FREE
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013
U P WA R D
Sports
Values trump winning
NAGHMEH
Abedini Her
‘supernatural peace’
BILL
Barr
Nampa Christian football coach
CHURCH
Holiday Bazaars Crafts, food and more
FATHERS
In the Field Helping boys heal
Contents November / December 2013 “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7
Features
Columns
6
Outdoors with Dougherty: ‘The buzz’ on hunting
10
Minister’s Message: Live it up!
Sales & Marketing Melva Bade melvab@sterlingmedialtd.com 208-501-9024
4
16
Faith & Finances: The Final Four
Bill Barr:
8
21
Breaking Free: Christianity and football
Nampa Christian’s football coach
Departments
Cover Story — Upward Sports:
12
19
Creativity in the Kitchen: Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie
20
Christian Businesspeople: Mike Virden’s Auto Sales
23
Business Spotlight: Kim Shoecraft’s Treasure Chest
Where winning isn’t everything
Church Holiday Bazaars:
14
Crafts, food and more
Fathers in the Field:
18
In the Community:
22
Helping boys heal
Newsboys & Christian writing contest
Publisher Sterling Media Ltd. Editor Gaye Bunderson gayeb@sterlingmedialtd.com 208-639-8301
Naghmeh Abedini:
Her ‘supernatural peace’
Volume 1, Number 3
In Each Edition 3
Editor’s Intro: A holiday in the hospital
& Scripture: 11 Quotes Contributors’ Favorite Bible Verses
November / December 2013 | Christian Living
Sales Manager Sandy Jones Graphic Design Denice King Contributors Dan Dougherty, Brian Raymond, Joel Lund and Jim Harris Distribution Assistants Doris Evans and Shawna Howard
Christian Living is committed to encouraging and instructing individuals in their daily lives by presenting stories of people in the Treasure Valley who are living on a foundation of faith in Jesus Christ and who serve as uplifting examples to others. Views expressed in Christian Living do not necessarily represent those of the publisher. Every effort has been made by Christian Living to insure accuracy of the publication contents. However, we do not guarantee the accuracy of all information nor the absence of errors and omissions; hence, no responsibility can be or is assumed. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2013 by Sterling Media Ltd. Christian Living is published every other month and is available in high traffic locations throughout the Treasure Valley.
www.boisechristianliving.com
EDITOR’S Intro
A holiday spent in the hospital By Gaye Bunderson For the longest time in my life, I could have made the statement: “I’ve never had a bad Thanksgiving or Christmas.” But in the year 2000, that all changed. I was very sick throughout the first year of the new century. I underwent major surgery, was in the hospital four times and the emergency room three times, once on Thanksgiving Day. My poor family suffered as much as I did. They spent long hours in the ER, and while they waited for the doctors to diagnose what was wrong with me on Thanksgiving Day, the turkey my mother had started cooking hours before now sat spoiling in the kitchen. My mother, father and sister ended up eating at a restaurant that just happened to be open for the holiday, and I got to drink some of that “tasty” mixture they give you prior to a CT scan. Thankfully, I had nothing seriously wrong me during that trip to the ER. When the doctor decided to keep me in the hospital overnight just to be sure, though, I thought my entire Thanksgiving was ruined. But it wasn’t. The next day, my mother and sister showed up with some Christmas tree decoration kits. We spent part of the day after Thanksgiving making holiday ornaments in my hospital room, with me propped up in bed. The kits included paint, paintbrushes, glue, marking pens, and glitter. (The kits were not for kids, by the way, but were targeted toward grownups who like crafts.) The charge nurse wasn’t too www.boisechristianliving.com
“God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.” — St. Augustine happy with us when she saw the debris spread out on those spare blankets they have in hospital rooms, but a very nice male nurse was quite complimentary of our artwork. We did clean up our mess, too. My point is that the holidays are where some of our best memories are made. But often, even though we think there should be a warm glow covering us from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, difficult things still happen at this time of year. The challenge is to remember that God never abandons us and always loves us. He’s not a fair-weather friend, and He is very creative in showing how He cares for us. As the Scripture says: “Taste and see that the Lord is good ...”
Inside this issue:
I had the privilege of interviewing Naghmeh Abedini, whose husband Saeed is incarcerated in an Iranian prison for his Christian beliefs, and this issue features a story about the couple’s powerful faith. Neither Naghmeh or Saeed are borderline believers. They are courageous people, and they haven’t buckled under pressure. Naghmeh speaks out daily for her husband’s release, and despite everything, she said she is optimistic he could be home by Christmas. Let’s all pray for that
outcome. What a great gift that would be for his two small children. This edition of Christian Living is almost a sports edition, but not entirely. Along with the sports-related items below, Brian Raymond offers his spin on how the Christian life parallels football in some ways. And Mike Virden, who is ranked one of the Top 10 Boise State quarterbacks of all time, has opened a business which I interviewed him about. Other articles include: • Upward Sports is an organization that teaches children the fundamentals of sports while at the same time rejecting the “win-at-all-costs” mentality. • Nampa Christian football coach Bill Barr likes to say Jesus is his head coach and the Bible is his playbook. • Chuck Wiefels serves as regional director of a group called Fathers in the Field, which matches “mentor dads” with fatherless boys and encourages them to do the kind of outdoor activities that males love to do. • Dan Dougherty writes about the time he went hunting and suddenly became the prey when he was attacked by a swarm of insects. I cannot tell you how many stories I have for this publication in the coming months. Ideas just keep coming — from my own research as well as from readers. I can hardly wait until 2014 when, increasingly, I can share with the Treasure Valley all that Christians in this area are accomplishing. It may be just a little too early to say, but “Happy New Year” to you all. n Gaye Bunderson, Editor gayeb@sterlingmedialtd.com
Christian Living | November / December 2013
NAGHMEH Abedini
Saeed home for Christmas? Naghmeh’s optimistic By Gaye Bunderson In September, Saeed Abedini marked the end of the first year of an eight-year sentence he is serving in Evin Prison in Iran on a charge of undermining national security through his Christian evangelical activities in the largely Muslim country. His wife, Naghmeh, lives in Boise with her family and the couple’s two children: Rebekka, 7, and Jacob, 5. Naghmeh works tirelessly to help free her husband from the notorious prison. Below is an interview she gave to Christian Living via telephone on Oct. 17. Due to space limitations, the story has been trimmed; the full text will be available on Christian Living’s website at www.boisechristianliving.com. Q. How did you become a Christian? A. I have a twin brother, and we grew up in a Muslim family. When we were growing up in Iran, this was the time of the Iran-Iraq War. My brother and I were watching houses being bombed. That got our minds thinking, “Where is God; who is God?” There was chemical warfare. It made us wonder and a lot of questions came about, and my brother really tried to answer them through practical Islam. We would pray Muslim prayers and fast, but we didn’t see much result. Soon after we came here, my brother had a vision of Jesus and he came and said to me, “I have found the God we were looking for.” He felt such an amazing love, an intense love, and he was really transformed by that, and we were best friends and I followed him (in his beliefs). My dad was angry. He was a very strong Muslim. He was considering taking us back to Iran because we were becoming westernized, and he said, “You have lost your culture and your religion.” We were living then in California
Naghmeh and Saeed Abedini sit at home with their children years prior to Saeed’s arrest. (Courtesy photo)
and moved to Idaho in 1987 after an uncle found a job here with Micron. My dad thought maybe Idaho would be better. He felt like California was very American, very westernized, very worldly. He thought everything was bad in California and a smaller town would take us away from all of that. We were under our parents’ watch. They took our Bibles away, wouldn’t let us pray — they were making sure we were going to forget this Christian thing. Thirteen years later, my parents and my younger sister all accepted Christ. They ran to Idaho to get us away from Christ, but that’s where they found Him themselves. We found what we couldn’t find in Islam. With Christ it’s more than a religion; it’s more of a relationship. It’s the relationship that gets you through, helps you go through rough times and gives you supernatural peace and joy. Nothing can take that from you. It’s not something you can create within yourself or get by religious rituals.
November / December 2013 | Christian Living
Q. When did you meet Saeed? A. In November of 2001, I went to Iran and started sharing my faith with a few of my cousins; and four or five people — some of them my cousins — started giving their hearts to Christ. In 2002 I met (and married) Saeed, an underground church pastor. He had come from a radical Muslim family. Jesus said to him, “I am coming back soon; go preach my gospel.” We had become very prominent in the house church movement in Iran. (Historical background: At the time the Abedinis were first active in the house church movement, it was tolerated by the Iranian government. However, when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected president of the country in 2005, he started to crack down on the movement. The Abedinis left Iran and went to Dubai, and then came to the U.S. in 2006.) www.boisechristianliving.com
Q. How do you feel about people who say Saeed shouldn’t have returned to Iran? A. I’ve heard that from the beginning. But he was born and raised there. He didn’t all of a sudden act crazy and go back. ... His family is there; everything he knows was in Iran. He didn’t really consider it to be that dangerous. (The Abedinis were given permission by the Iranian government in 2009 to build an orphanage in the city of Rasht. Naghmeh is adamant they not only had permission but were working with the government in their humanitarian efforts to help that country’s poor and abandoned children. Still, when Saeed — by now an American citizen — went to Iran in 2012 to see his family and continue working to build the orphanage, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard placed him under house arrest.)
Q. What do you have planned for the holidays? A. I travel quite a bit — between now and Christmas I have 10 trips planned (to speak out for Saeed). With my family and siblings, it will be difficult. But I’m hoping Saeed will be back by Christmas. Since September, after the worldwide prayer vigil for Saeed, there’s been so much momentum — from the U.N., the European Parliament, President Obama, Billy Graham. It’s made me optimistic. n Naghmeh Abedini holds a “Save Saeed” sign with a Twitter hashtag. (Courtesy photo)
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Q. Are you able to be certain Saeed won’t crack under pressure? A. He is one of the most stubborn people. When he believes in something, he won’t
back down. When he accepted Christ and we were married, he said to me, “I could lose my life over this. Are you sure you want to do this?” And I said, “Yes.” He will not deny Christ.
www.boisechristianliving.com
Christian Living | November / December 2013
OUTDOORS With Dougherty
‘The buzz’ on hunting at Hungry Ridge By Dan Dougherty Hunting never will be an exact science (“a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions ... that can be rationally explained and reliably applied,” according to Wikipedia). Hunting’s unpredictability and ever-changing parameters are part of its perpetual appeal. You never know what is going to happen. About the time you think you have it figured out and under control, it hits you with the unexpected. You have to love it! Like a good Boy Scout, a hunter is always trying to “Be Prepared,” but lacking God’s perfection, he never fully is. You make your “list” and check it twice and end up at the campsite with your cased gun on the bed at home and the hamburger left in the freezer. Nimrod, the neighbor down the street, is still waiting to be picked up. You start the hunt trying to be prepared for whatever arises. If you are bow hunting you are packing your new .44 because of those pesky wolves’ interest in the sound of your “Hoot-chie Mama” elk call. You have your camo, painted face, and new scent blocker that makes you smell just like dirt, a doe in heat, or … nothing at all! You have studied the calendar for the phases of the moon, the Internet weather forecast, and are dressed in layered clothing for quick apparel adjustments. You end up shooting your deer back at camp, in front of the fire, in your skivvies, eating Pork ‘N Beans, while the bemused buck is trying to smother a chuckle at the sight before him. Sometimes the unexpected is humorous, sometimes painful, and often a combination of both. It is never forgettable! It is often the foundation of the stories used to foster a generation of enthusiastic
Dan Dougherty fell victim to a swarm of hornets or yellow jackets during a hunting trip in 2004. His face became painfully swollen from multiple stings. (Courtesy photo)
new hunters. One such story just happens to come to mind. It was 2004. My wife Peggy, youngest son Jakoub, father-in-law Bob Yelm, and I were staying at the South Fork of the Clearwater River campground. It was early October and in that area both deer and elk seasons were open. We were hunting Hungry Ridge just south of the river. Peggy, Jakoub, and “Grandpa” were off on a leisurely trek to an area that was usually productive, especially for deer. I had grander ambitions and was off to find elk. After several miles of careful scouting, finding much fresh sign, I was making a circle back toward the pickup. The October morning was warming up. I took a brief rest on a strategically located stump. I wanted to keep my core temperature down to prevent sweating. I began making cow calls to a small enclosed meadow below me.
November / December 2013 | Christian Living
I became instantly aware of a buzzing sound and quickly noticed a swarm of insects arising from the base of the stump. At first I thought it was bees but soon became aware they were much more aggressive. I made a quick exit, staggering and slapping. Soon my attackers were left behind. Fortunately the pickup was near. I made it back in much pain from multiple stings. Shutting my eyes I could see red and the pain was intense. Jakoub was back at the truck to get something to eat. I summarized my plight and promptly passed out. As I sat up I saw my wife and Bob hurrying toward me. For the few moments I was out, Jakoub had walkietalkied them. He told them what had happened and that he thought I was dying. That explained the deep concern on their faces. I asked them if they had seen my Hoot-chie Mama. They looked relieved. My wife had thought she was going to www.boisechristianliving.com
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have to find half of a pen to do a tracheotomy on me (something she saw on TV or read about). They went back and found my call and hat. They decided to play it safe and take me to the hospital. I had no objections. Taking one vehicle, all four of us piled into the cab of my pickup. We said a short prayer and Peggy zoomed off toward Grangeville. (She likes to drive fast anyway.) In the ER they gave me an epinephrine shot and put me on IV. They gave me two liters of saline to flush my kidneys. I had protein in my urine. The doctor said the insects were probably hornets or yellow jackets. Because their stingers Dan Dougherty taught school in the Treasure Valley for 40 years and retired in May. He now has plenty are used over and over they are very unsanitary and can cause seri- of time to enjoy the outdoors whenever he wants. ous damage. He said I was lucky I wasn’t the least bit allergic or I would be dead. (Thank you, Jesus!) I was stung 18 times in the face, ears, eyelids and hairline. I spent over four hours in the hospital. I was given pain medicine and Benadryl. I slept very well that evening. Early the next morning I went into the trailer at the campsite to have breakfast. The other three were just starting to eat; they were just going to let me sleep. I told them I wasn’t going to hunt that day. They started laughing (and still laugh about it). It was quite obvious what they were laughing at. I looked like I had been in a prizefight and lost. My face was swollen. One eye was swollen shut and I could barely see out of the other. Bob killed a very large buck during that outing. It was the largest one checked through the check station that year. It had a nice rack, but because of age its antler mass was probably on the downhill side. It was a 6- to 7-year-old deer. It weighed 223 pounds field dressed. I will never forget that trip. The deer rack is in my garage. Bob died last year. I was looking forward to spending many hunting and fishing trips with him in my retirement. God had other plans. Bob will be forever missed and never forgotten. And the memory of that particular outdoor adventure will remain with me always. n
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Christian Living | November / December 2013
BILL Barr
Trojans coach sees football through faith’s lens By Gaye Bunderson Bill Barr makes the intriguing statement that he got “saved,” in the Christian sense, while studying evolution in college. Barr teaches college preparatory chemistry and astronomy at Skyview High School in Nampa and coaches high school football and track at Nampa Christian School. “I have one foot in public school and one foot in Christian school,” he said. His commitments to faith, football and education all began back in the ‘70s while studying archeology at Central Oregon Community College in Bend. A native of Prineville, Ore., he attended COCC in order to be near his father, who was undergoing treatments for leukemia. While he refers to his late father as his best friend, he acknowledges his childhood and adolescence were less than perfect. “Drinkin’, smokin’ and cussin’ — that’s what my home life was like. ‘Jesus’ was just a swear word,” Barr said. His mother and father married young — 15 and 16, respectively — and both dropped out of school. Nonetheless, as he matured, Barr decided to pursue college. While enrolled in Anthropology 101, he had his first brush with faith. “There was one Christian in the class. He always raised his hand to speak. He was respectful, mature and had wisdom,” Barr said. “I was hearing the other side from this one guy in class.” Barr asked his classmate to have lunch with him and in doing so, he opened a door to a new area in his life. This, he said, is when he started learning about the Lord. “I didn’t even know how to pray. I didn’t know any theology at all,” Barr said. He started reading the Gospel of John; at the same time, God started in on a major overhaul of the old Bill Barr.
Nampa Christian high school football coach Bill Barr is shown with his team during a gridiron match-up. (Photo courtesy of Nampa Christian School)
“I was self-centered, egotistical, I used people, I hated women,” said Barr, explaining his mother suffered from alcoholism. “I had to forgive my mother. I was messed up. God had to wash my brain and clean it out.” He said one of the things God did was give him more respect for women — in the unique way that only God can. “He gave me a wife and three daughters,” Barr said, acknowledging he is lovingly committed to each of them. They include: Micaela, 25; Chelsea, 24, Auby, 14; and his life companion, Melanie. The ‘new’ Bill Barr completed his college education, obtaining degrees
November / December 2013 | Christian Living
in physical education and natural science. He began teaching and coaching in Idaho in the ‘80s, in the communities of Marsing, Homedale and Melba. He’s been teaching at Skyview for 12 years and coaching at Nampa Christian for 11. Barr enjoys challenging conversations about creationism, good science versus bad, the beginning of life, and male leadership. He said God has given him the boldness to speak up about such things. He’s open to talking about football but mostly as it relates to his beliefs. “I’m really only the assistant coach at Nampa Christian. Jesus is the head coach, and the playbook is the Bible,” he said. www.boisechristianliving.com
He said he doesn’t even see football as separate in any way from his relationship with the Lord, and anything from Barr that resembles sports talk is liberally salted with references to Scripture. “I’m not just a Christian and then a football coach. … As a Christian school, we think God is on our side; but there are Christians on the other team, and God doesn’t take sides. Winning is not beating your opponent. It is giving it your best — every play, every down, every game,” Barr said. Nampa Christian’s assistant coach, Jerry Smith, praises Barr for his ability to work well with youth. “He’s real good with kids and has a good message for them. He has a lot of love for them,” Smith said. Regarding the team’s success on the field, Smith said: “We were about 500 last year — four wins, four losses. This year we’re a little bit younger team; we don’t have as much depth as we’ve had the last couple of years. The young players are good, but it may take time for them to develop.” Whether or not Jesus would enjoy football or not, if He were walking the earth today, is very much open to speculation. But Barr has his own perspective on the strength and character of the Lord he follows: “Christ was one tough dude. He didn’t bail out, and He didn’t quit.” n Bill Barr is never far away from his Bible, nor he is shy about sharing what he gleans from it. (Photo by Gaye Bunderson)
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Christian Living | November / December 2013
MINISTER’S Message
Are you a Christian? Live it up! To live out your faith in Christ requires your commitment to a group of people — a local church. If you’re adopted into His family, you will live as a member of the family. Ephesians 4:12-16 is a crucial description of what it’s like to live as a Christian: “. . . for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature Jim Harris is pastor of Heritage Bible Church in man, to the measure of the stature which Boise. He is the author of The Antioch Initiabelongs to the fullness of Christ. As a tive training program for Russian pastors through Slavic Gospel Association and is a Bible teacher on result, we are no longer to be children, Heritage Bible Radio. He has served as a pastor tossed here and there by waves and carin California and Idaho since 1971 and taught Bible and Theology at The Master’s College, Santa ried about by every wind of doctrine, Clarita, Calif., from 1986 to 1990. Jim and his by the trickery of men, by craftiness in wife Marsha have one adult son. deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects By Jim Harris into Him who is the head, even Christ, Becoming a Christian is a perfrom whom the whole body, being fitted sonal thing. You can’t get into the and held together by what every joint Kingdom of Heaven on anyone’s supplies, according to the proper workcoattails. It’s an individual thing ing of each individual part, causes the to believe the gospel “that Christ growth of the body for the building up of died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, itself in love” (New American Standard Bible). and that He was raised on the third Once you become a member of day according to the Scriptures” (1 this group, you have responsibiliCorinthians 15:3-4). You become a Christian by putting ties to live according to the design of the Creator of the group. your faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is for “those who believe in His When it comes to being a Christian, do you live up to your callname” (John 1:12). You’re on the ing? Ask yourself the right quesoutside looking in until you turn from your sins by turning in faith to tions from this passage: Am I being equipped for the Jesus Christ. work of service? This is why God But by becoming a Christian you gives gifted men called pastors and are instantly part of a group: the teachers to the body of Christ. Church, the body of Christ. So how do you live as a Christian? The Are you learning better and better how to serve in His church? Are cliché question is, “If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would you doing the “work of service”? there be enough evidence to convict If you could be gone for a month and no service to people in your you?” What kind of living demchurch would need to be covered, onstrates that you are truly saved — that you are indeed a Christian? something is wrong! 10 November / December 2013 | Christian Living
Am I building up other people in the body of Christ? Who depends on me for encouragement, fellowship and prayer? Am I promoting the unity of the faith? Do I help people grow in understanding sound doctrine so we all agree on truth? Am I helping them know the Son of God? Am I more mature in Christ than I was last year? Am I helping someone else be more mature in Him? Can I recognize silly fads and bad doctrine for what they are, or am I easily “tossed here and there by winds of doctrine?” Do I recognize deceitful scheming for what it is? Am I known for speaking God’s truth in love, even when it is not easy or convenient? Is my church becoming more like Jesus Christ because of what I do? How are my “joints”? In a body the joints are where the parts connect with each other. In the body of Christ, the “joints” are the relationships which connect you to other believers. Do my relationships with other Christians unify the Church and help each member to function well? Is my part working properly? Am I extending myself to serve other believers and to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that the church grows and matures? If you are my brother or sister in Christ I exhort you to “Live it up!” Live like who you are in Christ, and watch God use you beyond anything you could do on your own. And if you’re still on the outside looking in to the Kingdom of Heaven, come to Christ and let Him forgive you, transform your life, and use you for His glory. n www.boisechristianliving.com
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QUOTES & Scripture
Favorite Bible verses from people in our pages
If you are longing to be connected with the Lord at a deeper level and experience His Love in a new way Riverwind is for YOU! We might appear to be casual, but we cultivate serious faith! At the heart of Riverwind Fellowship is our intense worship encounter!
Join us Sundays for breakfast at 9:30 am Celebration of His Presence and His Word at 10:30 am Revelationship School of Higher Learning Wednesdays 7pm
Editor’s note: Christian Living asked some of the people who have been featured in its pages to share their favorite Bible verse. Many of them had more than one verse they loved, but for lack of space, only one favorite is printed here. Verses were taken from the King James Version, the New King James Version, The Message, and the New International Version.
Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG): Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me — watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. — from Dan Woodworth, advisor, author and inspirational speaker
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Corinthians 13 (KJV): And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. — from Cherie Buckner-Webb, business owner and Idaho state legislator
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Isaiah 43: 1-3 & Isaiah 43: 18-19 (NIV): Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they shall not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, Your Savior. … Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. — from Joseph Evaneski, Loyal to One Ministry Continued on page 17
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Christian Living | November / December 2013 11
COVER STORY
Upward Sports teaches values while By Gaye Bunderson How many organizations can you name that have fun as their primary emphasis? Upward Sports is one such group. Geared toward youngsters in kindergarten through sixth grade, Upward Sports promotes values such as trust, respect and responsibility, all while engaging children in high-energy activities. “Statistics show kids quit sports because they’re not having fun, so we put a premium on making it the most fun and electric experience possible,” said Tim Fulwood, Upward sports director, and athletic director of a related organization called Idaho Sports Foundation. “We’re not at all about the win-at-all-costs mentality.” In fact, Upward Sports — an outwardly Christian organization — stresses adherence to 2 Corinthians 4:18, which reads, “Fix your eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” The organization feels it’s a per- Upward Sports offers many team events for both and girls, including flag football, basketspective that can be easily trans- boys ball, soccer and cheerleading. (Courtesy photos) lated to sports. “We tell our coaches, ‘We don’t want you to focus on the scoreboard; those things are temporary. Life skills and the relationships that you build are eternal,’” Fulwood said. Upward Sports started in 1995 in Spartanburg, S.C. It spread throughout the country and eventually launched in the Treasure Valley in 2006. The organization currently seeks to broaden its outreach to other countries and so far has done well in Canada. Initially, Upward Sports programs in the Boise area only included basketball and cheerleading, but they have since branched out to include flag football and soccer. “We wanted to expand and broaden our ability to reach more kids for Christ through sports,” Fulwood said. Idaho Sports Foundation is in its “infant stages,” according to Fulwood, but serves as a partner in line with the goals of Upward Sports. The organization’s “Upward Values” statement sums up its priorities. (From its website at www.idahosportsfoundation.org): 12 November / December 2013 | Christian Living
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having a blast
Tim Fulwood is sports director for Upward Sports, athletic director for Idaho Sports Foundation, and teacher of elementary physical education at Galileo STEM Academy. (Photo by Gaye Bunderson)
VALUES
• The Expectation of God Moments We believe that God is at work all around us. • The Life of Integrity We believe that how we live is more important than what we say. • The Discipline of Excellence We believe in serving that exceeds expectations. • The Priority of Children We believe every child is a winner. Each sporting activity is preceded by a five-minute devotional, and though Upward Sports is “very upfront” about its commitment to Christian values, “we don’t step on people’s toes and be pushy about it,” Fulwood said. “Thirty-five percent of participants don’t belong to a church,” he said. Fulwood provided some 2013 figures for participation in Upward Sports by area youngsters. They include (sport followed by number of children): 1. Flag football and cheerleading: 340 2. Boys and girls soccer: 285 3. Basketball and cheerleading: 1,000 “It takes a huge volunteer base. We have hundreds of volunteers locally. For basketball, we have 200 parents stepping up to coach,” Fulwood said. Matt and Jamie McGehee are two of the program’s coach volunteers; their children participate on Upward Sports teams and cheerleading squads. www.boisechristianliving.com
“They need volunteers, so there’s lots of opportunities for adults. It’s really created such a family opportunity for us to be together and do family things,” Matt said. A Micron employee by day, Matt has coached soccer, flag football and basketball, while his wife pitches in as cheerleading coordinator. “The girls just love it. They love doing their cheers. It’s an exciting thing for them when the crowd gets involved. They love the high fives. They love to do their half-time performances,” Jamie said. Bernadette Sexton, whose son has participated in Upward Sports for about five years, said the program puts kids first and teaches them the fundamentals of the sport rather than just the competitive element of it. She also praised the sense of fairness, that all kids are given an equal opportunity to play, and that they can frequently meet other children from throughout the valley. “It’s not like Little League, where parents and kids are both really competitive,” Sexton said. “It’s healthy. They’re playing to be active; they’re learning to play the sport for the long term. They’re not going to be NFL players; they’re going to be adults who need to be active, and they’re learning how to do that.” There’s no discrimination when it comes to skills or limitations either, according to Sexton. “There was a special needs kid on the team, and he got help from the other kids. They made sure he caught the ball and made touchdowns. They didn’t pity him; they just helped him,” she said. n For more information, visit www.idahosportsfoundation.org. There is a fee to participate. Christian Living | November / December 2013 13
CHURCH Holiday Bazaar Calendar
Local holiday bazaars: crafts, food, more Bazaars set for November 2-3
Christ Lutheran Church Annual Fall Bazaar — Christ Lutheran Church in Meridian will hold its annual fall bazaar from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at 1406 W. Cherry Lane. The event will feature a Shepherds Cafe, Chocolate Corner, White Elephant Booth and handcrafted goods. ‘Tis the Season: Church of the Holy Nativity Bazaar — The Church of the Holy Nativity at 828 W. Cherry Lane in Meridian will hold a “ ‘Tis the Season” bazaar from noon to 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2; and 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, Nov. 3. There will be homemade goodies and crafts, and lunch and snacks will be served each day. Local vendors will be on hand. For more information, contact Gladys Clymens at (208) 284-3736. PEO Holiday Bazaar — The seventh annual PEO Holiday Bazaar will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at The Tuttle House at St. Michael’s Cathedral, corner of 8th and State streets in downtown Boise. There will be a selection of jewelry, handmade items and baked goods for sale, and raffles for a quilt, a holiday entertaining basket and a decorated live Christmas tree. For more information, contact Molly Ramsay at (208) 867-6902. Whitney Women’s Chorale Holiday Craft Bazaar — The Whitney Women’s Chorale of Whitney United Methodist Church will hold a holiday craft bazaar from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at the church, 3315 Overland Road in Boise. The bazaar will feature woodcrafts, textiles, jams and jellies, baked goods, needlework, cards, jewelry, ornaments, candy and Christmas decorations. Homemade soup and dessert will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for $5. For more information, contact Lynn at (208) 631-1271.
Bazaars set for November 8-9
Bizarre Bazaar at King of Glory Lutheran Church — King of Glory Lutheran Church members will be selling holiday cookies by the pound and candy by the piece during the church’s Bizarre Bazaar from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9. The church is located at 3430 N. Maple Grove Road in Boise. The event will also feature handcrafted items, Norwegian lefse (a soft flatbread), holiday decorations, kitchen accessories, jams and jellies, and much more. On Saturday, coffee and cinnamon rolls will be available, and there will be soup and dessert for lunch. For more information, contact Nancy Severson at (208) 888-8787. 14 November / December 2013 | Christian Living
Central Assembly of God Women’s Ministries Christmas Bazaar — Many handcrafted items and gifts will be available at the Central Assembly of God Women’s Ministries 33rd Annual Christmas Bazaar, to be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8, and Saturday, Nov. 9, at 12000 W. Fairview Ave. in Boise. Food will be served all day, each day. For more information, contact Winnie Lowther at (208) 853-7102. Vineyard Christmas Market — Vineyard Christian Fellowship invites the public to come browse its fourth annual holiday market from noon to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at 4950 N. Bradley St. in Boise. There will be live music both days, and vendors will offer photography and painting, woodwork, paper crafts, jewelry, candles and potpourri, fused glass, soaps and lotions, home décor, baked goods, and much more. For more information, contact Kim Collingham at (208) 871-4194. Meridian Assembly Christmas Bazaar — There will be a large variety of items, drawings for prizes, a silent auction, baked goods, homemade soups, and more at the Meridian Assembly Christmas Bazaar from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at 1830 N. Linder Road. For more information, contact Charlotte at (208) 887-0815. “Souper” Saturday All Church Bazaar and Silent Auction — The Meridian United Methodist Church of the Warm Heart will present a “Souper Saturday All Church Bazaar and Silent Auction” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at the church, 240 E. Idaho Ave. There will be a soup lunch with homemade pies, arts and crafts, baked goods, and a silent auction with many gift baskets. The event is open to all. For more information, visit www.meridianumc.com. Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church Annual Holiday Bazaar — Norwegian lefse and other Scandinavian foods will be available at the annual holiday bazaar at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church at 3100 S. Five Mile Road in Boise. There will will be pies, breads, and canned goods available, as well as crafts and quilts. Silent and live auctions are planned, and a hot lunch will be served starting at 11 a.m. The bazaar is set for 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9. For more information, contact Cindi Michalski at (208) 658-5583. www.boisechristianliving.com
Hope Lutheran Church Holiday Bazaar — The Hope Holiday Bazaar is set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 331 N. Linder Road in Eagle. Come to shop! For more information, contact Carol at the church, (208) 939-9181. Southside Boulevard United Methodist Church Harvest Festival — The Southside Boulevard United Methodist Church Harvest Festival will feature a Bazaar & Country Store (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), a Breakfast Bar (9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.), and a Dinner Hour (5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.), all on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 5420 Southside Blvd. in Nampa. Starting at 6:30 p.m., there will be a live auction featuring church members’ donated items. Admission price is $8 for adults and $4 for children. For more information, contact church pastor Jack Bynum at (208) 467-1087. Hillview United Methodist Church Bazaar — The Hillview United Methodist Church Bazaar, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, will feature handcrafted items, scarves, hats, jewelry, baked goods, and more. The church is located at 8525 W. Ustick Road in Boise. For more information, contact Claudia Flora at (208) 375-0392.
Bazaars set for November 15-23
Ambrose School Christmas Bazaar — The Ambrose School Christmas Bazaar will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at 6100 N. Locust Grove Road in Meridian. For more information, contact events manager Amy Yenor at (208) 323-3888. Ambrose School is a regional classical Christian school. All Saints Episcopal Church Holiday Bazaar — Handmade crafts, baked goods, and lunch will be available at the All Saints Episcopal Church Holiday Bazaar on Friday, Nov. 22, and Saturday, Nov. 23, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. The church is located at 704 S. Latah in Boise. For more information, contact Ruth Andrews at (208) 344-2537. Sacred Heart Holiday Bazaar — The annual Sacred Heart Holiday Bazaar will feature both a wide variety of handcrafted items as well as products from Scentsy, Cookie Lee, and Perfectly Posh. There will be a Ladies of Sacred Heart bake sale, and Sacred Heart School’s student council members will serve lunch daily. The bazaar is set for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, in the Sacred Heart School gym at 3901 Cassia St. in Boise. www.boisechristianliving.com
Meridian Friends Church Holiday Bazaar — Vendors for this bazaar will include Tupperware, Scentsy, Younique, It Works, and Fat Daddy’s BBQ. There will be homemade pop can airplanes, homemade wooden and tile signs, and other items. Breakfast and lunch will be available. The bazaar is set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at 1021 W. Pine in Meridian. For more information, contact Terrilene Smith at (208) 284-2784.
Bazaars set for December 7
Cloverdale Church of God 22nd Annual Christmas Bazaar — Forty-five vendors and crafters will be selling woodwork, knitted items, canned foods, and other items at the 22nd Annual Cloverdale Church of God Christmas Bazaar. A homemade lunch will be available. The event is set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at 3755 S. Cloverdale Road in Boise. Sons of Norway 16th Annual Christmas Bazaar — There will be a Norwegian baked goods sale, along with vendors selling rosemaling (decorative painting, frequently on wood), knitted items, Christmas wreaths, and more from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at King of Glory Lutheran Church, 3430 N. Maple Grove Road in Boise. For more information, contact Eva Hjorth at (208) 890-9294. n Please send calendar items to gayeb@sterlingmedialtd.com. Christian Living | November / December 2013 15
FAITH & Finances
Like a Scout: ‘Be Prepared!’ By Joel Lund In our final installment of what consumers must know about their financial professional, let’s look at the remaining areas where a consumer’s misconception about the financial services industry can actually hurt the consumer.
The Final Four
7. “It isn’t all that hard to be a finance gal/guy.” As mentioned in a previous column, not only is it difficult to enter the industry due to licensing challenges (a significant percentage of candidates never complete the required tests, stumbling on one or two), each financial professional needs to regularly maintain his or her continuing education. In addition, many professionals willingly undertake specific courses to expand their knowledge base or engage in specializations. There are roughly 80 designations within the industry; the CFP (certified financial professional) is perhaps the best known. These courses generally require, at a minimum, roughly $1,000 per course and upwards of 200 hours of study, between the course requirements and prepping for its exam. 8. “A brick could do it!” Unfortunately, it seems everyone knows of someone who, despite sufficient evidence that they are not the sharpest knife in the drawer of life, inexplicably succeeds in the business of finance. I believe these are the proverbial exceptions that prove the rule. Beyond the testing required to begin in the business, and the vast array of designations one can labor to earn, there is a constant need to learn new products coming from the firm. Virtually every year, tax laws change, requiring different strategies than what worked before. Markets go up and down. World events change financial realities in hours. All of these pressures mandate intellectual vigilance from the trusted advisor.
Joel Lund is an experienced financial advisor, author, and former youth minister. He is also CEO of his own company, Prepare For Rain, LLC. He may be reached at (208) 514-8607; by email at Joel@PrepareForRain.com; or on Twitter, @ PrepareForRain.
9. “They’ve got corporate backup.” There are actually two parts to this misperception. First, the old recruiting paradigm for the financial services industry went like this: Hire the masses. Train them in classes. Fire their *#@%&* [backsides]. This paradigm had its teeth kicked out during the “economic meltdown,” so now it’s more like: Hire the desperate few. Provide them hundreds of webinars. Hope. So, there isn’t any corporate backup. Second, the industry sells the career on the premise that there is backup, training support, camaraderie, etc. But we’ve already noted that little,
16 November / December 2013 | Christian Living
if any, backup and training will be provided to new hires. What about camaraderie? Nope. This industry is one of the most competitive there is. Agents and advisors are always competing with someone (in their own office, or in their company, or even with themselves — often being required by management to exceed their prior year’s production). Rather than experiencing a team environment, most advisors and agents are isolated and lonely. If they don’t have unrelentingly strong support from family and friends, the new financial professional is doomed. 10. “All advisors and agents care about is the bottom line.” As in any business, it is true that some professionals in this industry focus more on their own financial well being than on anyone else’s, including their clients’. However, most financial professionals are conflicted. For some, it is a daily challenge to provide the best guidance and resources to their clients, when their firm is asking — or mandating —quota-driven sales, specific products-focus, minimum new accounts opened, ideal number of calls made, or minimum dollar volume acquired. n
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Quotes From Scripture
Continued from page 11 Joshua 1:9 (NIV): Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. — from Jean Lockhart, City Light and Boise Rescue Mission
Philippians 4:13 (NKJV): I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. — from Rev. Michael J. Ross, Sr., Saint Paul Baptist Church
11-2013
James 1:27 (NIV): Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. — from Chuck Wiefels, Fathers in the Field
Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV): Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. — from Vincent Kituku, Caring Hearts and Hands of Hope
Romans 10:9 (KJV): That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. — from Yvonne Anderson-Thomas, owner of Brown Shuga Soul Food, who said: “This is my favorite Scripture because it is the first one I learned in elementary school when I went to my first Vacation Bible School in Maryland. It speaks of how easy it is to have salvation. Confess and believe. Two easy steps.” www.boisechristianliving.com
10-2013
1 Corinthians 15:31 (NIV): I face death every day … — from Capt. Frank Wyant, Caldwell Police Department
Christian Living | November / December 2013 17
FATHERS In The Field
Fathers in the Field helps boys without dads By Gaye Bunderson Chuck Wiefels visits churches looking for men with a passion for defending the cause of the fatherless. He is regional director of Fathers in the Field, an organization dedicated to helping boys without dads avoid the dire statistics common to their group. For instance, according to information from the National Center for Fathering and the U.S. Census Bureau, 67 percent of state prison inmates come from fatherless homes, where boys frequently suffer from abandonment issues that lead to anger and other negative emotions. Based in Lander, Wyo., Fathers in the Field was founded in 2005 by John Smithbaker, who grew up a fatherless boy himself. Now a national organization that works with churches to match what they call Mentor Fathers with Field Buddies, there are 100 to 105 churches currently involved in the program. Wiefels, who has served as regional director since May, started the first area chapter of Fathers in the Field in the church he regularly attends: Foothills Christian Church in Boise. As of mid-July, he had three boys and three men undergoing the application process to participate in the program. “We’re trying to circumvent the problems boys without fathers face by presenting a positive role model in their lives,” Rob Brazie, Church Champion of Fathers in the Field at Foothills, said. One of the primary emphases of the group is adventure. “God gives men this innate desire to be out doing something, doing something adventurous. These boys have this natural thing in them,” Wiefels said. That’s why the mentor dads must take their “buddies” on an outdoor adventure at least once a month, and that can include hunting, fishing, hiking — anything that involves sporting activities that males enjoy.
Chuck Wiefels is regional director of Fathers in the Field, and in that capacity, seeks men of integrity with a heart for helping the fatherless. (Courtesy photo)
“Men get excited and engaged because it involves something they’re passionate about, and they can use it as a platform to connect with these boys,” Wiefels said. The older mentors are required to meet with their younger charges at least four times a month. They go to church a minimum of twice a month, participate in an outdoor event once a month, and perform a service project for the fourth meeting of the month. Generally, the act of service is something that helps a widow, and in that way, Fathers in the Field adheres to the biblical directive to care for widows and the fatherless as spelled out in James 1:27, Isaiah 1:17 and other Scripture. According to Wiefels, the program also fully engages its host church. “We have a ripple effect through the whole congregation,” Wiefels said. “The women’s ministry supports the moms and the daughters (family members of the mentored boy).” Males who meet the definition of godly men and exemplary role models are recommended for Fathers in the Field by their churches. “The definition of a man from the NFL standpoint is different from men of Christ,” Wiefels said.
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After an extensive application process, the men undergo a thorough background check. Because they frequently have their own wives and children, Fathers in the Field advises them to get support from home before entering the program. “We tell them, ‘We want you to have complete support from your whole family.’ We say, ‘Take care of your own family first,’” Wiefels said. Once a man is accepted into the program and assigned to a boy whose mother has sought the help of Fathers in the Field, Wiefels said the initial step in the mentoring process is working to heal the youngster of what Wiefels calls “the father abandonment wound.” “Until then, nothing else matters,” he said. “The whole first year is designed to heal the boy and help him forgive his earthly father.” Wiefels said a boy’s perspective on his human father inevitably taints his perception of his Heavenly Father. He must learn his Heavenly Father loves him and will never abandon him. Another important aspect of the program is to discourage anyone from giving the absent father a pass for his behavior. “(We) don’t make excuses for the dad — what he did was wrong,” said Wiefels. Both the Field Buddies and their Mentor Fathers are given written materials to help them through the process. The church funds this part of the program so there is no cost to the boy or his mother. “The mentor dad pays for other things, just as he would for a son,” Wiefels said. The church itself makes a threeyear commitment to the program, and it is typically run by the men of the church. n For more information about Fathers in the Field, contact Wiefels at cwiefels@fathersinthefield.com or (208) 830-2547. www.boisechristianliving.com
CREATIVITY In The Kitchen
Make a gluten-free pumpkin pie Gluten-free Pumpkin Pie
No Thanksgiving dinner is complete without pumpkin pie. The gluten-free recipe here makes the traditional holiday dessert edible for everyone. (Photo courtesy of Bob’s Red Mill)
Prep time: 25 minutes Cook time: 50 - 60 minutes Yield: 8 servings
1/2 package Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Pie Crust Mix, prepared and chilled 15 oz can pumpkin puree 12 oz can evaporated milk 2 eggs 2 oz butter, melted and cooled 1 tbsp vanilla extract 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ground ginger 1/2 tsp ground allspice 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
Remove dough from the refrigerator and let sit at room temperature until malleable. Roll chilled dough into a 12-inch circle between two pieces of heavy-duty plastic wrap. Remove top layer of plastic; invert and center dough over a 9-inch nonstick pie pan. Press crust into place, then remove remaining plastic wrap. Trim edges and flute. Freeze for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare the filling. Combine pumpkin puree, evaporated milk, eggs, melted butter, vanilla extract, sugar and spice. Whisk well until fully incorporated. Remove pie shell from freezer and fill with prepared pie filling. Bake at 350°F until set in the center with barely any wobble when gently shook, about 50 - 60 minutes. Let cool fully before serving.
(This recipe is provided courtesy of Bob’s Red Mill, a natural foods, whole grain and gluten-free products company based in Milwaukie, Ore.)
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Christian Living | November / December 2013 19
CHRISTIAN Businesspeople
Former football QB, coach opens auto store By Gaye Bunderson Visit the website One Bronco Nation Under God at www.obnug. com and click through to a list of the “Top 10 greatest Boise State quarterbacks in the history of Boise State quarterbacks” and see some very recognizable names from recent years, including Jared Zabransky and Kellen Moore. The list stretches back to the ‘70s, when players such as Eric Guthrie made Bronco Nation proud, and includes QBs from the ‘80s and ‘90s as well. Mike Virden of Meridian made the No. 9 spot on the list. He is noted for his career passing yardage and for leading the Broncos to the Division I-AA semi-finals during the 1990 season. “We lost to Nevada in triple overtime,” Virden said during a recent interview. He now owns a business in Meridian called Mike Virden Auto Sales, which sits on 1.69 acres at 2651 E. Fairview Ave. Along with a selection of vehicles for sale, there is also a full-service shop on the site and a car wash. He opened full-time in December and employs 12 people. Virden said he wanted his name on the business because it exemplifies the personal touch he wants to bring to the enterprise. “We didn’t want to be just a used car dealership. We wanted to teach people, to have a helping environment, to take care of them into the future,” Virden said. “Money isn’t the goal here. We have a bigger vision than that.” Virden has prior entrepreneurial experience; he previously owned a Cal Spas business in this area. But for many years, football was his primary career. “I’ve been coaching quite a bit of my life,” he said. Notably, he led the Meridian Warriors to a state championship in 2005. He later worked as head coach at Ellsworth Community
Mike Virden, left, owns and operates Mike Virden Auto Sales at 2651 E. Fairview in Meridian. Nick Hanson, right, is sales manager. (Photo by Gaye Bunderson)
College in Iowa Falls, Iowa from 2008 to 2011 before returning to the Treasure Valley. He counts among his friends Boise State’s Coach Pete (head coach Chris Petersen) and graduate assistants Ben Thienes (defense) and Louis Rodriguez (offense). Other friends and mentors include businessman Mel Snider, owner of Ag Concepts in Boise, and Tom Dougherty, pastor at Cloverdale Church of God. “I met Mike in 1992 when he was the quarterback for BSU football and my friend Mel Snider invited him to our church and he became a regular member and a wonderful friend,” Dougherty said. “Mike’s faithfulness to the things of God and to the church has always been evident. During his first months away from Boise it took him and his
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family a little time to find the church they were to worship in, and in the meantime I was taken aback that he sent his tithe to God back to our church. Not many do that kind of thing. “I’m sure he would claim, like all of us, not to be perfect; but his faithfulness to God over the years has been an inspiration to me.” Doughtery also praised Virden for his entrepreneurial spirit, creative thinking and motivation to be successful. Virden seeks counsel before making decisions, including praying with others. “For me, being a quarterback and a coach, I’ve been able to create an environment of success,” he said. He hopes to continue his winning streak, this time in his new business. n www.boisechristianliving.com
BREAKING Free
How Christian life parallels football
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Equally, these same principles apply to the church body as a whole. Our pastor cannot go off on his own, be independent, not coordinating the church body and ultimately find success. The church body cannot be co-dependent, not identifying our individual spiritual gifts, not utilizing said gifts to glorify the larger body of Christ and still be successful. If the church body is to find success and be effectively utilized by Christ, we must be healthy and interdependent. It takes each of us, utilizing each of our God-given gifts, coordinating together, to create a strong team that is capable of winning. n Brian Raymond is a licensed clinical social worker specializing in Nouthetic/Biblical counseling. In January 2010 he was the co-founder of Christian Clinical Concepts, LLC in Nampa. He is currently in private practice at Christian Clinical Concepts. He may be contacted at (208) 475-1875 Monday through Friday.
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11-2013
By Brian Raymond I am a HUGE football fan. There are few sports I like, but when it comes to football, that is not the case. I don’t know what it is about the sport. Maybe the gladiator feeling that it gives. Pounding away at others. Exploiting their weaknesses. Scoring as a result of said weaknesses. I love to play it and I love to watch it. One thing about football is that no matter how proficient each talent on the team is, they are nothing unless they recognize that it takes the whole team to win. Ultimately each person must do his own distinct job in order to have success. They must depend on each other and trust each other to do the job they have been selected to do. Marriage, relationships, and the Christian life are similar to football. We truly have three primary ways that we can interact with others: healthy interdependence, unhealthy interdependence (aka co-dependency), or independence. If the quarterback is independent of the team and relies only on himself to win, the team will lose. If the quarterback is co-dependent, he will feel that he has no value on his own and that he is incapable of doing anything to help his team win. If the quarterback is healthy and interdependent, he will depend on the wide receiver and each of the other team members equally, and they will find success as a team. As a Christian, if I am independent, I will rely on myself and will rarely, if ever, look to Christ to guide, direct, and be the Lord of my life. As a Christian, if I am co-dependent, I will not find any value in serving God and will look to Him alone to do everything. And, as a Christian, if I am healthy and interdependent, I realize God does not need me to do His job but wants to use me to be His hands and His feet. He wants to relate to me in a “teamwork” oriented sort of way. He is the quarterback and I am His receiver.
Christian Living | November / December 2013 21
IN The Community
Newsboys coming to Taco Bell Arena The internationally top-ranked Winter Jam 2013 Tour Spectacular — featuring 10 artists for $10 — is set to hit 11 Western cities this fall, headlined by Grammynominated Newsboys. Once again boasting many of the top names in Christian music, Winter Jam West kicks off in Los Angeles Nov. 8 at Ontario, Calif.’s Citizens Business Bank Arena and will wend its way to Taco Bell Arena in Boise Nov. 14. Admission will be $10 at the door, and no tickets are required. Created and hosted by Grammy-nominated Christian band NewSong, the tour also includes Tenth Avenue North, Thousand Foot Krutch, Plumb, and Building 429. The Youth Music Vault Pre-Jam Party will feature Love & The Outcome, Everfound, and Dara Maclean. Other cities on the tour include Las Vegas, Nev.; Portland, Ore.; Sacramento, Calif.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Glendale, Ariz. The tour will conclude Nov. 24 at the Ft. Worth Convention Center in Ft. Worth, Texas. “We are thrilled to
head west with Winter Jam for the third year in a row,” Eddie Carswell, Winter Jam creator and NewSong founding member, said. “The tour exists for the singular purpose of bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to as many people as possible, but we believe it’s also one of the most unforgettable, musically diverse concerts in any genre. “Newsboys have long been a favorite of Winter Jam audiences, so we’re excited our good friends are headlining this tour.” A rock- and pop-style worship band, Newsboys’ list of music industry accomplishments includes 16 albums, five gold certifications, 25 No. 1 radio hits and close to 8 million units sold over their multi-decade career. One of the band’s biggest hits, “God’s Not Dead,” includes the lyrics: My God’s not dead He’s surely alive He’s living on the inside Roaring like a lion For more information, visit www.jamtour.com or the Taco Bell Arena website at www.tacobellarena.com.
(Photo provided by Taco Bell Arena)
Christian writers group holding contest Idahope Writers’ annual writing contest opens Nov. 2 and will close Dec. 2. Anyone may submit 1,500 words of their original fiction work for the possibility of winning the grand prize: a $100 Amazon card. All entries receive feedback, and the top three will be judged by bestselling authors Robin Lee Hatcher, Tosca Lee, Donna Fletcher Crow, and the associate editor for Harlequin’s three Love Inspired lines (Love Inspired, Love Inspired Suspense and Love Inspired Historical) Emily Rodmell. 22 November / December 2013 | Christian Living
Winners will be announced at the group’s 2014 Writers Conference in March. The entry fee of $15 for members and $25 for non-members helps fund the annual spring event. Idahope Writers currently meets the second Thursday of each month in the community room at Creekside Arbor Apartments, 1425 NE Fifth Street, Meridian. Annual dues are $20. To find out more information or to sign up for the Idahope newsletter, visit www.IdahopeWriters.org. n www.boisechristianliving.com
BUSINESS Spotlight
Kim Shoecraft offers thrift store treasures By Gaye Bunderson Kim Shoecraft owns Kim’s Treasure Chest at 6017 W. Franklin in Boise. The quaint, inviting store offers a variety of gently used items available for purchase at reasonable prices. Shoecraft offers everything from delicate knickknacks to DVDs and paperbacks, as well as larger items such as washers, dryers and fridges when available. Kim and her husband Scott opened the thrift store almost two years ago. They began acquiring saleable items for the store about a year prior to that by attending closeout sales and storage unit auctions. Shoecraft cleans and sometimes paints the merchandise she acquires, then arranges it neatly on shelves on an ongoing basis to stay frequently stocked with new goods. She said the content she carries changes from month to month. Check out her Facebook page and see she also advertises antiques for purchase and sells things on consignment, making Kim’s Treasure Chest a full-service thrift store. “We have very few clothes because we don’t have room,” she said. What clothing she does have are dress-up
Kim Shoecraft, owner of Kim’s Treasure Chest, offers a variety of gently used items at her thrift store at 6017 W. Franklin in Boise.
articles, such as shirts and ties, for people who are job-hunting. She occasionally has people donate items to the store and said, “I wouldn’t turn down someone who brought things in.” Customers can always find a bargain at Kim’s Treasure Chest, and Mondays are 10 percent off days. Competition is stiff among secondhand shops, according to Shoecraft. Some stores opened earlier this year, but others closed. “Times are tough; everyone is just trying to do what-
ever they can,” she said. “We’re one of the most reasonably priced thrift stores. I make a profit, but I try to give the best deal.” She said running a thrift store is “fun, but a lot of work.” However, business has been steady for her. “We’re doing all right. I feel pretty blessed,” she said. Even prior to opening Kim’s Treasure Chest, Shoecraft was an enthusiastic customer at thrift stores. “I’ve always shopped at them,” she said. n
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Christian Living | November / December 2013 23