love this country." So it was not that big of a surprise when the church decided to honor the military during its annual Vacation Bible School. The theme was "God's Rescue Squad." And each day of the week, the church invited local "rescue squads" to visit with the boys and girls. The paramedics came on Monday, and the fire department showed up Tuesday. The boys and girls were taught how to stop, drop and roll. On Wednesday, the Jasper County Sheriff's Dept. brought its K-9 unit. But our story picks up with what happened on Thursday. That was the day the church was supposed to honor the National Guard. They had invited troops from the nearby armory to drop by with one of their Humvees. "We were going to thank them for protecting our religious liberty," said Pastor Hogan. "It was more of a promotion for the military—to show the
participate in Vacation Bible School," Pastor Hogan said. "They said if the National Guard had assets on church property, it would look like the National Guard is sponsoring the Baptist religion." Pastor Hogan said he was dumbfounded. "We are right in the middle of the United States of America," the pastor said. "We are part of the Bible Belt. You read about this stuff going on in big cities. But in Carthage?" The pastor said the military was concerned about people getting offended by the sight of National Guard troops visiting a church. "They said they didn't want to offend anybody. Well, it's offended our whole church." So Pastor Hogan reached out to his state representative, a Republican named Mike Kelley. Kelley then called the adjunct general of the Missouri National Guard.
August 2014
prohibits them from doing anything with any specific church," Kelley said. "The guys on the state level did everything they could. I have great respect for our local Missouri National Guard. But we are dealing with an over-burdensome federal regulation." The Missouri National Guard did not return a reporter's calls for comment—but it doesn't matter. Kelley sent me a copy of the Army regulation. It states: "Army participation must not selectively benefit (or appear to benefit) any person, group, or corporation (whether profit or nonprofit); religion, sect, religious or sectarian group, or quasi-religious or ideological movement." The policy also states that troops are to avoid any activities that might involve or appear to involve the promotion, endorsement or sponsorship of any religious or sectarian movement. Kelley said he is incredibly disappointed with the federal policy and feels especially bad for the church. "He (Pastor Hogan) basically got blown off by the federal government," Kelley said. Several members of the Missouri National Guard told me they were disgusted by what happened. They only agreed to be quoted provided their identities were not disclosed. "I can tell you I'm ashamed and embarrassed right now," one Guardsman said. "This isn't the military I signed up for."
"They told me that federal policy
OZARKS HEBREW HERITAGE ASSOCIATION (OHHA) explores the Hebrew Roots of our Christian Faith monthly at the Comfort Inn, 3370 E. Battlefield (just East of Hwy 65), Springfield, MO For more info: 888-265-1837 or email: ohhatorah@yahoo.com
Other soldiers said it was extremely disappointing and embarrassing. "We had a lot of disappointed kiddos because of the National Guard being unwilling to allow a Humvee and a few soldiers to spend an hour at a Baptist Church," another Guardsman said. "It makes we wonder what I'm actually fighting for." But I believe this soldier's observations and analysis truly sum up our nation's current state of affairs. "I will never understand why it's OK for the military to march in a gay-pride parade but not be allowed to spend an hour talking to children who look up to them (soldiers)," the Guardsman said. "I honestly never thought I'd see the day that this would happen in my hometown." In June, the Department of Defense gave permission for a military color guard to march in Washington, D.C.'s gay pride parade. It marked the first time in history that the U.S. Army Military District of Washington participated in the parade. Pastor Hogan said the entire incident is both appalling and ludicrous. "I don't think most Americans realize how much their religious liberty is in jeopardy," he said. "If they did this to us, how bad is it somewhere else? This is not just a big-city issue. This is a small-townAmerica issue. Americans need to wake up." Welcome to the age of enlightenment, Pastor Hogan--where the military can march in a gay pride parade but cannot hang out with 6-year-olds at Vacation Bible School. Todd Starnes is host of Fox News & Commentary, heard on hundreds of radio stations. Sign up for his American Dispatch newsletter, be sure to join his Facebook page, and follow him on Twitter. His latest book is God Less America.
Join us for our monthly meetings! July 26 @ 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm Mike Clayton returns with his intuitive down-to-earth teachings. The schedule: Noon fellowship - bring a sack lunch • 1:00 Hebrew lessons • 2:00 Mike’s first message • 4:30 Oneg/Covered dish dinner - bring a Biblically kosher dish www.ozarkshebrewheritage.com
August 2014
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com businesses and move about with all fellow Israeli citizens. As evidenced by the Arab Tshirt vendor I purchased items from seen in picture, lower, right.
Israel is the Best “Enemy” Anyone Could Hope For by John G. Sacoulas, editor ACV
W
hen I was in the middle east I was surprised that Israel respected the mosques of their enemies. There are certainly more mosques in and around Jerusalem than there are Jewish synagogues. In the 1967 six day war the Jewish people would have been within their rights to remove the mosque so a future third temple could be built but Moshe Dyan forbid its destruction due to the sacredness of the edifice to the Palestinians. The Muslims believe that on the rock protrusion underneath the dome is where Mohammed was “translated” miraculously to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. This rock also would be the location of the spot where Abraham was to sacrifice his son Isaac and at a much later date the very throne of King David. Israel has permitted them a safe haven for this shrine despite its location on the most sacred real estate to the Jewish people. In the photograph to the upper right, I am holding a copy of the former Ozarks Christian News, the predecessor to the current American Christian Voice, in
Page 19
Do you envision that courtesy in most any Muslim controlled place on the planet to a Jewish person or family? Ironically, the Arab controlled cities of Nazareth and Bethlehem are persona non grata to Jews. As they destroyed the Hamas nests of rocket launchers and caches of armament in schools, hospitals and residential homes I was impressed with the restraint the IDF (Israel Defense Force) used in their methodology. Jewish people do to real estate on coast lines. I ate my breakfasts there each morning in a beautiful setting. This could have been done in the Gaza strip but it is my weak western mind to believe that to make something pleasant
They leave leaflets in and around the intended strike zone. Such places are often under constant surveillance, and the IDF has a sense of how many people live there, and how many leave. Then a phone call is made to the occupants to leave a building. This is according to Relik Shafir, a retired brigadier general in the Israel Defense Forces, and a former fighter pilot. If it is still unclear whether a building is occupied, a missile that carries little or no explosive load is aimed at the roof of a building. The impact is felt, but it rarely causes casualties.
important the target is. But there are hundreds or even thousands of such places in Gaza, chosen by Hamas precisely because they complicate targeting. In any event, very few people’s of power have shown such incredible restraint against an enemy bent on its utter annihilation. Of all nations that ever had cause to hold fast to what they rightly possess, Israel maintains the best enemy anyone could ever hope for. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem because even though it will not happen by human means, the prayer will be answered with the second coming of our Lord and Savior, Yeshua Ha-Mashiach, Jesus Christ.
If the Arabs layed down their arms today, there would be peace in the Middle East. If Israel layed down their arms today, there would be no more Israel. -Benjamin Netanyahu
“It’s meant to get people to take us seriously,” says Shafir.
front of the Dome of the Rock.
of your environment is a good thing.
Despite the lack of gratitude by the Palestinians for the gift of the Gaza strip, they refused to make a thriving community of this mediterranean coastland in lieu of a terrorist haven to inflict harm upon their benefactor. The picture above is an example of what the
To their Palestinian citizens Israelis are inclusive to the point of providing free higher education, free health care and national defense without them having to join the military like their counterparts. They are permitted to own and operate
There is no standard gap between the delivery of the “dummy” missile and fully armed missiles, says Shafir. It can be minutes or even hours. It depends on how
Arab shop keeper in Jerusalem
Page 20
Ben Carson Biography Surgeon, Philanthropist, Journalist by Biography.com
B
en Carson was born in Detroit, Michigan, on September 18, 1951. His mother, though undereducated herself, pushed her sons to read and to believe in themselves. Carson went from being a poor student to receiving honors and he eventually attended medical school. As a doctor, he became the Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital at age 33, and became famous for his groundbreaking work separating conjoined twins.
Early Life Benjamin Solomon Carson was born in Detroit, Michigan, on September 18, 1951. The second son of Sonya and Robert Solomon Carson, Ben grew up in the hardened climate of inner-city Detroit. Ben's mother was raised in Tennessee in a very large family. She dropped out of school in the third grade. With not much hope or prospects in life, she married Baptist minister Robert Carson when she was 13, believing that he would change her life. The couple moved to Detroit, Michigan, and for a time, the marriage was a success. Carson showered his wife with gifts and attention. But over time, Robert Carson changed. Though benevolent, he could also be domineering and erratic. In time, Sonya felt it was best for her sons if she and Robert divorced. Influential Mother Ben was 8 and Curtis, Ben's brother, was 10 when Sonya was left to raise the children on her own. The family was very poor, and to make ends meet Sonya sometimes took on two or three jobs at a time in order to provide for her boys. Most of the jobs she had were as a domestic servant. There were occasions when her boys wouldn't see her for days at a time, because she would go to work at 5:00 a.m. and come home around 11:00 p.m., going from one job to the next. Carson's mother was frugal with the family's finances, cleaning and patching clothes from the Goodwill in order to dress the boys. The family would also go to local farmers and offer to pick corn or other vegetables in exchange for a portion of the yield. She would then can the produce for the kids' meals. Her actions, and the way she managed the family, proved to be a tremendous influence on Ben and Curtis.
August 2014 Sonya also taught her boys that anything was possible. By his recollection many years later, Ben Carson had thoughts of a career in medicine, though it was more of a fantasy many young children harbor as they grow up. Because his family was on medical assistance, they would have to wait for hours to be seen by one of the interns at the hospital. Ben would listen to the pulse of the hospital as doctors and nurses went about their routines. Occasionally, there'd be an emergency and he could hear in people's voices and in their quick movements the pace and emotions rise to meet the challenge. He'd hear the PA system call for a "Dr. Jones" and fantasized that one day they'd be calling for a "Dr. Carson." Early Education Both Ben and his brother experienced difficulty in school. Ben fell to the bottom of his class, and became the object of ridicule by his classmates. He developed a violent and uncontrollable temper, and was known to attack other children at the slightest provocation. The poverty he lived in and the difficult times he experienced in school seem to exacerbate the anger and rage. Determined to turn her sons around, Sonya limited their TV time to just a few select programs and refused to let them go outside to play until they'd finished their homework. She was criticized for this by her friends, who said her boys would grow up to hate her. But she was determined that her sons would have greater opportunities than she did. She required them to read two library books a week and give her written reports, even though with her poor education, she could barely read them. She would take the papers and pretend to carefully review them, scanning over the words and turning the pages, before placing a checkmark at the top of the page to show her approval. At first, Ben resented the strict regimen. While his friends were playing outside, he was stuck in the house, forced to read a book or do his homework. But after several weeks of his mother's unrelenting position, he began to find enjoyment in reading. Being poor, there wasn't much opportunity to go anywhere. But between the covers of a book he could go anyplace, be anybody and do anything. Ben began to learn how to use his
imagination and found it more enjoyable than watching television. This attraction to reading soon led to a strong desire to learn more. Carson read books on all types of subjects and found connections between them. He saw himself as the central character of what he was reading, even if it was a technical book or an encyclopedia. He read about people in laboratories, pouring chemicals into a beaker or flask, or discovering galaxies, or peering into a microscope. He began to see himself differently, different than the other kids in his neighborhood who only wanted to get out of school, get some nice clothes, and a nice car. He saw that he could become the scientist or physician he had dreamed about. Staying focused on this vision of his future helped him get through some of the more difficult times. Within a year, Ben Carson was amazing his teachers and classmates with his improvement. The childrens' books he read while he was confined to quarters now had relevancy in school. He was able to recall facts and examples from the books and relate them to what he was learning in school. In 5th grade, Ben astonished everyone by identifying rock samples his teacher had brought to school. As he recalled several years later, he began to realize that he wasn't stupid. Within a year he was at the top of his class, and the hunger for knowledge had taken hold of him. It wasn't easy in the predominantly allwhite school, though. After Ben received a certificate of achievement at the semester break, one of the school's teachers berated the white students for letting a black student get ahead of them academically. Ben also had several teachers along the way who expressed a strong interest in his success. After he demonstrated his proficient knowledge of rocks in his 5th grade class, his teacher asked Ben to come by the school's lab after classes ended for the day. There Ben found squirrels to feed and a tarantula to observe. He discovered the wonders of using a microscope to study water specimens, and learned about paramecium and amoebas. Later, at Southwestern High School in inner-city Detroit, his science teachers recognized his intellectual abilities and mentored him. Other teachers helped him to stay focused when outside influences pulled him off course.
•
www.AmericanCh
After Ben graduated with honors from high school, he knew he wanted to pursue a medical career. But because his mother was not financially well off, Carson had to work through most of his time in college. The automobile industry was facing a downturn in Detroit during the 1970s, making it tough to get a summer job. But Carson was determined to achieve his goals. He knocked on doors looking for summer work and usually, through persistence, was able to obtain one. From this work, and a scholarship, he attended Yale University and earned a B.A. degree in psychology. Anger Issues Despite his academic successes, Ben Carson still had a raging temper that translated into violent behavior as a child. One time he tried to hit his mother with a hammer because she disagreed with his choice of clothes. Another time, he inflicted a major head injury on a classmate in a dispute over a locker. In a final incident, Ben nearly stabbed to death a friend after arguing over a choice of radio stations. The only thing that prevented a tragic occurrence was the knife blade broke on the friend's belt buckle. Not knowing the extent of his friend's injury, Ben ran home and locked himself in the bathroom with a Bible. Terrified by his own actions, he started praying, asking God to help him find a way to deal with his temper. He found salvation in the book of Proverbs in a passage that went, "Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city." Ben began to realize that much of his anger stemmed from putting himself in the center of everything. Anytime anything happened that was not to his liking, he internalized it and made it his problem. Once he took himself out of the equation, he could see that not everything was directed at him and that he wasn't the only one with troubles. He began to see things from other points of view. He soon realized he could control his anger, rather than it controlling him. He realized his future depended on the choices he made and the degree of energy he put into his life. Seeing that living in the inner city was only temporary, Carson believed he had the full power to change his situation. Beginning Surgical Career After graduating from Yale in 1973, Carson enrolled in the School of Medicine at the
hristianVoice.com
•
August 2014
University of Michigan, choosing to become a neurosurgeon rather than a psychologist. In 1975, he married Lacrena "Candy" Rustin whom he met at Yale. Carson earned his medical degree, and the young couple moved to Baltimore, Maryland, where he became a resident at Johns Hopkins University in 1977. His excellent eye-hand coordination and threedimensional reasoning skills made him a superior surgeon early on. By 1982, he was chief resident in neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins. In 1983, Carson received an important invitation. Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth, Australia, needed a neurosurgeon and invited Carson to take the position. Resistant at first to move so far away from home, he eventually accepted the offer. It proved to be an important one. Australia at the time was without enough doctors with highly sophisticated training in neurosurgery. Carson gained several years worth of experience in the year he was in Australia and honed his skills tremendously. Carson returned to Johns Hopkins in 1984 and, by 1985, he became director of pediatric neurosurgery at the young age of 33. In 1987, Carson attracted international attention by performing a surgery to separate two 7-month-old craniopagus twins from Germany. Patrick and Benjamin Binder were born joined at the head. Their parents contacted Carson, who went to Germany to consult with the parents and the boys' doctors. Because the boys were joined at the back of the head, and because they had separate brains, he felt the operation could be performed successfully. On September 4, 1987, Carson and a team of 70 doctors, nurses, and support staff joined forces for what would be a 22-hour surgery. Part of the challenge in radical neurosurgery is to prevent severe bleeding and trauma to the patients. In this operation, Carson had applied a technique used in cardiac surgery called hypothermic arrest. The boys' bodies were cooled down so the blood flowed slower and bleeding was less severe. This allowed the surgeons to perform the delicate task of untangling, dividing and repairing shared blood vessels. Although the twins did have some brain damage, both survived the separation, making Carson's surgery the first of its kind. Separating Conjoined Twins In 1994, Carson and his team went to South
Page 21 Africa to separate the Makwaeba twins. The operation was unsuccessful, as both girls died from complications of the surgery. Carson was devastated, but vowed to press on, as he knew such procedures could be successful. In 1997, Carson and his team went to Zambia in South Central Africa to separate infant boys Luka and Joseph Banda. This operation was especially difficult because the boys were joined at the tops of their heads, making this the first time a surgery of this type had been performed. After a 28-hour operation, both boys survived and neither suffered brain damage. Over time, Ben Carson's operations began to gain media attention. At first, what people saw was the soft-spoken hospital spokesperson explaining the complicated procedures in simple terms. But in time, Carson's own story became public -- a troubled youth growing up in the inner-city to a poor family eventually finding success. Soon, Carson began traveling to schools, businesses and hospitals across the country telling his story and imparting his philosophy of life. Out of this dedication to education and helping young people, Carson and his wife Candy founded the Carson Scholars Fund in 1994. The foundation grants scholarships to young students and promotes reading in the younger grades. Biggest Medical Challenge In 2003, Ben Carson faced what was perhaps his biggest challenge: separating adult conjoined twins. Ladan and Laleh Bijani were Iranian girls who were joined at the head. For 29 years, they had literally lived together in every conceivable way. Like normal twins, they shared experiences and outlooks, but as they got older and developed their own individual aspirations, they knew they could never lead independent lives unless they separated. As they told Carson at one point, "We would rather die
than spend another day together." This type of medical procedure had never been attempted on conjoined adults because the outcome would almost certainly result in death. By this time, Carson had been conducting brain surgery for nearly 20 years and had performed several craniopagus separations. He tried to talk the two women out of the surgery, but after many discussions with them and consultations with many other doctors and surgeons, he agreed to proceed. Ben Carson and a team of more than 100 surgeons, specialists and assistants traveled to Singapore in Southeast Asia. On July 6, 2003, Carson and his team began the nearly 52-hour operation. They used a 3-D imaging technique that Carson had developed several years earlier during the Banda twins operation. The computerized images allowed the medical team to conduct a virtual surgery before the operation. During the operation, they followed digital reconstruction of the twins' brain. A specially designed chair allowed the operation to be performed while both sisters were in a sitting position. Besides the girls age, the surgery revealed more difficulties because their brains not only shared a major blood vessel, but had fused together. The separation was completed at 1:30 p.m. on July 8. But it was soon apparent that the girls were in deep critical condition, having both lost a large volume of blood due to the complications of the surgery. At 2:30 p.m., Ladan died on the operating table. Her sister, Laleh died a short time later at 4:00 p.m. The loss was devastating to all, especially Carson, who found some solace in the fact that the girls' bravery to pursue the operation had contributed to neurosurgery in ways that would live far beyond them. Later Career In 2002, Carson was forced to cut back on his break-neck pace after developing prostate cancer. He took an active role in his own case,
reviewing X-rays and consulting with the team of surgeons who operated on him. Carson fully recovered from the operation cancer-free. The brush with death caused him to adjust his life to spend more time with his wife and their three children, Murray, Benjamin, Jr. and Rhoeyce. After his recovery, Carson still kept a busy schedule, performing nearly 300 operations a year and speaking to various groups around the country. He has written several books including the autobiography Gifted Hands (1996). Three other works, The Big Picture (2000) and Think Big (2006), Take the Risk: Learning to Identify, Choose, and Live with Acceptable Risk (2009) are about his personal philosophies on success, hard work, risk and faith in God. In recent years, Carson has focused more on politics than practicing medicine. He has been known as an outspoken conservative Republican. In 2012, he published America the Beautiful: Rediscovering What Made This Nation Great. In February 2013, Carson attracted a lot of attention for his speech at the National Prayer Breakfast. He criticized President Barack Obama for his positions on taxation and health care. He announced that he was officially retiring from his career as a surgeon the following month. Many have wondered whether Carson will be pursue a run for political office. That October, he was hired by Fox News in October 2013 to work as a contributor. In May 2014, Carson published his book One Nation: What We Can All Do To Save America's Future. Because of his unflagging dedication to children and his many medical breakthroughs, Carson has received more than 50 honorary doctorate degrees and is a member of the Alpha Honor Medical Society, the Horatio Alger Society of Distinguished Americans and sits on the boards of numerous business and education boards. In 2001, CNN and Time magazine named Ben Carson as one of the nation's 20 foremost physicians and scientists. In that same year, the Library of Congress selected him as one of 89 "Living Legends." In 2006, he received the Spingarn Medal, the highest honor bestowed by the NAACP. In February 2008, President Bush awarded Carson the Ford's Theater Lincoln Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the U.S. highest civilian honors. In 2009, actor Cuba Gooding, Jr. portrayed Carson in the TNN television production “Gifted Hands�. (see contest on page 9)
Page 22
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com
‘Christian’ Singer: God Would Never Condemn Gay Love by Jennifer LeClaire New York Times best-selling author, entertainer and singer Demi Lovato is convinced the God she knows and loves would never reject LGBT lovers. "The LOVING God that I believe in would never condemn anyone for loving another human of the same sex. That's just what I believe, and everyone is entitled to their own beliefs," Lovato told her 23 million Twitter followers. Lovato remembers learning about God's unconditional love as a little girl and says it made a lasting impact on her life. "I grew up learning in Sunday school and Bible camps about a God who loves all--no matter where you came from or what you've done. A man named Jesus who forgives people of all
August 2014
sins, including horrible things like murder, if you simply ask for forgiveness and accept him into your heart," she said. "Now I'm no Bible thumper, but I truly believe that same Lord and savior loves ALL no matter who you are or where you've come from and especially who you love." Lovato, who guest-starred on the television show Glee last season as a lesbian, is upset that folks are judging the LGBT--short for "lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender"--community for the way they express their love to one another. "It really breaks my heart, and I'll never be able to understand why this world can't learn to accept one another for who they are without passing judgment," she said. "You are not God, therefore leave the judging to him."
417-823-9604 • 220 W Battlefield Springfield, MO Why are more and more people who were raised in church coming to the conclusion that God is OK with samesex romantic relationships? editors note: See Yak Bak for a reader’s perspective on this story
Believers, look up - take courage. The angels are nearer than you think. -Billy Graham
Patsy Cline Remembered
Celebrate Patsy Cline's greatest hits and discover her life beyond the music!
Owners: Doug & Julie Smart Email: SmartBuyTireInc@sbcglobal.net 1045 S. Campbell Avenue, Springfield, MO
www.SmartBuyTire.com
Patsy Cline Remembered is the tribute show that celebrates the life and songs of legendary vocalist Patsy Cline. Get up close and personal as the critically acclaimed C.J. Newsom and the Re-Cliners band share Patsy's hits and unique stories. Learn about the stars who influenced Patsy and who were influenced by her including Judy Garland, Loretta Lynn, and Reba McEntire. Join us on the trip down memory lane at Patsy Cline Remembered, the journey through the music that made Patsy famous. Come see C.J. Newsom and her live band! Tuesday through Saturday in the Hamners' Variety Theater at 3 PM. For more information, call: 417-334-4363 or visit at:
www.PatsyClineRemembered.com
A Smart Family! Often the people most concerned about others going to hell when they die seem less concerned with the hells on earth right now, while the people most concerned with the hells on earth right now seem the least concerned about hell after death.
~Rob Bell
The ACV is available at: the Branson MO Price Chopper
August 2014
Eat Where it Pays to Pray The Blaze
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com granted and when I see someone in a restaurant honoring their gratefulness at my table … it touches my heart.”
C
ustomers who pause to thank God before eating meals at a North Carolina diner might be in for a major surprise when they pay their bill: a 15 percent discount for “praying in public.”
S t i l l Wa t e r s International Ministries Waking the World to their Loving Creator
customers has nothing to do with a specific religious perspective, that she never advertises the discount and that it’s something staffers sporadically offer only when they feel compelled to do so.
News of the restaurant’s prayer “gift” spread this week after a woman named Jordan Smith visited Mary’s Gourmet Diner with coworkers and prayed over her meal. The customer later posted her receipt on Facebook, according to HLN.
“It’s just a moment or faithfulness about the plate of food,” she said. “It’s not even a policy — it’s [something] we only do when we’re moved to do it.”
“[We] prayed over our meal and the waitress came over at the end of the meal and said, ‘Just so you know, we gave you a 15% discount for praying,’ which I’d never seen before,” Smith told the outlet.
Haglund also noted that wait staff who are uncomfortable or who don’t agree with the message behind the discount aren’t forced to give it.
Mary Haglund, owner of Mary’s Gourmet Diner in WinstonSalem, North Carolina, confirmed the price reduction in an interview with TheBlaze noting that she’s been offering it for the past four years without much fanfare. “For me, every plate of food is a gift,” she explained. “And I never take that for
Page 23
The receipt made its way onto Z88.3 radio’s Facebook page in Orlando, where it captured the attention of thousands of individuals who both “liked” and shared it on the social network.
“We are so fortunate in this country,” she added. Haglund, the daughter of a preacher and missionary, said that she lived in the Philippines as a teenager where she saw true need. Noting that she fell away from her faith as she grew older, Haglund still describes herself as a spiritual person who believes in a higher power.
Smith told HLN that she’s surprised by how quickly the photo spread online. “I just innocently posted it to my Facebook page and it’s been really fun to see where it’s gone from there,” she said.
Haglund, 60, said that the “gift” she gives
Okay, so we are not a typical church but we are a training ground to make disciples for Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit! Come visit us Sunday morning at 9:45 am and you will see what we mean. What does it mean that “Favor is better than Finance?” Why is it a blessing to “sow seeds in someone else’s field?”
MarysGourmetDiner.net Muslims. I see them killing Muslims by the thousands, by the tens of thousands in Syria. I see Muslims killing Muslims in Libya, in Afghanistan, in Iraq and Iraq Muslims are killing Christians. They're destroying mosques and churches and there's an indifference in the world.
Foxman frustrated by blatant hypocrisy Abe Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, told Newsmax TV that he was frustrated by the rampant hypocrisy by the world seemingly unphased to all the violence committed by Muslims against other Muslims and Christians, yet there is outrage on the Jewish people defending themselves.
There are no cameras out there, there are no editorials, there are no demonstrations in the streets of Paris, of Rome or London. It seems that only when Jews in their own defense defending their men, women and children are forced to kill Muslims and Palestinians. That's when the world wakes up."
"I'll tell you what troubles me," Foxman said on "America's Forum." "As I look out in the world, I see Muslims killing
EBT
“Why does taking one step towards self sufficiency cause God to withdraw one step back from supplying all your needs?” 124 Deer Mountain Road Walnut Shade, MO
(417) 598-1231
7 miles north of Branson on Hwy 160. One quarter mile west of 65.
First property on left.
ACC
EPTE
D
2722 St. Hwy 248 Branson, MO Across from Branson Events Center
(417) 544-0206
248pizzacompany@gmail.com
Open Mon - Sat 11 AM - 9 PM • Sunday Closed
We offer Create Your Own and Specialty pizzas. Also Wings, Salads, Cookie Dough, Calzones, Coke Products and Iced Tea. You can bake your pizza right on our special trays so you don't even have to dirty a dish and the pizza is hot and ready on your time. Perfect for Superbowl Parties and other gatherings. Our drive through makes it quick and easy to call ahead and swing by! Dine-In now available.
Page 24
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com
5 Companies Like Chick-fil-A That Share Their Christian Faith Publically by Billy Hallowell
C
hick-fil-A isn’t the only company willing to share its Christian faith with the world. While attaching a specific religious view to a product or service holds the potential to turn a portion of consumers off, some business leaders and companies stick to their values and intentionally include them in their packaging and messaging. Some of these brands include: Forever 21, Interstate Battery, Tyson Foods, In-N-Out Burger and Hobby Lobby.
Forever 21: Forever 21 is a clothing store that was founded by Don and Jin Chang, devout Christians who moved to America from Korea in 1981. The small store they opened in Los Angeles in 1984 has grown into a mass business comprised of hundreds of locations across the globe. On the bottom of each bag, shoppers will find “John 3:16,” the popular Bible verse that reads, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Interstate Battery: Norm Miller, chairman of Interstate Batteries, a company that sells — you guessed it, batteries — is also a believer who discusses his faith and salvation publicly. In fact, he even takes to the company’s web site to invite customers and visitors to write to him for prayer advice. “Norm Miller is also a believer in God’s power to change lives, because it was that power that turned his own life around
after years of drinking as hard as he worked,” reads Miller’s personal testimony on Interstate Batteries’ web site. But, the company goes well beyond merely mentioning God. Miller encourages everyone to accept Jesus Christ as personal savior — a central tenet of the Christian faith. Here’s more from the site: You can accept Him right now, just like I did, by repeating this prayer and making it the commitment of your heart. Just pray… “Dear God, I want freedom from the slavery of my sin. I believe Jesus is the Truth, and I accept Him now as my Lord and Savior. I ask you for forgiveness of my sins, because He paid for them for me. Please give me the power to live a life pleasing to You. Thank you for this gift of new and eternal life in Christ! In Jesus’ name, Amen!” If you prayed this prayer, I’d like to send you some additional information that will help you grow in your understanding of Christianity and in your faith in God. Write to: Norm Miller, “Growth,” 12770 Merit Dr. Suite 1000, Dallas, Texas 75251. Tyson Foods: Tyson, yet another company that refuses to hide its faith,
offers employees chaplain services at plants across America. If people are saddened after the loss of a loved one or coping with a family emergency, these individuals are brought in to pray and assist those in need with coping. John H. Tyson, the current chairman of the company, is a born-again Christian who believes his values shouldn’t be pushed to the side when he enters Tyson’s doors. “My faith is just an ongoing evolution, trying to understand what faith in the marketplace looks like, giving people permission to live their faith seven days a week,” Tyson said back in 2010. “If people can talk about the football game on Monday, why can’t they talk about their faith?” Tyson Foods is also known for donating mass amounts of food to America’s poor. In-N-Out Burger: Much like Forever 21, In-N-Out Burger, a fast-food chain based in California, uses John 3:16 as a way to advertise its faith. In fact, the company places the popular verse on the bottom of cups. Here’s what 11Alive.com reports about the popular business: Western U.S. burger chain In-N-Out has printed citations of Bible passages on cups, wrappers and other pieces of packaging since at least the late 1980s. For instance, “John 3:16″ appears on the bottom of soft drink cups, a reference to the Bible passage…
Pick up your copy of the ACV at:
Dear Lord, Help me not despise the things I do not know or understand. ~William Penn
the Shrine of the Holy Spirit for sale in the gift shop
August 2014 Last, but not least, is Hobby Lobby, an Oklahoma City-based crafts store chain that very-openly embraces Christianity. Like Chick-fil-A, the company closes its more than 500 stories on Sundays and vocally mentions God on its web site. Here are just a few of the proclamations presented Hobby Lobby’s statement of purpose: Honoring the Lord in all we do by operating the company in a manner consistent with Biblical principles. [...] Providing a return on the owners’ investment, sharing the Lord’s blessings with our employees, and investing in our community. We believe that it is by God’s grace and provision that Hobby Lobby has endured. He has been faithful in the past, we trust Him for our future. As TheBlaze recently reported, Hobby Lobby’s owners are also preparing to build a Bible museum in Washington, D.C., just blocks away from the National Mall. The museum, which is currently being organized, planned and designed, will provide visitors with thousands of Biblical artifacts along with a better understanding of the Old and New Testaments. While these certainly aren’t the only Christian companies out there, they are some of the most notable.
179 Expressway Lane • Branson, MO Mon - Sat • 9 am - 5 pm Sunday hours vary Tel: 417.337.7888 www.shrineoftheholyspirit.com
Cherish the Fingerprints By Stephanie Holloway
Rainbows streaming across the sky, The little light from a firefly, The sound of a newborn baby's cry... These are the fingerprints of God. Dandelions playing peek a boo, The moon rising and the sunsets too, A toddler saying, "I love you"... These are the fingerprints of God.
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com A ray of sunshine through a cloud of gray, Children laughing as they play... These are the fingerprints of God.
Ask the Rabbi...
A cool breeze on a midsummer's day,
When Satan tempted Him in the wilderness, Yeshua resisted the devil each time by quoting from the book of Deuteronomy. (If your ability to resist the devil depended on your ability to quote from Deuteronomy, how would you do?)
What does the New Testament call the Old Testament?
M
any Christians will be surprised to discover that the New Testament (Brit HaDasha in Hebrew) NEVER calls the Old Testament the OLD Testament! That's not a biblical term for the Hebrew Bible. The New Testament usually just calls the Old Testament Scripture! Yeshua (Jesus) and the Apostles did not hesitate to identify the Old Testament as the WORD OF GOD. Historically, the first person to describe the Hebrew Bible and the "Old Testament" was Bishop Melito of Sardis, who wrote around AD 180 and the first record we have of someone calling the Greek Bible the "New" Testament is found in the writings of Irenaeus who wrote around AD 190!
In John 10:35, Yeshua has this to say about the "Old" Testament; "the SCRIPTURE cannot be broken." In Matt 5:18, He described the lasting value of the "Old" Testament Scriptures in these words: "until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Torah." Many Christians have allowed the devil to steal away three-fourths of their Bible! They don't read it, teach it, or know it! IT'S BEEN STOLEN FROM THEM! God put a SWORD in our hands, but if you cut off 3/4 of a sword all you have is a dagger. God wants you to have a full sword-A complete Bible! To contact Jeremy for ministry in your congregation, for a radio or television interview or other special event, or for information on his albums or teachings, please call or email:
The Tabernacle Branson’s Messianic Congregation
So our distinction between the OLD Testament and the NEW Testament didn't take place until 150 years after Pentecost. That's at least 120 years after most of the New Testament was written. Until that time it was all just SCRIPTURE!
256 Church Road Branson, MO 65616 (417) 334-7373
When we read the gospels, we discover
TheTabernacleInBranson.com
Do you like this magazine? It would be a great blessing to all of us here at the ACV if you took out a subscription. If you already have one maybe you could send out a gift subscription to a friend or loved one!
See ordering information on page 38.
If God had a fridge, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet your photo would be in it. Face it friend... God is crazy about you! -Max Lucado
that Yeshua loved the "Old" Testament. He embraced it as God's Word and continually quoted from it.
with Rabbi Jeremy Storch
A shell that's washed up from the sea, A flower's visitation by a bee, A teenager smiling wholeheartedly... These are the fingerprints of God. A planet spinning on its axis, A butterfly's metamorphosis, A father's hug & a mother's kiss... These are the fingerprints of God.
Page 25
Sudoku Answers to Page 27
August 2014
Pick up the ACV at: The Copper Coin Unique & Inspirational Gifts (417) 551-1208 109 N. Commercial Street • Branson
www.thecoppercoin.com
Page 26
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com
Avoiding the Pitfalls of Syncretism by Ed Stetzer
A
quick search for the word "contextualization" in my blog will reveal how important I believe it is for the church that truly wants to engage in God's mission. I have written and spoken on the subject extensively. And though I don't believe it to be the totality of the missional conversation, it is central, and I will continue to remind churches of its importance.
this, obscurantism and syncretism are closely related, each leading to the creation of a false gospel.
neopagan religions also draw from JudeoChristian belief and mix it into various belief systems and theological structures. Each of these examples is obviously not biblical Christianity.
Syncretism can be most easily seen when two or more starkly contrasting religions are mixed.
These are not the result of the gospel of Jesus, and it is clear.
Closer to Home
Those are obvious. Yet, they tend to be Syncretism far from the can be most mainstream of easily seen the combination of different forms of belief or practice evangelicals when two or who might be more starkly contrasting religions are reading this article. There are, however, mixed. Around the world, examples are far less obvious examples of syncretistic readily available where Christ has been belief that can impact the gospel we preached in places with long and various preach and display. religious traditions. In many cases, pieces and parts of the traditional religion will For example, many Boomer/seekerremain while Christ is added to the mix. sensitive churches, in an effort to reach very practical, pragmatic Boomers have Recently, I was in South Africa and was become largely devoid of the gospel, able to visit several townships. Traditional exchanging it for practical positive religion among the indigenous people thinking without gospel transformation. often included visiting witch doctors and That's synscretism. other types of healers for physical healing and spiritual direction. It's not uncommon To be clear, I am not saying all Boomer for new believers in that context to want or seeker churches are this way, and I am to continue visiting the spiritual healers not trying to paint the movement with a around them. broad brush. But there is a contingency of churches that have emphasized trying Obviously, visiting those who actively harder and being a better person over the practice witchcraft for healing or spiritual gospel of grace. "Living a good life as a direction dilutes dependency on Christ, good person," particularly under your changes the gospel, creates a mix of own power, is not the gospel Jesus multiple gods, and thereby denies Christ announced. his rightful place as the one and only Lord in the life of the believer. Those who It is actually quite the opposite, and it has would mix these practices, if not moving created a gospel that dilutes dependency away from them, end up with a false, on Christ and denies His lordship. It is syncretistic gospel, not the gospel of syncretistic. Jesus. Likewise, some in emerging contexts (or Haitian Voodoo is an example of the emerging church of a few years ago) syncretism that mixes African animistic have contextualized the gospel by religious practice with softening difficult theological truths, Christianity. The which also changes the gospel—it's Raelian Movement, syncretism. Baha'i, and various
World of Religions
When it comes to issues contextualization, however, Christians and churches must be careful to not fall to the right or the left. In my last post, I described what I believe to be one of the major issues plaguing American Christianity: obscurantism; that is, obscuring the gospel by emphasizing things that are actually external to the gospel as being central to it. The end result is a false gospel that becomes a stumbling block to those Christians and churches are trying to reach.
If obscurantism is the danger to the right of the razor's edge, then the equally harmful danger of syncretism lies in wait to the left. (These ideas are laid out in much greater detail in the book The Word Among Us: Contextualizing Theology for Mission Today.) Syncretism, in this case, is the mixing of Christianity with something else such that they become a different gospel. Syncretism can take place with a positive-thinking gospel, a nationalist emphasis or emerging culture. Syncretism happens more than we might know.
When anything is added to the message of the gospel, the uniqueness and sufficiency of Christ is compromised and another gospel can be created that is, well, actually not the gospel. In
August 2014
Open Daily 887-9553
2501 S. Campbell Springfield
Danger on Both Sides So there is this danger in walking the fine line of contextualization where error awaits on either side—obscurantism on the one and syncretism on the other. If you don't care about contextualization, you end up obscuring the gospel (obsurantism). If you engage in contextualization too much, you end up losing the gospel (syncretism). Both errors are dangerous as each leads to a false gospel. The difficulty is that when you are more afraid of one, which most churches are, you almost always fall into the other.
Don't miss that Each error is dangerous and fearing one more than the other often leads a church directly into the one that is less feared. Some churches are so afraid of syncretism (though they tend to use the term "compromise" rather than the technical term) that they push back against any change from the tradition they've known. They define syncretism as changing musical styles, getting a tattoo or having different hair length. On the other hand, there are those who are so upset with the established church that they run away from it and everything connected to it, including some parts of the gospel. They fear irrelevance to the point they bend and shape the gospel to fit nicely within the culture. In the process, the true gospel is lost and a syncretic version of it emerges. The challenge we face, then, is charting the course down the middle. Context matters. A lot. Just as important, though, is avoiding the pitfalls that lie to the left and the right. Read more about how to do that in the "contextualization: catagory of my blog mentioned earlier, and read last week's post on obscurantism for more on that pitfall. Ed Stetzer is the president of LifeWay Research. For the original story, visit:
edstetzer.com
Treat Yourself to Our Great Buffet !
August 2014
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com
Page 27
Hot Summer Fun!
Answers to Cross-Word Puzzle on Page 9
Answers to Sudoku Puzzle on Page 25
ACROSS 1 Snob 5 Wooden leg 8 Daddy 12 Memorization 13 City 15 Black 16 __-a-sketch (child's toy) 17 Right angle to a ships length 18 Large group 19 Winged angelic being 21 Bestow 23 Voids 25 Neither's partner 26 Cereal ingredients 29 Serving of corn 31 Sacrificial animals 35 Poke holes in a lawn 37 Tangle 39 Damage 40 Fall back 41 Roamed 44 Executive 45 Veer 47 Auto 48 Where Noah's ark landed 50 Last words, often 52 Dessert 54 Dwelling 55 Bro. or sis.
57 Bustling 59 Why Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem 62 Fourth son of Ham 65 Nothing 66 Happen again 68 Pile 70 Declare positively 71 ____ goes before destruction 72 Opera solo 73 DNA component 74 Food and Agriculture Organization (abbr.) 75 Gangster's girlfriend DOWN 1 Before (prefix) 2 Reserve Officers Training Corps. 3 What a mosquito bite does 4 Hell 5 Small rock 6 Compass point 7 Instrument to guide oxen 8 Prophetess 9 A wager (2 wds.) 10 The Spirit come down from heaven as a ____
11 Some 13 Ancient European region 14 Last word of a prayer 20 Oxidizes 22 Volume (abbr.) 24 Region of Palestine 26 Modeling wood 27 Domain 28 Bicker 30 Beam 32 Opposite of micro 33 By ____ alone 34 Struck 36 And so forth 38 Thirst quencher 42 Knock 43 Run off 46 Entrap 49 Father of Isaac 51 Bro.'s sibling 53 Monetary unit 56 Belch 58 Weed 59 Cavern 60 Adam and Eve's garden 61 Slave 63 Air (prefix) 64 Toe part 65 Pester 67 Central Intelligence Agency 69 Buddy
ALIVE ALLERGIC AQUAHOLIC BACKYARD BAREFOOT BEAUTIFUL BLAZING BLISTERING CHEERFUL CLAMMY CLOUDLESS DELIGHTFUL EASY ENDLESS FRAGRANT FREE FRESH GREEN HEAVENLY HOT LAKESIDE
LEISURELY LIGHT LUSH OPPRESSIVE OUTDOOR PATRIOTIC POOLSIDE RED REFRESHING RELAXING ROASTING SCORCHING SEASONAL SENSATIONAL SIZZLING STIFLING SWEATING SWELTERING TAN TROPICAL UNFORGETTABLE
Page 28
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com
August 2014
Socialism: A government which
Mother & Father Know Best
robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul. -George Bernard Shaw
R
achel Canning moved out of her parents home in November after they decided to completely cut her off because of her rambunctious lifestyle.
For Subscription Information See Page 38
www.imagesatthecross.org
Locally-Owned • Bruce and Kim Erdel
Serving the Ozarks since 1990
Though Canning eventually moved back in with her parents and dropped her lawsuit, which demanded that mom and dad pay for the college education that she felt they owed her, it appears as though she didn't drop her boyfriend. The man allegedly tried to choke her during a fight one late Saturday night.
Store Hours Monday – Saturday 9AM to 7PM Physical Address: 4145 S. National Ave • Springfield
Let this be a lesson - just because you don't like what your parents have to say doesn't mean they're not right. Hopefully Canning will start to take their advice.
417-891-2200 or Toll Free 1-888-835-0034
www.cpobooks.com Do you know someone who works in the abortion industry? Tell them about our website:
www.AbortionWorker.com We can help them get out.
Canning's disrespectful attitude, constant partying, and especially her boyfriend, were just a few of the reasons her parents cut ties once she turned 18.
ACV is for sale at: Heavenly Wear New Victorian Village • Branson (417) 544-9071
www.heavenlywear.net
August 2014
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com
A Minute with a Man One of the great Christian statesmen of all time was George Washington (1732-1799), the father of our country and a man of noble character and virtue. Revolutionary War hero Henry Lee once described Washington as “First in War, First in Peace, and First in the Hearts of his Countrymen.” Washington’s devotional life would put the average Christian today to shame. He normally arose early in the morning to pray. He spent a great deal of time on his knees. A few portraits of him kneeling in prayer at Valley Forge are well known and reflect his commitment to prayer. George Washington once said to a group of Indians, “You do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life, and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ....Congress will do everything they can do to assist you in this wise intention.” Imagine if the politically correct crowd got ahold of this statementWashington is saying here that Jesus is superior to the Indian gods. This would not exactly endear him to the cultural elites of today who elevate Native American religion over Christianity, even as they elevate virtually anything above Christianity! Now you know what our founding fathers really said.
The will of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us. -Billy Graham
Page 29
...many of the great political thinkers of our country’s past-whether Christian or otherwise-saw the important link between God and freedom, between Christianity and liberty. All of these statements culminate with the climactic pronouncement from the Supreme Court in 1892. After spending some ten years pouring through thousands in the Trinity decision: This is a religious people. This is historically true. From the discovery of this continent to this present hour, there is a single voice making this affirmation....We find everywhere a clear recognition of the same truth....This is a Christian nation. Who is the greatest chief justice of the Supreme Court that we have ever had?...without much doubt, that it was Chief Justice John Marshall, who presided over the Supreme Court from 1801 to 1835. Marshall said, “No person, I believe, questions the importance of religion to the happiness of man even during his existence in this world....The American population is entirely Christian, and with us, Christianity and religion are identified. It would be strange, indeed, if with such a people, our institutions is not presuppose Christianity, and did not often refer to it, and exhibit relations with it.”
Springfield, MO Attorney Dee Wampler has 50 years trial experience as a Greene County prosecutor and defense attorney, and is the author of “The Myth of Separation of Church and State” and “The Trial of Christ: A 21st Century Lawyer Defends Jesus.”
Dee Wampler
The ACV is available at: Christian Publishers Outlet 4145 S. National Ave • Springfield, MO (417) 891-2200
Mon - Sat: 9 AM - 7 PM www.cpobooks.com
Life Extension Expert
Page 30
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com
Affordable Chiropractic Care for the Whole Family
IF YOU HAD MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH DR. BO...
...THE COOKIES WOULD BE DONE BY NOW.
Find out how we can help YOU achieve VICTORY in YOUR life! A Few of the Many Benefits of Chiropractic
Regular Chiropractic Care removes Nervous System Interference. The nervous system without interference properly controls every aspect of your body to allow for: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Healthier Children = decreased ear infections, asthma, bed-wetting, etc. Healthier Adults = increased energy & productivity Healthier Moms = easier pregnancy & delivery Healthier Seniors = better balance = decreased likelihood of falling Improved Posture Makes you feel great Counteract the effects of gravity Improved Overall Health Slow or stop spinal degeneration Slows the aging process Makes spinal discs healthier Quicker recovery Increased energy Improve athletic performance Allows for better sleep Better mobility Improved spinal structure Relief from pain Prevent many surgeries Better productivity at work Spend less on health care expenses Relieve stress Prevent many health problems Relieve tension Better Immune System Function Increased vitality Easier to breathe Improved digestive function Clearer/better/sharper vision Improved circulation Decreased ringing in ears Acne/eczema better Relief from painful menstruation Asthma & Allergies improved
So Call Today
Most people are not aware that it’s malfunction reducing health that causes dis-ease. Chiropractors RESTORE FUNCTION & in turn help RESTORE & MAINTAIN HEALTH! Optimal Spine & Nervous System = Optimal Health.
800 State Highway 248, Suite 2-B • Branson, MO 65616
August 2014 CBS Blasphemes Christ With Radical Feminist’s Performance by DefendChristians.org "I only wish the Virgin would've had an abortion," was belted out in a song by musical guest Kristeen Young on CBS's The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. "The song," according to Young, "is about the centuries of religious persecution of women." It's ironic that a radical feminist rails against Christianity on national TV when it was Christ who elevated women in ways that have led women in the West to enjoy more freedom and opportunity than what women in non-Christian nations could ever imagine. Can you imagine a woman singing an antiMohammed song in Saudi Arabia? Young last week performed her song, "Pearl of a Girl," which attacks Judaism, Christianity and Islam as if they are all the same in so far as the treatment of women. In the first verse of her song, Young sang, "But in the Bible/Torah/Quran, there are really no good roles for me except concubine and wash woman. I used to be the sad one, now I just wanna stab
them." In the second verse she explicitly rails against Christ. "They've needed to have the law so they can legally bind us/ They've needed to have the church so they can morally ground us/ They've needed most of the dough, they must be so scared of us/ So their stories are of ghosts; I only wish the Virgin would've had an abortion." Young also designs her own stage costumes and said, "I felt like wearing and making something satanic." The skirt she wears in the video for "Pearl of a Girl" has the symbols of three major religions, but they are all defaced. There is an upsidedown cross and she wears high heels shaped like upside-down crosses. This is a symbol commonly associated with satanism. Contact the The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and tell them they owe Christians an apology for their antiChristian bigotry. editor’s note: Otherwise, they should have a Christian artist perform a loving tribute to God in a Gospel song, right?
Going on a Mission at Home MBCH Children and Family Ministries (an affiliate of Missouri Baptist Children’s Home) is seeking Christians willing to serve God by supplying foster care for teens. The Therapeutic Foster Care ministry provides a daily rate of pay that allows one foster parent to remain at home and care for the child. Training and licensing is provided for the foster parents at no cost. You can make a difference in the life of a hurting child by “Going on Mission at Home”. For more information about becoming a licensed foster parent, call:
(417) 831-2342 or visit: www.mbch.org
Creation Experience Museum is Free Admission and open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10am to 5pm. It is located seven miles north of Branson on US 65 on the Northwest Access Road off the State Route 160 Forsyth/Reeds Spring exit (the long brown building with the Ship). (417) 561-0750 Come visit us and bring your family – they need to know how loved and valued they are!
August 2014
Why I Can’t Say Love the Sinner / Hate the Sin Anymore by Micah J. Murray
I
thought we just needed to try harder. Maybe we needed to focus more on loving the sinner, and less on protesting his sin.
But I’m done. I can’t look my gluttonous brother in the eye anymore and say “I love the sinner but hate the sin.” I can’t keep drawing circles in the sand. Even if I was able to fully live up to that ideal, I’d still be wrong. I’d still be assigning him an identity, viewing him as something other, something different. Not human. Not friend. Not Christian. Not brother.
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com of “us”. We embrace them with arms full of disclaimers about how all the sinners are welcome here. And yet, they’re the only ones we constantly remind of their status as sinners, welcome sinners. In all this, we turn our backs on all the gluttonous brothers and sisters already in our church, already saved, already following Jesus. Our us vs. them narrative leaves little space for those who didn’t choose to be gluttonous but did choose to follow Jesus. Using “glutton” and
“sinner” interchangeably, we force them away from the Table and into the shadows.
Sinner. And despite all my theological disclaimers about how I’m just as much a sinner too, it’s not the same. We don’t use that phrase for everybody else. Only them. Only “the gluttons”. That’s the only place where we make “sinner” the all-encompassing identity. Then we try to reach them, to evangelize them. We speak of “the gluttons” in words reminiscent of the “uncivilized headhunters” from those epic missionary stories – foreign and different and far away, the ultimate conquest for the church to tame and colonize and save. Maybe we accept them in our midst. But even then, it’s sinners in our midst – branded with a greased stain scarlet letter. They aren’t truly part of us. Even that word “them” makes me cringe as I speak it, as if my brothers and sisters are somehow other, different from me. It’s a special sort of condescending love we’ve reserved for the gluttonous community. We’ll agree to love them, accept them, welcome them – but we reserve the right to see them as different. We reserve the right to say “them” instead
They say Jesus was a friend of sinners, but he didn’t describe himself that way. His motto wasn’t “eating and drinking with prostitutes and tax collectors.” Those were the labels used by the religious community, by the disapproving onlookers. What’s amazing about Jesus is that when he hung out with sinners, he didn’t act like they were sinners. They were just his friends. People with names. Defined as beloved children of the Creator, not defined by their sins. Icons of God’s image. His brothers and sisters. It was the Pharisees who looked at them and scrawled “sinner” on their foreheads. It was the accusers who drew circles in the sand with themselves on the inside and “those sinners” on the outside. Those words, “a friend of sinners”, were spoken with an upturned nose and a selfrighteous sneer. And that’s the same phrase the church has adopted to speak of our own brothers and sisters – “Love the sinner, hate the sin.” It’s the same self-righteous sneer heard in the words of those who dragged the woman caught being a glutton to Jesus: “What should we do with such a
Page 31
woman?” They defined her by a moment. She was “one of those”. Not a sister. Not a human. Just a pawn in a political debate. A sinner.
different, better than you.
But Jesus knelt with her in the sand. Unafraid to get dirty. Unafraid to affirm her humanity. “Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.”
We are icons. We are children of the Creator, redeemed by Jesus. We are brothers and sisters. And today, that’s enough.
He could have said “You’re a sinner, but I love you anyways.” But she knew she was a sinner. Those voices were loud and near and they held rocks above her head. Jesus refused to let his voice join theirs. By telling her “go and sin no more”, he affirmed that sin is not her deepest identity. It’s not how he saw her. It’s not who she was at the core of the being. I am a sinner. But before I was a sinner, I was created in the image of God. While sin has twisted and smudged that image, it can’t erase it. Sin, my sin, is so terrible that it killed Jesus. But it doesn’t define me any longer. I am a new creation.
I’m not going to define anyone by their sin. That’s not my identity. It’s not yours.
redemption pictures.com editor’s note: I changed Mr. Murray’s article if you think it was a little harsh. Go back and read this article again and replace all words in red with the original word “gay”. Scripture lumps these sins together. They are interchangeable. They are often times a lifetime struggle. Can a committed monogomous same sex love cover a multitude of sins? Can a love for food do the same? I’m just asking. Read article on gluttony on page 36
Agape Life Fellowship A Word of Faith Church (non-denominational) 6185 W. St. Hwy 266 Springfield, MO
(417) 831-2333 Sun. Services 10 am & 6 pm • Wed. Bible Study 6:30 pm
Pastor Twila N. Bridges
Because of Jesus, “sinner” is not how God sees me. It’s not how I see myself. And it shouldn’t be how I see my brothers and sisters in the church. There is no condemnation for those who are in Jesus. To look at my gluttonous Christian brother and say “God loves the sinner” is to set myself against Jesus and bring condemnation again to those he’s already redeemed. So I’m done. I’m done with “Love the sinner, but hate the sin.” I won’t say it anymore. I’m done with speaking as if I’m
When visiting Branson, Missouri be sure to pick up the newspaper that all the locals read!
www.Branson TriLakes News.com
Contemporary Christian Music
Listen online anywhere in the world at: www.klfcradio.com
Branson News & Weather 417-334-5532 now available on your I-Phone as an app! Look in the Apple app store and
search “KLFC”
It is the Holy Spirit's job to convict, God’s job to judge and my job to love. -Billy Graham
Page 32
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com
Finalists Announced for Gospel Sing Off Christian Action Ministries (CAM) has announced the ten finalists who will be competing in CAM’s 6th Annual Gospel Sing Off on Sunday August 31st at Sight & Sound Theatres in Branson. According to CAM Board Chairman Jack Burke the ten finalists were selected from over 75 entries received from a six state area. Contestants will be competing for $3,000 in cash prizes and trophies. Plus the winner will also receive performance slots at Silver Dollar City on the following day. Finalists performing before the live audience and a panel of celebrity judges are: My Brother’s Sister, a bother and sister duet from Coldwater, Mississippi, has already developed a large fan base over the past two years with their strong vocals and mastery of string instruments. Peter Mauriello, with his 4 member Christian Rock Band, lives in the suburbs of Chicago where he is a worship leader who loves to use his music to facilitate meaningful experiences for people. Margo Rodewald is a solo singer from Paola, Kansas, who moved to Branson after graduating from Baker University with a degree in music, hoping to turn her musical passion into a career.
Peggy Neely Harris, of St. Louis, is a soloist whose training includes the Lincoln Center Institute/Julliard School and loves to share her passion for Christ with others. Sacred Fire Ministries. Troy and Belinda Johanson are native Americans, residing in the Buffalo, Missouri area, who combine the gospel message with traditional native American dance and song.
Christy Sutherland. The iconic Bob Hubbard will again emcee the event for the sixth year.
from the Sight & Sound box office or from Branson Tourism Center. Adults are $12, children $6.
Finalists will perform two songs each before the live audience and a panel of celebrity judges. Past winners have included Changed, The Fair Family, Southern Raised, The Petersen Family, and Sons of the Silver Dollar.
CAM operates food pantries in Branson and Forsyth, as well as a monthly mobile outreach to eastern Taney County. The Sing-Off is CAM’s only operational fundraiser to support its efforts in fighting hunger in Taney County.
Tickets for the 2 PM event are available
DC-3 Trio (Daughters of Christ) is based in the greater Chicago area and has been singing together at church and community events for over 18 years. This will be their second time performing in the Gospel Sing-Off. Faith’s Journey is a Branson-based trio focused on spreading the good news of the gospel through their harmonies. The Full Quiver is a family band from Collinsville, Texas. The Grubb family has been carrying the gospel message through their versatile mastery of instruments and vocal harmonies. Rebecca White is a degreed musician from Raymondville, Missouri, who has taught music in public schools and has been continually involved with worship teams at churches and summer camps. 4 Christ is a male gospel quartet from Galena, Missouri that loves to praise God through their vocal harmonies and spread the Good News of the Bible. Opening this year’s Sing Off will be award-winner country gospel singer
Educational Supplies • Inspirational Gifts • Toys Party Supplies • Balloons • (870) 741-1880 Monday - Friday 9:30 am - 6 pm Saturday 9 am - 4 pm • Closed Sunday 1520 N. Main Street • Harrison, Arkansas
August 2014
The ACV is available at Kringles located in the The Grand Village Shops in Branson, MO see page 18
August 2014
3 Common Traits of Youth Who Don’t Leave the Church by Jon Nielson
“What do we do about our kids? The group of parents sat together in my office, wiping their eyes. I’m a high school pastor, but for once, they weren’t talking about 16-year-olds drinking and partying. Each had a story to tell about a “good Christian” child, raised in their home and in our church, who had walked away from the faith during the college years. These children had come through our church’s youth program, gone on short-term mission trips, and served in several different ministries during their teenage years. Now they didn’t want anything to do with it anymore. And, somehow, these mothers’ ideas for our church to send college students “care packages” during their freshman year to help them feel connected to the church didn’t strike me as a solution with quite enough depth. The daunting statistics about churchgoing youth keep rolling in. Panic ensues. What are we doing wrong in our churches? In our youth ministries? It’s hard to sort through the various reports and find the real story. And there is no one easy solution for bringing all of those “lost” kids back into the church, other than continuing to pray for them and speaking the gospel into their lives. However, we can all look at the 20somethings in our churches who are engaged and involved in ministry. What is it that sets apart the kids who stay in the church? Here are just a few observations I have made about such kids, with a few applications for those of us serving in youth ministry.
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com has come.” (2 Cor. 5:17) We youth pastors need to get back to understanding salvation as what it really is: a miracle that comes from the glorious power of God through the working of the Holy Spirit. We need to stop talking about “good kids.” We need to stop being pleased with attendance at youth group and fun retreats. We need to start getting on our knees and praying that the Holy Spirit will do miraculous saving work in the hearts of our students as the Word of God speaks to them. In short, we need to get back to a focus on conversion. How many of us are preaching to “unconverted evangelicals”? Youth pastors, we need to preach, teach, and talk—all the while praying fervently for the miraculous work of regeneration to occur in the hearts and souls of our students by the power of the Holy Spirit! When that happens—when the “old goes” and the “new comes”—it will not be iffy. We will not be dealing with a group of “nominal Christians.” We will be ready to teach, disciple, and equip a generation of future church leaders— “new creations”!—who are hungry to know and speak God’s Word. It is converted students who go on to love Jesus and serve the church. 2. They have been equipped, not entertained. Recently, we had “man day” with some of the guys in our youth group. We began with an hour of basketball at the local park, moved to an intense game of 16” (“Chicago Style”) softball, and finished the afternoon by gorging ourselves on meaty pizzas and 2-liters of soda. I am not against fun (or gross, depending on your opinion of the afternoon I just described) things in youth ministry. But youth pastors especially need to keep repeating
1. They are converted. The Apostle Paul, interestingly enough, doesn’t use phrases like “nominal Christian” or “pretty good kid.” The Bible doesn’t seem to mess around with platitudes like: “Yeah, it’s a shame he did that, but he’s got a good heart.” When we listen to the witness of Scripture, particularly on the topic of conversion, we find that there is very little wiggle room. Listen to these words: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new
the words of Ephesians 4:11-12 to themselves: “[Christ] gave…the teachers to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” Christ gives us—teachers—to the church, not for entertainment, encouragement, examples, or even friendship primarily. He gives us to the church to “equip” the saints to do gospel ministry in order that the church of Christ may be built up. If I have not equipped the students in my ministry to share the gospel, disciple a younger believer, and lead a Bible study, then I have not fulfilled my calling to them, no matter how good my sermons have been. We pray for conversion; that is all we can do, for it is entirely a gracious gift of God. But after conversion, it is our Christ-given duty to help fan into flame a faith that serves, leads, teaches, and grows. If our students leave high school without Bible-reading habits, Bible-study skills, and strong examples of discipleship and prayer, we have lost them. We have entertained, not equipped them…and it may indeed be time to panic! Forget your youth programs for a second. Are we sending out from our ministries the kind of students who will show up to college in a different state, join a church, and begin doing the work of gospel ministry there without ever being asked? Are we equipping them to that end, or are we merely giving them a good time while they’re with us? We don’t need youth group junkies; we need to be growing churchmen and churchwomen who are equipped to teach, lead, and serve. Put your youth ministry strategies aside as you look at that 16-year-old young man and ask: “How can I spend four years with this kid, helping him become the best church deacon and sixth-grade Sunday school class teacher he can be, ten years down the road?” 3. Their parents preached the gospel to them.
Popular Culture is Overated
As a youth pastor, I can’t do all this. All this equipping that I’m talking about is utterly beyond my limited capabilities. It is impossible for me to bring conversion, of course, but it is also impossible for me
Page 33 to have an equipping ministry that sends out vibrant churchmen and churchwomen if my ministry is not being reinforced tenfold in the students’ homes. The common thread that binds together almost every ministry-minded 20-something that I know is abundantly clear: a home where the gospel was not peripheral but absolutely central. The 20-somethings who are serving, leading, and driving the ministries at our church were kids whose parents made them go to church. They are kids whose parents punished them and held them accountable when they were rebellious. They are kids whose parents read the Bible around the dinner table every night. And they are kids whose parents were tough but who ultimately operated from a framework of grace that held up the cross of Jesus as the basis for peace with God and forgiveness toward one another. This is not a formula! Kids from wonderful gospel-centered homes leave the church; people from messed-up family backgrounds find eternal life in Jesus and have beautiful marriages and families. But it’s also not a crapshoot. In general, children who are led in their faith during their growing-up years by parents who love Jesus vibrantly, serve their church actively, and saturate their home with the gospel completely, grow up to love Jesus and the church. The words of Proverbs 22:6 do not constitute a formula that is true 100 percent of the time, but they do provide us with a principle that comes from the gracious plan of God, the God who delights to see his gracious Word passed from generation to generation: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Youth pastors, pray with all your might for true conversion; that is God’s work. Equip the saints for the work of the ministry; that is your work. Parents, preach the gospel and live the gospel for your children; our work depends on you. Jon Nielson is the college pastor at College Church in Wheaton, Illinois. He blogs at Something More Sure.
If love is not madness, it is not love
-Pedro Callderin
Page 34
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com
Catholic League Chief Speaks Out on Obamas Eid al-Fitr Message by Sandy Fitzgerald
C
atholic League President Bill Donohue is slamming President Barack Obama for his statement commemorating the end of the Muslim Ramadan observance, saying Obama doesn't "stand with people of all faiths." Obama's brief statement, issued earlier this week to send best wishes to Muslims during the Eid al-Fitr celebration, said that the observance reminds him and wife Michelle "of the many achievements and contributions of Muslim Americans to building the very fabric of our nation and strengthening the core of our democracy." Further, Obama said he and his wife "stand with people of all faiths, here at home and around the world, to protect and advance their rights to prosper, and we welcome their commitment to giving back to their communities." "While Eid marks the completion of Ramadan, it also celebrates the common values that unite us in our humanity and
reinforces the obligations that people of all faiths have to each other, especially those impacted by poverty, conflict, and disease," the president said.
most of its time lecturing Israelis to be patient. About what? Being bombed because they are Jews? Do Jewish lives mean so little to you?"
Donohue wrote on the Catholic League's website that Obama does not stand with all faiths while protecting human rights.
Donohue admitted that nobody wants the president to insult Muslim Americans from the White House, "but you had an opportunity to at least call on them to speak out about what their people are doing in the Middle East, and you blew it. Instead, you decided to patronize them for all their contributions to human rights."
"As you speak, Christians are being beheaded all over the Middle East because they are Christians, and those carrying out this mass murder are doing so in the name of Islam," Donohue wrote. "Yet you continue to say and do absolutely nothing about these unspeakable crimes. Do Christian lives mean so little to you?" Donohue said that when he types in the phrase "President Obama Speaks Out," or "Speaks Against," into Internet search engines, subjects such as "Trayvon Martin," "Kanye West," "Fox News," and "bullying" come up. "I can search in vain to find you condemning the genocidal slaughter of Christians by Muslims," Donohue wrote. "Muslim terrorists are killing Jews in Israel and their representatives have pledged to wipe Jews off the face of the earth. Yet your administration spends
August 2014
Seamless Guttering Seamless Siding Seamless Roofing We manufacture seamless siding on the job Site without... the laps, gaps, seams, or splices!
417.239.4555 www.SeamlessSidingExperts.com
Jeff & Debbie Holden
ke ok a o ll mme l w! i w e It r ho d n u n yo bra
3015 Green Mountain Drive Branson, MO
Toll Free: (877) 336-0230 Telephone: (417) 335-4248
We highly recommend the Carriage House Inn! -John & Lorri Sacoulas, publishers, American Christian Voice
www.bransoncarriagehouseinn.com info@bransoncarriagehouseinn.com Family Pharmacy Home Medical Equipment has a complete line of home medical supplies, ostomy supplies, compression therapy products, and custom fitted diabetic shoes. We also sell and rent hospital beds, walkers, wheelchairs and lift chairs. Home delivery or convenient pick-up of home medical equipment at any Family Pharmacy location.
www.thefamilyRX.com
The American Christian Voice is available at all Family Pharmacy locations!
July 2014
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com
Dear Dave, What’s the difference between a Chapter 7 bankruptcy and Chapter 13 bankruptcy? Claudia Dear Claudia, Chapter 7 bankruptcy is what most people think about when they hear the word “bankruptcy.” It’s total bankruptcy, almost like dropping an atomic bomb on your entire financial picture. Virtually all of your unsecured debt (except student loans, child support and money owed to the IRS) is wiped out. These things are not bankruptable. About 98 percent of the time, creditors of your other unsecured debt — things like credit cards and alike — get nothing.
Items that are secured debt, such as your car or house, are treated a little bit differently. If you’re behind on payments, you may be allowed to get current. In most cases, banks will allow you to re-sign in a process called reaffirming the debt. Chapter 13 bankruptcy is a payment plan structured over five years. In it, you have to pay all of your secured debt. If it has a lien on it, you pay 100 percent to keep the item. You also have to pay a portion of your unsecured debt. Again — like in Chapter 7 — debt to the IRS, child support and student loans don’t go away. For any other unsecured debt, you can pay a percentage of what’s owed. An overall payment plan is developed, and you make those payments for five years. I’m not a big fan of either one. —Dave
www.DaveRamsey.com
Kay E. Knipschild, D.D.S.
“Exceptional Dental Care for a Lifetime” The power of EXCELLENCE to create beautiful smiles!
We Offer Quality, Caring General Dentistry
Relaxed Comfortable Environment New Patients Always Welcome Emergencies Seen Promptly Nitrous Oxide Sedation Stereo Headphones
(417) 887-2929 3841 S. Jefferson Springfield, MO
Your Legacy Is in Your Hands This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.
U
nless you keep close track of obscure holidays and observances, you probably didn’t know that August is “What Will Be Your Legacy? Month." Still, you might want to use this particular month as a useful reminder to take action on what could be one of your most important financial goals: leaving a meaningful legacy. A legacy isn’t simply a document or a bunch of numbers — it’s what you will be remembered for, and what you have left behind that will be remembered. It’s essentially your chance to contribute positively to the future, whether that means providing financial resources for the next generation, helping those charitable organizations whose work you support, or a combination of both. To create your legacy, you’ll need to do some planning. And you can start by asking yourself a couple of key questions: What are your goals? When you think about leaving a legacy, what comes to mind? First and foremost, you may well want to leave enough money to help your own grown children meet their financial goals. After that, you probably have other things you’d like to accomplish. Perhaps you want to provide resources for your grandchildren to attend college? Or set up a scholarship at your own alma mater? Give financial support to a cultural, social, religious or scientific group? By thinking about your goals and putting them on paper, even in an informal sense, you’ll be taking the important first step in leaving the legacy you desire. How can you turn your goals into reality? If you don’t take some concrete steps, your legacy just won’t materialize. And the most important step you need to take is to create a comprehensive estate plan. Your estate plan can be quite involved, because it may involve
Purchase your copy of the ACV at:
Forgotten Grace breeds unforgiving living.
Page 35 several legal documents, such as a will, living trust, health care power of attorney, and so on. In creating these materials, you will need to work with your legal and tax advisors because estate planning is definitely not a “do-it-yourself” endeavor. You probably shouldn’t wait until you are deep into retirement to take action on your estate plan because developing the necessary documents and arrangements can take a fair amount of time — and you’ll want to make these preparations when you’re in good mental and physical health. Also, the longer you wait to set up your estate plan, the less likely it will be that you’ve communicated your wishes clearly to your family members, who may end up unsure about what you want and what their roles are in carrying out your plans —and that’s an outcome you certainly don’t want to see. In fact, clear communications are essential to developing a successful estate plan. You should not only tell your family members — and anyone else affected by your estate plan — what you are thinking of doing but also inform them about the professionals with whom you are working and the locations in which you are storing any vital documents, such as your will. By identifying your goals, working with the appropriate professionals to create an effective estate plan, and communicating regularly with your family members and other “key players” in your life, you can go a long way toward leaving the legacy you desire. So, do what it takes to launch that legacy. If you'd like to know more, visit our website to find out what to expect from Edward Jones.
www.edwardjones.com
weremakindollsinbranson@yahoo.com
We’re Makin’ Dolls in Branson 1120 W Hwy 76 • Branson, MO Mon-Sat:9am-7pm • Sun:12pm-7pm (417) 239-3655 C U S TO M M A D E D O L L S !
Page 36
5 Reasons Why Pastors Don’t Preach on Gluttony by Joe McKeever, Pastor, Author A cartoon shows a sign in front of a café: “Specializing in meals that leave you bloated and lethargic, followed by selfloathing.” A man says to his wife, “I liked it better when they called it comfort food.” I know the feeling, friend. A while back, I was in another state speaking for two nights. The first morning after I had arrived, I had gotten up early and found a downtown diner that catered to the locals. I met a lot of people and put away a big breakfast. A few hours later, my host and another pastor took me for lunch in a buffet restaurant. That evening, I spoke at a banquet where the food was plentiful, delicious, and memorable. Late that night, back in the hotel, I turned on the computer, read my email, and in answer to a question agreed that, yes, I would write an article on gluttony. I am clearly the right guy for this job. Gluttony is a subject I’m well acquainted with. Recently, I announced to some friends my plans to write on gluttony, in case they had revelations or insights. None could recall ever hearing a sermon on gluttony. I haven’t either, and I’m the preacher. Why is that? Why so few sermons on gluttony? 1. Our hypocrisy is obvious. A preacher can wax forth on the other socalled deadly sins (pride, lust, avarice, anger, envy and sloth) all day long, and everyone except his wife will assume he has the issue well in hand and has no difficulty with this particular discipline. But not gluttony. If he overeats, everyone knows it. The bulging waistline, the strained collar, the coat that will not button—all speak
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com eloquently to the failure of the preacher to rein in his appetite. Gluttony, like most sins, is a case of a thing of beauty that has been spoiled, a healthy and normal drive that has broken the bonds and runs rampant, a faithful servant who has assumed the throne and revealed himself a tyrant. Okay, enough with the metaphors. 2. The subject is elusive. What exactly is gluttony? It’s hard to nail down. One reason we pastors gravitate to our favorite sermon topics is that they are more understandable, more practical, more easily categorized. But what is there to say about gluttony, other than, “Don’t do it”? Everyone has to eat, and occasionally we may overeat and not consider it sinful. When is over-indulgence at the table sinful? If the preacher brings the subject up, he’d better have answers. No pastor wants to preach on subjects he can’t get a handle on, issues that “just don’t work for me.” 3. Our Scriptures are rare. Preach on greed or anger and you have a wealth of texts to draw from. Deal with laziness and every other Proverb seems to speak to the issue. As for lust and pride, biblical illustrations run rampant— everything from Samson to Nebuchadnezzar to Herod. But gluttony? In the rare article and sermon on gluttony Proverbs 23:1-2 is among those cited: “When you sit down to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is put before you; and put a knife to your throat, if you be a man given to appetite.” But I suspect that’s more about making a good impression on the powerful host than selfcontrol and discipline. Doubtless Scripture addresses the issue so lightly because this was not a problem for all but a very few First Century believers. The incredible variety of rich food available to clog the arteries of modernday believers was not possible even for
Caesar, much less the Lord’s disciples who tended to have limited financial means. Therefore, references in God’s Word are rare and limited. 4. Our conviction is weak. While we pastors have little trouble preaching on subjects with which we also
August 2014 The people in the pews want more from us than a simple “Don’t overeat.” And, since the problems facing members of our congregation are numerous, it’s easy to abandon thoughts of such sermons and move along to more manageable topics such as materialism, stewardship, or prayer. Now, having said all of this, here are 3 reasons why pastors SHOULD preach sermons on gluttony: 1) Health. Obesity is the scourge of our times, the Black Plague of the 21st century. Look at an old video clip of city life in the 1940s. How slim people were! Then stand in the mall and look at your neighbors. Obesity is everywhere. Airplanes are re-designing seats to accommodate larger patrons. Hospitals are adding wings to handle the multiple diseases stemming from our gluttonous lifestyle.
struggle, we have great difficulty hammering out sermons on issues we do not feel strongly about. And that’s the problem: we should feel stronger than we do. In his classic The Seven Deadly Sins, Henry Fairlie depicts a glutton as a hog at the trough. He eats, not because he loves the taste of food, but scarfs it down with hardly a thought, shoveling in great quantities of the stuff, all in an attempt to fill an inner abyss that defines his existence. Killing himself softly and slowly, but just as deadly as with a pistol. But for most of us, that is not us. Most of us food-sinners actually love the taste of the food, delight in the kitchen aromas, and revel in good fellowship around the table. So, concluding that the issue of gluttony is not applicable to us, we move on to other issues. 5. Our answers are fuzzy. We pastors want to give specific remedies for the great problems of mankind. The remedy for sin is the cross, the remedy for pride is humility, for envy, love. But what is the remedy for overeating—salvation? Being filled with the Spirit? Love? Prayer? A diet plan? Shopping at Whole Foods? Avoiding certain friends?
2) Scriptures. “Whether therefore you eat or drink or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1Cor. 10:31). Even though we can find additional texts that deal with the issue to one degree or other, this alone should suffice. Will my eating please my Lord and bring glory to Him? 3) Godliness. A friend said to me, “My son and I have been working out in the gym. And we made a little discovery. Because we are disciplining ourselves physically, we find that we want to eat healthier also.” Discipline in one area overflows into related areas. The opposite is also true: let my friend drop the exercise program and the guilt that flows in to fill the void would soon have him devouring the unhealthiest of foods. And, after all this, “the fruit of the Spirit is… self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). Dr. Joe McKeever is a Preacher, Cartoonist, and the Director of Missions for the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans. Visit him at:
joemckeever.com/mt.
Health care is one-sixth of our economy. If the government can control that, they can control just about everything. We need to understand what is going on, because there are much more economic models that can be used to give us good health care than what we have now. - Dr. Benjamin Carson
August 2014
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com
are voices across our land that emphasize parts of the Word of God while minimizing scriptures that make them uncomfortable. As I contemplate the havoc this creates within the church, I am reminded of an old Bible teacher, now in heaven, who once told me that the best orest Home was instrumental in Billy Graham's way to interpret Scripture is with other passages of Scripture. The Bible is true from cover to cover. "This early ministry. (BGEA) Book ... shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall Many people have asked how my father is doing. He is meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do a little bit stronger, and his vitals continue to be good. It according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and seems the heat then you will have good success" of the summer Forest Home Conference Center (Joshua 1:8, NKJV). has been good for him. I am convinced that my father's commitment by faith to the Word Sixty-five years of God was the key to what ago this month happened next in his ministry. At was a pivotal the time, he was a young, time in my relatively little-known evangelist. father's life. In A few weeks later, when the Los fact, my son Angeles tent crusade got under Will Graham way, God began to pour out recently blessings in ways no one could have imagined. The traveled to San Bernardino, California, to help response to the gospel exceeded anything commemorate, on behalf of my father and me, a decisive my father and his small team had ever seen step of faith that occurred at Forest Home Conference up to that point, and God used that crusade Center that summer of 1949. My father was 30 years old to open a flood of opportunities to preach the and preaching around the country. Another young glorious Good News of Jesus Christ in cities preacher he knew had been questioning whether the all over the nation and around the world. Bible was truly and entirely the authoritative Word of God. Sometimes I think about that stump where The issues this preacher raised began to trouble my my father laid his Bible. Many people feel father. Although he never doubted the truth of the that their lives have become a lot like a Gospel, he wrestled over whether he could fully believe stump—cut down—and there's nothing they everything the Bible teaches. He even started wondering can do. But God can renew and use anyone if his questions might cause him to give up preaching. who, in faith, holds fast to His Word. The He took his struggle with him when he traveled to Bible says, "There is hope for a tree, if it is California, where he was scheduled to speak at Forest cut down, that it will sprout again, and that Home in August and then begin a citywide tent crusade its tender shoots will not cease" (Job 14:7). When you give yourself 100 percent to in Los Angeles a few weeks later. following God's direction, there is no end to Late one night at Forest Home, discouraged and unable what He can do through you. to sleep because of the burden that filled his mind, he got up and went out into the moonlight for a walk. In the This summer I hope you can arrange an nearby woods he came upon a tree stump, and he opened opportunity to get away from the his Bible and laid it on the stump. Then he poured out distractions of daily life, spend some inthe agony of his heart to God. He knew the matter had to depth time in the Bible, and pour your heart be resolved one way or the other. Finally he knelt in the out to the Lord in prayer—whether in shadows by the stump with the Bible open before him repentance for sin, recommitment to obey and prayed, "Father, I am going to accept this as Thy His Word, or seeking renewal and fresh Word—by faith! I will believe this to be Your inspired direction for your life. Remember also to Word." At that moment, he later said, he felt the burden thank Him for His faithfulness and to pray by lift and sensed the freedom and power of the Holy Spirit name for the salvation of loved ones and friends who need Jesus Christ in their lives. in and around him.
While Preaching, Billy Graham Once Wrestled Over What Bible Teaches, Son Admits by Franklin Graham
F
This same struggle stirs within many people today. There
My father can no longer take walks or kneel
“To portray the Pope as a kind of superman, a type of star, strikes me as offensive. The Pope is a man who laughs, weeps, sleeps soundly, and has friends like everybody else. A normal person,” -Pope Francis
Page 37 in the woods to pray. His eyesight has dimmed, and his conversations are brief. But I can tell you that he kneels in spirit to the Lord as he prays for lost souls and looks forward to eternal fellowship with His Savior in heaven someday. Because he will be 96 on November 7, his thoughts are constantly on heaven, and we have captured these in a video that the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is excited about airing this November through the nationwide My Hope 2014 outreach. It's a powerful evangelistic film that weaves this new message from my father on heaven around several real-life stories of how the gospel changes hearts. There are people you know and people all over America who do not yet understand that the only way to heaven is through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. They need to hear this message, and we ask for your help to make that happen. Be sure your pastor and others in your church know about My Hope 2014 with Billy Graham. This article originally appeared on:
BillyGraham.org
Page 38
from the editor...
Why should you support the American Christian Voice? by John G. Sacoulas
W
e have subscribers in 20 different states and it continues to grow as a Kingdom unifier. We pray the contents will help us all grow in our journey of faith and wisdom. We are now in our 10th year of printing the only Christian magazine of its kind in the nation that is fun and inspirational uniquely representing the whole Body of Christ. We have served the Christian community to the best of our ability, trying to be fair and balanced to more than one position on the non-essential matters. Of course, it is the human, religious nature to make twigs into trunks. You can imagine the difficult task we have to try to educate and spiritually mature the believer without creating a great offense in the process. If this publication took a left-wing, flaming liberal position or a stinking, right-wing, conservative position (extreme opinions either way), folks on both sides of that spectrum would get pretty generous to support their own ignorant bias. Having a Christian magazine be moderate to conservative usually generates moderate to conservative financial support because it
www.AmericanChristianVoice.com
August 2014
doesn’t get us all fired up. However, we believe a moderate approach to the majority of hot topics is the most prudent and, dare we say, Christian approach?
The Body of Christ is extremely diverse because it mysteriously serves God’s purpose to be that way. The ACV is a Kingdom paper. We know a $36.00 yearly subscription in this economy is a huge amount. Maybe a friend ink! can split it with you and you both can share it. If that is not possible, could you please try to get the ACV at your favorite vendor? They are mentioned at the bottom of the pages. That’s only $15.00 a year. It would be a shame for this magazine to disappear only to have people saying that had they known our needs, they would have helped out in some way. If we were all ads, we would need no support from the reader, but we hope the contents are a blessing to you and to others and is worthy of your financial assistance.
Subscriptions It’s only $36.00 a year... (10 issues) NEVER MISS AN ISSUE! Or Gift it to a Loved One!
Credit Cards accepted by phone at: 417-353-7598 order by email:
Of course, if you just feel led by God to make a tax deductible donation of any size, we would be most grateful. (Please send check to address in the subscription box or hit the donate button on our website. We publish 10 issues annually. Please tell us which month to start your subscription.)
Also, please remember to tell the sponsors that you see their ads and appreciate them supporting the ACV; it helps keep our cover price so low!
editor@americanchristianvoice.com To make it more affordable, split it with a friend! ...or send a check with your address to:
American Christian Voice P.O. Box 336 Rockaway Beach, MO 65740
Please indicate which month to start your subscription.
It’s a win, win... when you help us grow, we help you grow!
Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. Do you have any idea how much God loves you right now, exactly the way you are, with all your sins, flaws and shortcomings? Think about it... did you believe you would love your children more when they grew up and were out of diapers and selfish little personalities? If religion has made you believe you cannot measure up, please visit S.W.I.M. this coming Sunday. Info on page 23. It’s not your Momma’s church!