FREE
September / October 2019
THE BUCKET
Ministry
Life-giving clean water
SARAH
Hill A ring on her finger
LOVECaldwell Civic engagement
Carlos Rivera, left, and Christopher Beth of The Bucket Ministry, right, in Abasolo, Mexico
Contents September / October 2019 “I am listening to all the Lord is saying.” — Psalm 85:8 TLB
FEATURES
Volume 8, Number 5
Sarah Hill:
A special ring
4
A mom’s perspective 23
LoveCaldwell:
Civic engagement
6
How He loves:
8
Cover Story — The Bucket Ministry:
12
Civic duty:
16
God is a renovator
Clean water project Encouraged to vote
COLUMNS
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 2019 by Christian Living Ministries Inc.
Keep Calm: 14 Mom Kids and change
3
Publisher’s Corner: His yoke is easy
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IN EACH EDITION
Sales & Marketing Kimberly McMullen kim.bcliving@gmail.com 208-703-7509 • Katy Nelson katy.bcliving@gmail.com 503-816-3042 • Scott McMurtrey scott.bcliving@gmail.com 208-841-4583
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Man’s Toolbox: 18 Real Lied to
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Editor Gaye Bunderson Submit story ideas, article submissions & press releases editorgaye@gmail.com
Contributors Daniel Bobinski, Leo Hellyer, Janet Lund, Gary Moore, Bethany Riehl and Dan Woodworth
This: 10 Consider Deep dreams
20 Understanding Relationships:
Publisher Sandy Jones boisechristianliving@gmail.com 208-703-7860
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2 September / October 2019 | Christian Living
Christian Living is published every other month and is available in over 600 locations throughout the Treasure Valley and Twin Falls, including most grocery stores, convenience stores, medical waiting areas, and churches. If your church would like additional copies please email us today at boisechristianliving@gmail.com Annual subscriptions available for $12/year. To start your subscription or give one as a gift send your check or money order, along with complete address information, and a phone number to call in case there’s questions about your subscription to Christian Living Magazine, PO Box 867, Meridian, ID 83680.
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PUBLISHER’S Corner
Reminding myself His yoke is easy
do ministry?” Just a little bit. A smidgeon. That was all I was asking. His answer was beyond my wildest imagination! “Come to me, all you who are weary and Realizing this I knew it was time once again to burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke make a decision. Christian radio station 88.1 “The upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle Bridge” in Twin Falls was getting ready to put on a and humble in heart, and you will find rest for large event called Parktacular. What better way to your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden meet our neighbors in the Magic Valley. Signing up is light.” — Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV) for a booth before I could second guess myself once again, we plunged in with both feet. We all have times in our lives that there’s so much It was a beautiful fall-like summer day. Not too going on that we don’t know which way to turn or hot. Not too cold. And just enough breeze to keep what to do first. it comfortable. My husband and I set up our booth, This has been one of those times. fully aware that for most of the attendees we would I have thoroughly loved summer 2019; our family be an unknown entity. We were anxious to see what reunion and my sibling get-to-gather were both held the day would bring. We made new friends; we here this June; I was blessed to go a church conshared hope and promise; and we were welcomed ference in Orlando; spent the Fourth of July with Sandy Jones in! Starting with this edition we will be adding Twin friends and family; had a girls’ day at the waterpark Falls to our distribution area, slowly at first, and with grandkids; went camping; and friends from adding more and more pick-up locations, just like we did here in the Florida visited for a week. Treasure Valley over 6 years ago. Somehow I managed to find time to meet Christopher Beth, as he I might just be starting to understand how Jabez felt. shared his passion about clean drinking water in third world counJabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me tries. I can’t wait for you to read his story in this edition. The more and enlarge my territory. Let your hand be with me, and keep me I worked on this story, the more passionate I became about this lifefrom harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his changing ministry! request. (1 Chronicles 4:10 NIV) Meanwhile, SEO Idaho has been putting the finishing touches on This summer has been a refresher course on not putting God in a our new website. This has been a work in progress for several months box. A wise pastor friend of mine shared with me that Jesus tells us now, drawn out by my indecision and fear of making the wrong that His burden is light, reminding me that if my load felt heavy, it choice. One day I recalled that no decision is a decision. By my acwas because I was doing all the lifting and toting and not giving it to tions I had decided to do nothing new with our website. Definitely God. not the direction planned for this year. Full of fiery determination He was right. Once again I’d taken all these projects on, trying to and one long morning at my computer, I compiled all the notes, do it all myself. Praying without listening for God’s response. I had organizing everything into a comprehensive (I hope) list, and sent it been busy being busy. off. Decisions made. Action taken. And as I often end my emails to Repeatedly this summer I’d heard the message of “praise Him in our crew – Onward and Upward. Time to move on. the storm.” With time I’ve learned that if I sing praises to Him, I Another goal we’ve been fervently seeking direction for: growth. mysteriously let go of the load, and allow Him to carry it. More indecision. More fear of making the wrong choice; and as long In our last issue I had the privilege of interviewing Brandi Swinas I’m being completely transparent, maybe a bit of fear of rejection, dell, who shared her story. Somehow in the process I made the leap and some fear of failure. What if a new community doesn’t like us? from her parents being separated to them being divorced. We were How will we support this growth? already in print when this error was brought to my attention. They Wrestling with all of these choices, and mired in indecision, I atnever divorced. Heartsick about this grievous error we had it fixed on tended a local prayer meeting. The leader challenged us to stop and our electronic edition, and on our website, but could only apologize really, REALLY think about how big God is. For me, it’s difficult to to Brandi for physical copies already in the hands of our readers. wrap my head around how God, Who created this gigantic universe, Instead of being furious, or demanding retribution, Brandi showed can hear me, and even wants to hear from me. He’s bigger than our much the same grace we receive from our Heavenly Father. She was universe. He’s bigger than all of the universes out there. And me? In quick to forgive, wanting only to protect the integrity of her parents’ comparison to all of that, I’m smaller than the tiniest sugar ant, and memories. A beautiful lady inside and out! yet, He not only wants to hear from me, He wants a relationship with I ask often, and it is with the greatest sincerity... Please frequent our me! This ministry is a result of Him not only hearing me, but Him advertisers and thank them for supporting Christian Living Magalistening to me… and me, listening to Him. zine. If it weren’t for their support, we simply wouldn’t exist. We love For years at my old job, I frequently prayed, “Dear God, if this isn’t them and think you will too! my forever career, could You please leave me a little bit of time to Until next time… n By Sandy Jones
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Christian Living | September / October 2019 3
SARAH Hill
The ring on her finger is for God By Gaye Bunderson By her own reckoning, Sarah Hill had a “great childhood with great parents.” The family attended church together, and Sarah’s life was what she calls “consistent.” But the tectonic plates of family stability shifted when, at the age of 11, her parents divorced. “It was dramatic. They were young, and it was messy,” Sarah said. Both parents were teenagers when she was born. At first, Sarah found comfort in babysitting — she is the oldest of four children. “It was my addiction then,” she said. But two years later, at age 13, she found a far more reckless source of comfort. “There was alcohol in the house, and I began hanging out with an older crowd; I got no supervision from my parents, and I started drinking. I was staying away from home for a long time,” she said. Sarah, now 42, is the director’s assistant at Chrysalis Women’s Transitional Living. Chrysalis provides a safe, loving Christian environment for women coming out of incarceration, addiction, and abuse. But it was a lot of years and a lot of bad decisions before she got her current job. Like her mother, Sarah got pregnant at 16. The baby’s father was 17. “I was happy. I wanted to recreate the happy family I originally had,” she said. She praises her mother for stepping up and helping her get through the pregnancy. At first, Sarah lived with her mom while the baby’s father lived with his dad. Later the couple, originally from Pocatello, moved to Boise and got a responsible job at a gas station. The baby was with them, sleeping in a rocker in the back of the station while his parents worked out front. “I felt I was a good mom,” Sarah said. She admits she was doing some drinking at the time but refers to it as “situational drinking.” However, the tectonic plates of stability just kept sliding, and the baby’s father started selling drugs. Nonetheless, the couple had a second son. Though Sarah ended that relationship, describing it as toxic, the couple reconnected when the boys were ages 9 and 11. By then, Sarah needed their father’s help, as she had fallen into the addiction phase of drinking. She got into other relationships and had more children. She was the mother of four boys and one girl by the time she was 28. She admits she was “trying to fill a void.” The young woman who once thought of herself as a good mother now admits her children were living in an unhealthy situation. “Those kids went through chaos,” Sarah said.
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Things continued to swirl into more and more chaotic circumstances. Sarah struggled with severe depression, postpartum depression, and, after needing some essential dental work for which she was given pain medication, a pain pill addiction followed. “My mom knew the kids were suffering,” said Sarah, who was trying to get her hands on pain pills any way she could — mostly illegally. Finally her mother, who had also moved to Boise by then, told Sarah she needed to do something to stop her dangerous downward spiral. Her mom took the children under her care while Sarah worked on recovering. Her biggest challenge? She didn’t know how or where to get help. “I thought I had to do it on my own. I tried, but I couldn’t do it. I just fell deeper into addiction,” she said. Then meth reared its head. From age 28 to 38, Sarah was held in the tight grip of methamphetamine’s dangers. “I did meth of and on until I fell off the face of the Earth,” she said, explaining she essentially disappeared from her family and into a world of meth addicts. “The meth took my pain and guilt away, but it eventually took my soul. The need to have meth consumed me.” She’d begun to rack up a criminal record. In the beginning, it was mostly misdemeanor arrests; but in 2006, she was arrested on a felony drug possession charge and was sent to jail for four months. It was while incarcerated that she started praying and studying the Bible. To the cynics who might question why so many people in jail or prison claim to turn to prayer and the Bible, Sarah answers, “I call it ‘God’s hotel.’ It’s freedom if you want to make it that way.” Inmates don’t have the same access to the evils that put them behind bars. God, said Sarah, is very present when you’re incarcerated and is frequently the only Person to talk to who listens and fully understands. Sarah was eventually put into an Ada County drug program meant to help her break the lock of addiction. It was only marginally successful for her, and she admits, “I was white-knuckling sobriety to stay out of jail and look good to my family.” After completion of the program, she relapsed and fell into more bad relationships. Ultimately, the insanity of addiction produced a meth-induced form of schizophrenia. “I began to think, ‘I’m never going to recover.’ The illness was the scariest thing. I couldn’t feel anything. I thought there was no God. I couldn’t feel Him, and it was scary.” Still, in 2014, despite the fact she couldn’t “feel” God, He had not abandoned her. She made the decision that by February 22, she was going to get sober. It was an arbitrary date. At first, it seemed to come and go without Sarah seeing any success in her sobriety goal. But the fact two police officers showed up at her house on February 23 to arrest her for selling drugs was a sign to her. “It was divine intervention,” she said. The only way she was going to get better was to be arrested, incarcerated, and once again given help toward recovery. Unfortunately, shortly after her sentencing, she went on the run — she had been facing a 10-year prison term. Her family had stopped talking to her. “I had begun to think, ‘This is how I’m going to die. I’m never going to get sober. My children will just remember me as a crazy mom junkie who died from drugs.’” The feeling of a divine Presence returned one day in 2015 while Sarah was tuned into Spotify and a song started playing out of the blue: “Beautiful” by MercyMe. “I had a strong urge to listen,” she said. The lyrics include: You’re beautiful You are made for so much more than all of this You’re beautiful You are treasured, you are sacred You are His “I felt the Holy Spirit so strong; I felt I was in a blanket — a blanket of the Holy Spirit on me,” she said. Before that moment, she wanted to be near to God but always kept thinking, “I’m not worthy.”
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“This time, He got through to me. I surrendered up bad friends, give up bad music, put God first, to God, and I felt like He said, ‘Finally, you’re getseek Him first. ting it!’” “I made promises,” she said. “I only had to change Her body, like her mind, had been destroyed by just one thing: everything.” drugs. She was wasting away and could accomplish During her addiction years, she had lived at little more than laying on a couch at a meth house Chrysalis trying to work through her problems. It she had taken refuge in. She felt God was telling her was now time to try again. “I put my application in. to do the two things she was capable of: get up and Thankfully, Chrysalis is full of grace and mercy.” get out. She had lived there three other times. Chrysalis “If that was all I needed to do, I could do it,” she didn’t hesitate to take her back a fourth time on said. December 7, 2015. God healed both her body She called two friends who had been meth addicts and mind, and between Chrysalis and a Celebrate but had gotten sober and they were there in five Recovery program at Vineyard Boise Christian Felminutes to get her. They took her to their home, Sarah Hill lowship, “God transformed me into a new creation where she slept for five days; they fed her and got — not that he isn’t still working on me!” her back to a reasonable state of health. Sarah called her mom, and Now she co-parents with her mother and has a new relationship she was able to see her mother and children — whom she hadn’t with her kids. She was made a house manager at Chrysalis three seen in three years — once again. She was ready to get her life back years ago and said, “I had a calling for it; God saw something in me.” together, even to the point of calling her probation officer and saying In November 2018, she was made the director’s assistant at Chrysshe was ready to turn herself in, even if it meant going to prison. alis, working in conjunction with Chrysalis Director and Founder That was June of 2015; she’s been sober for four years. Marsha Tennyson. “I love it. It’s my dream job,” she said. “I went in front of the judge, and he sentenced me to a 6-month She’s also a leader at Celebrate Recovery and is involved in helping rider in Kuna,” she said. people with opioid addictions. It wasn’t the 10 years she originally faced, but she told everyone “In prison, God said, ‘Give me one year — no relationships, just at the time that she didn’t care how long the sentence was — she Me.’ I made the commitment. I was afraid. I didn’t want to break my couldn’t go back out on the streets, because if she did, she’d die. promise. Now I wear a ring on my finger — He’s my father, husband, When her rider was up, she was determined not to leave Jesus and best friend.” n behind. “I memorized Bible verses, meditated on Yahweh, I gave Him my kids, I talked to Him all the time, I listened to Christian For more information about Chrysalis, go to chrysaliswomenidaho.org. music on KTSY.” She made a commitment to the Lord even though it scared her See ‘A Mom’s Perspective’ on page 23 for more on Sarah Hill. because she didn’t want to fail Him. The commitment included: give
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LoveCaldwell
Believers involved in town’s well-being
By Gaye Bunderson It’s good to love the community where you live, work and play. It’s even better to help out and care for that community. That’s the design behind LoveCaldwell. LoveCaldwell was launched in 2011 and was an effort by co-pastors Jim and Sharon Porter of Caldwell Free Methodist Church to get to know their community better and to serve it more effectively. The Porters moved to Caldwell from Salem, Ore. in 2003 and were struggling to meet people beyond the walls of their church. “My wife and I only knew a couple of colleagues,” Jim Porter said. So they decided to send out a non-denominational letter to all the churches in Caldwell to encourage them to collectively focus on community projects. “We wanted to focus more on what we agree on than what we disagree on.” The couple sent out 52 letters in all. They only got six responses back, but they were not deterred from the idea of interested Caldwell churches working together for the good of the town. They met with representatives of the six churches that responded, and in 2011, they started praying as one committed group; 2011 was the year the American economy went sour, so their prayers took on even greater meaning at that time. “LoveCaldwell came out of a prayer emphasis,” Jim said. The name LoveCaldwell was given to the group, which then selected Jeremiah 29 as its guiding Scripture. However, it was not the verse most people are familiar with, which is, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Instead, they focused on the section of the Scripture that reads, “... Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you. ... Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Bringing it closer to home, the verse — paraphrased — meant to them: “Pray for Caldwell, because when Caldwell prospers, everyone in it prospers and benefits.” One member of LoveCaldwell at the time, Dick Shaw, who was then pastor of Caldwell First Baptist Church, said, “The world does not need another religious organization.” He wanted LoveCaldwell to be civically engaged. As Jim explains it, the goal was to “get involved in the city we live in, engage in the life of the city.” LoveCaldwell became about more than meeting the spiritual needs of Caldwell, though that was still important. It was also about civic responsibilities, supporting the city government and the people who serve it, including not only government officials but also police officers and firefighters. It was about helping meet the basic needs of people in the community for food, clothing and shelter, and about meeting them and getting to know them as fellow townsfolk.
Jim feels this is how Jesus operated His earthly ministry. “Our city needs to see pastors with their feet on the street, not tethered to the church. … Our course is directed by Jesus. This is what He did: went out and met and served people.” Some of the programs LoveCaldwell has undertaken include: • The Canyon Bike Project — Described as “a cooperative effort by LoveCaldwell and Canyon County Juvenile Probation,” the project strives to give bikes to any child in Caldwell who wants one. Donated bikes are repaired by youth on probation, giving them the opportunity to contribute to their town. • The Caldwell Prayer Breakfast — Undertaken in conjunction with other community organizations, one of the previous Prayer Breakfasts featured then-governor C.L. Butch Otter. • A community Good Friday service — This year’s Good Friday service was held April 19 at Indian Creek Plaza. Everyone was invited to come hear the 30-minute program. There are two LoveCaldwell programs that are still set to take place, one in September and the other in October. • Compassion Caldwell — This year’s program is set for September 7 and will combine trained volunteers with Caldwell citizens who might need, but may not be able to otherwise afford, any of the following: dental work, medical screenings, clothing, social services, haircuts, food (provided by Idaho Foodbank), or flu shots. The program will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Elevate Academy, 454 W. Chicago St. Child care will be provided. Dental sign-ups begin at 6 a.m. at Elevate. For more information, email lovecaldwellidaho@gmail.com. • Dedication of the Family Memorial Area — LoveCaldwell partnered with David’s Hope, a local pregnancy loss ministry, and, with a donation of space by the City of Caldwell, created a spot in Canyon Hill Cemetery for a Family Memorial Area, where anyone who has experienced the loss of a baby may come and sit and remember their little one. October is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, and on October 12 at Canyon Hill, the “quiet and contemplative area of remembrance” will be officially dedicated. For more information, email lovecaldwellidaho@gmail.com. If all these events sound specifically Caldwell-centered, that’s because they are. “We are unashamedly Caldwell-focused,” Jim said. “We’re in this for the health of the city and for the good of our neighborhoods.” Towns don’t need paid consultants nor fancy catchphrases to come up with similar programs in their communities. Just follow LoveCaldwell’s straightforward idea and its brief but effective slogan: “Do Good. LoveCaldwell.” n
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OH, how He loves
God cleans and renovates lives
each swipe of the paintbrush, I played those words By Bethany Riehl in my heart and thought of how the same is true for In the last issue I wrote about a big move coming us. We are all falling down, rusted out, warped little up for our family. In an effort to ease some of my shacks without Jesus. We might be painted up pretty; husband’s daily struggle with multiple sclerosis, we we might look just fine on the surface. We might be traded our two-story home in Kuna for a single level faking it really well, and we might have plenty of in Meridian. What a contrast those houses are! We people to love us, but it’s Jesus and only Jesus that left new, comfortable, clean, and modern for old, can properly get down in the grime that is hiding stinky, small, and outdated. Thankfully, the sale of underneath all of our layers and make us new. our Kuna home provided enough money to fix up As I write this, I’m sitting at my table on a bench the Meridian home a little. We had to wait three my husband made for our bay window in the kitchdays after we moved in for paperwork to be comen, looking out at the transformed 1,500-ish square pleted and weren’t able to do much more than clean feet that just months ago stung my nostrils and and wait at first. During that time, I wouldn’t let clogged my throat with carefully restrained discourmy kids sit on the floor or go anywhere in the house agement. Piece by piece, layer by layer, we removed without shoes on. It was that bad, my friends. the old, tossed it in the dumpster, and made it all Our community rallied around us, dropping off new. Knowing that Jesus does more for us and then dinners and chocolates and (my favorite) a big, Bethany Riehl sits back to watch it in wonder is humbling. lemon-scented candle that I burned down to esI wonder and marvel at this home not because it sentially nothing those first three days. Finally, the stood up and did great things, but because with my own two hands checks came and we got to work. The dumpster in our driveway was a great ice breaker. Curious neighbors brought us their stories of this I made it what I wanted it to be. It’s wood and nails, drywall and paint. It’s just a house. But now it’s my house the way I envisioned it. house and its former residents. We discovered a family of believHow much more should I remember that my worth in Jesus is not ers right behind us who also homeschool like we do. Our kids have because of me? It is all because of Him. I am unworthy of such love, taken to playing catch over the fence until the mom and I can get our and it’s important to remember that. Not in a form of self-loathing, schedules to slow down enough to let them play face to face. but in a state of supreme awareness of Who He is. As the kids stayed distracted in a backyard bigger than they’ve ever It seems that everywhere I look, there is some article, meme, Bible known, my husband, myself, and at times friends that would pop study, book, or coffee mug telling me how great I am. All in Jesus’ in to volunteer some muscle got to work inside. We pulled up old name. “Fight for your God-given potential,” is the cry. What is my carpet, painted walls, replaced appliances and toilets and sinks. We God-given potential? What should I be doing? Hustling? Creathired an incredible painter to fix the exterior. He said our house was one of his biggest challenges because it had been in need of attention ing perfect squares on social media to inspire others? If I follow the world, yes. Yet, when I turn to the Word of God and see how those for quite some time. One morning while out discussing options with who have come face to face with His awesomeness responded, I wonhim, a neighbor sauntered over and we talked about what the paint der if that’s really what He has for us. Confidence and success. would look like. She was just thankful that the investor had finally Job said, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but sold it and she complimented the work she saw. I looked around at now my eye sees You. Therefore I retract, and I repent in dust and the big trees, the primed house, and bushes I had just trimmed and ashes.” (Job 42:5-6 NKJV) said, “You know, this place just needed someone to love it.” Isaiah said, “Woe is me for I am ruined! Because I am a man Those words struck me in a different way as we continued our of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my renovations. With each application of Kilz (oh, the questions that eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.” (Isaiah 6:5 NASB) I don’t want answers to of what happened all over this floor!), and
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Peter, realizing Who Jesus was, said, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5:8 NASB) None of that sounds like men strutting away to find their full potential. Could it be that we’re to humble ourselves before the Lord and then work to glorify Him in the way that He commands? I said in the last issue that it was silly, how much moving made me feel like I was on holy ground. There are simply seasons of our life that we are so aware that the Lord is moving we can’t help but sit back and watch it all unfold. I knew this move was something that I would be able to point my kids to when they’re older to remind them that God provides. Even more, I’ll be able to remind them, “Remember how smelly and ugly and dirty that house was? Well, my darlings, that is how we are when Jesus first reaches out to pull us to Himself. Once He’s finished making us as He intended, He watches over our days with joy and pride. Not because of us — make no mistake. But because we are His creation.” “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10 ESV) n Bethany Riehl loves to write stories and articles that explore the complexities of relationships and encourage readers in their relationship with Jesus. She joyfully serves in the children’s ministry at her church, teaches at a homeschool co-op, and drinks more coffee than necessary to keep up with her only-slightly-crazy life. She is the author of four Christian fiction novels and now lives in Meridian with her spunky kids and very handsome hubby.
When the Riehl family needed a new house, they ended up in a residence badly in need of cleaning and repairs. With hard work, they transformed that house into a new, happy home and gave it a welcoming front door. (Photo submitted by Bethany Riehl)
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Christian Living | September / October 2019 9
CONSIDER This
Deep dreams don’t (ever) die …
By Dan Woodworth Do you have a dream that does not die? Does it keep being resurrected from the dead every time it is beaten to death and buried with every evil assault from hell? Deep dreams are always birthed and bathed in living love! They don’t die! They can’t die! Why? Living love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance! Living love never fails or falls! (1 Corinthians 13:7-8) Every empowering deep dream requires patience and perseverance to be faithfully fulfilled! When I was growing up through elementary, junior high, high school and half of my college experience I was completely confused. My deep dream was to discover where I came from and where I was going. I had no clue. I did not know who I was. I saw my dad as a fifty-foot man and I felt like I was five inches tall. Our Living Loving Lord blessed him beyond belief ! I felt like I could never measure up! The fear of rejection and fear of failure crushed my deep dream of being like my dad. I was filled with freezing fear all the time! My deep dream was birthed on January 1, 1972, when I was a junior at the University of Idaho. My sister, Taki, asked me to go to a Campus Crusade for Christ Conference in Vancouver, BC. Our Living Lord opened my eyes and for the first time in my life I experienced the deep dream of becoming all I was created to be and I knew it would come true! I dreamed of empowering and encouraging others to become all they were created to be! I dreamed of going into spiritually dark places all over the world and bringing the light of Christ to precious and priceless people! Instead of trying to measure up, I treasured up in Him! I did not know that I would marry My Most Beautiful Beloved Bride, Inspiring Irene, on September 1, 1979 or receive my Master of Divinity degree
10 September / October 2019 | Christian Living
on June 3, 1979 or my Doctor of Ministry degree on June 14, 2009. I did not know that we would plant and pastor three churches. I did not know if we would plant a fourth church until the last few months. Many people had doubt and fear that I would have any part of my deep dream fulfilled. My high school counselor told me that I was not smart enough to go to college. Many friends told me I could function as an associate pastor, but never as a lead pastor because I was not gifted enough. My deep dream of functioning as a Lead Pastor was rooted deep in my heart by the Dream Designer! My deep dream has been assaulted by the diabolical dasher of deep dreams, freezing fear! Fear speaks to all of us the same way. He says, “You can’t have your deep dream come true. You’re not smart enough. You’re not strong enough. You’re not rich enough.” He creates doubt and fear to destroy our deep dreams. Our spiritual enemy has amnesia. He can’t remember the power of the astonishing amazing crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ! When Jesus died on the cross, the power of every evil spirit was destroyed. Listen to Living Words of Our Resurrected Christ in Colossians 2:15 in the Greek: He stripped the authorities and powers of their authority and disgraced them in public by triumphing over them in Christ! The only authority they have is by deception or our disobedience to Christ! Doubt and fear are his diabolical tools of deception! When I discovered my deep dream on January 1, 1972, I had no idea how my deep dreams would be fulfilled! Our Living Lord has placed the last few pieces of the puzzle since we moved back to Boise and moved into our home on April 1, 2004. Recently, on April 1, 2019, we celebrated fifteen years living in our healing home! Our Sensational Spectacular Son, Conquering Compassionate Chris, has lived here with us in our home to experience how a Healing Husband and Beautiful Bride were created to Be! We adopted him on January 24, 2007 when he was
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teams and then hold a public church meeting! By His twenty nine years old! Before our healing home experigreat grace we have a deep dream to multiply our healing ence, we moved twenty six times in the first twenty five teams, communities and churches in the largest city of years of our marriage! every state in our noble nation and every nation in our wonderI have experienced three near death situations and ful world through organic, grassroots rich relationships! We three literal resurrections since we moved into our home. My Most Beautiful Beloved Bride, Inspiring Irene, has Are His Healing Hands Transforming Our Wounded World! experienced a literal resurrection once. We have expeI have had this deep dream for over forty seven years and it rienced two very close foreclosure adventures. Again, is was birthed in His Inspiring Healing Transforming Time! literal resurrections from the dead! Deep Dreams Don’t Die! Why? Because Every The deep dream of living in our healing home has been Empowering Deep Dream is Birthed and Bathed assaulted by hell! Deep Dreams Don’t Die! in His Healing Inspiring Living Love! My deep dream of forty seven years did not and could not die! What is your deep dream? If you don’t know, just begin We have been through the religious system of noise, by asking and thanking Our Living Lord to birth and nickels and numbers that almost destroyed us. Our experiences Dan Woodworth bathe in you the deep desire to become all you were created have been empowering living lessons to prepare us for our fourth to Be! and final church plant! If you have your deep dream, I want to encourage you that if He fulfilled The last pieces of the puzzle were perfectly placed through birthing it in me, He will faithfully fulfill it in You! and building our Victorious Voices Toastmaster Club in the Snake River Living Love Never Gives Up, Never Loses Faith, Is Always Correctional Institution in Ontario, Ore. on August 1, 2016. March 31 Hopeful and Endures through Every Circumstance! Living Love was our last meeting with our Transforming Team of Inspiring Inmates! Fellow Never Fails or Falls! Toastmaster, Daring Dynamic Dan Gieg, is taking over the leadership. Through Faith, Patience and Perseverance You Will Inherit The On April 21, 2019, Easter Sunday, our deep dream of planting our Promise of Your Deep Dream Being Boldly, Faithfully Fulfilled! fourth church happened in our healing home! Our Deep Dream is a mighty Deep Dreams Don’t Die! n miracle! Since our third church that we planted in 1996, my Sweetheart kept telling me that she never wanted to plant another church. Through our Dr. Dan Woodworth earned his Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degree from the prison ministry experience her heart was healed beyond belief ! The name of our new church is The Transforming Tribe! King’s University in Los Angeles in 2009. His passion is to encourage and emDuring the weeks of late May and early June, miraculous healing and power people with the transforming power of hope and healing to become all they transformation that Our Living Lord is doing in us and through us with are created to be. He and his beautiful bride, Irene, have planted three churches. Our Living Leaders is astonishing and amazing Beyond Belief ! They are in the process of creating a cross/cultural, cross/generational healing Our deep dream is to heal and train twelve leaders who will have twelve community solving pressing problems in Boise and beyond. He may be reached at people in their teams and keep multiplying teams until we have about 24 dan@danwoodworth.org, or visit his website at www.danwoodworth.org.
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Christian Living | September / October 2019 11
The Bucket Changing lives on Ministry
COVER STORY
Above: Christopher Beth demonstrates how to use an efficient, cost-effective way to purify water during a mission trip to Honduras. He launched The Bucket Ministry to help people in need of safe, sanitary drinking water. (Photo by Estaban Benites) Right: A child holds two cups of water — one before being sanitized and the other full of clean, health-giving H20. (Photo by Christy Robbins)
By Sandy Jones After having being a regular attender at church for most of his life, Christopher Beth finally asked Jesus into his heart in 2007 after he and his daughter, Savannah, had been in a horrific head-on collision. Sitting with Savannah in the corridor of a hospital that didn’t have any rooms available, Christopher couldn’t take what she was going through, had no capacity to deal with it, and in that hallway invited Jesus into his heart, surrendering fully to Him. This was just the beginning of the call God was placing on Christopher’s heart. Here he shares, in his own words, how that fateful night lead to impacting hundreds of lives, both physically and eternally: Professionally, I spent 35 years as a business consultant in the pet industry. My wife is my high school sweetheart, my best friend, the love of my life, and a registered nurse. After I prayed to invite Christ into my heart that night, my wife arrived at the hospital and was able to take charge. Soon after, they decided to move our daughter to
Children’s in Downtown Dallas. When we arrived, there was a team of nine people waiting just to take care of Savannah. So we left the hospital that had us in a hallway because they didn’t have enough room for us, to this hospital where they had nine people waiting for us. (After several months Savannah healed completely.) I came to Christ in 2007; slowly I learned more about the Character of Jesus. I wasn’t actively discipled, so I learned much on my own; much of my early journey was a childlike faith. I am certainly not a theologian, and while I’m now a licensed pastor, I still believe that my understanding of Jesus is best as childlike faith. In 2012 my daughter came home from high school and said, “I want to go to the Brazilian Amazon on a mission trip.” It was quickly decided that I’d go with her. The most relevant part of this decision is that I decided to go, not because I had a love or compassion for the Brazilian people; I didn’t even fully understand my relationship with Jesus at that point, all I knew is I needed Him. I went solely to bring my kid home. We flew into Manaus, Brazil and boarded an open-air riverboat with 15 other people.
12 September / October 2019 | Christian Living
It was like 90 degrees with a billion percent humidity, and Savannah and I are wondering what we’ve gotten ourselves into. It took 18 hours to get to the first village deep in the Amazon. We had multiple ministries on the boat: Men’s Ministry, Women’s Ministry, VBS, a doctor, a dentist and a Faith Team. Ironically the team leader assigned me to the Faith Team, which is crazy because I had no idea of my own faith just yet, and I’d never verbally spoken that much about Jesus or my relationship with Him. The first two days we went door to door, explaining what our team was doing, then praying over people. On these visits, I went with our pastor, Ricky, and if he was talking to the family, I was on the opposite side of the house praying that no one would talk to me, because I did not have any capacity to join in this conversation. I felt so out of place. On the third day we were going to go visit a home across the river. I joined Pastor Ricky; Nelson, our interpreter; and our boat driver in a small boat. Then Pastor Ricky left the boat. He said, “Well, you’ve got this.”
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ne glass of water at a time
I looked at him and said, “What do you mean I’ve got this?” He gets out of the boat, repeating that I’ve got this and he leaves. I remember vividly thinking….“Had he not seen the previous two days, that I didn’t say two words?” I thought I was going to throw up. Crossing the river I’m trying to recall everything Pastor Ricky had said the prior two days; I figured I could just copy him. We arrived at this partially flooded home, with a little tiny, rickety plank going across from the bank to the home, and are welcomed in by this Brazilian couple. This little Brazilian woman looked at me and she said, “Are you thirsty?” through my interpreter. Yes. I’m thirsty. I’m sweating like crazy. I half expected her to go in a refrigerator, that didn’t exist, and grab a bottle of water, that didn’t exist, and bring it back to me. Instead she walks out to the front of her home on to that tiny rickety little plank that I had walked across, and she dipped two mismatched, cracked glasses drawing water out of the river! There are some points in life where you have to make some pretty quick decisions: on one hand if I drink this glass of water, I’m going to spend the rest of the trip in the bathroom. On the other hand, if I don’t, this lady, who I just told that I was thirsty, is going to be upset and think I’m rude. I look over at my interpreter and he’s shaking his finger “no.” I’m standing there with this glass of water staring at it. This is the first time I heard the audible voice of God. I’d never heard God’s
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voice in the past — or I should say, I’d never listened? I think the two things are dramatically different. Clearly He said, “Help them.” I remember thinking, “What am I supposed to do to ‘help them’?” His instruction of “help them” did not come with a manual. It did not come with further instruction. In the end we left after praying over them. Upon our return home all I could focus on was “help them.” What does “help them” mean? I called the doctor who had accompanied us and asked, “Can you tell me, of all the people that you treated on this trip, how many of them were treated for some sort of water-borne disease?” His response was basically, “Oh, that’s easy. All of them.” He went on to explain that they drink out of the river. They have no improved sources of water, and that river water contains countless bacteria and parasites. He said the Amazon River is the biggest septic system in the world; they’re consuming that and they’re all sick. He explained they give them a blanket treatment that’s going to treat the symptoms, although it’s unknown if they have E.coli infections, amoebic dysentery, giardia, typhoid, salmonella, or cholera. It could be all these things. It could be a combination, so the doctor treated them with a blanket prophylactic treatment that will last a month, maybe two at most, then they’re going to get sick again. It’s a never-ending process. At this point, I’m really starting to try to understand this “help them.” I start researching water filtration, thinking maybe I’m supposed to bring clean water down there, giving it out in kind of a humanitarian manner. I look at different filters. I buy different filters. I start researching bio-sand filters. I research wells, and different types of filtration. I try to make myself an expert in all these things. I learn the Amazon water rises and falls 30 feet throughout the year, so whatever we use has to be portable; has to be inexpensive; and has to be longlasting. I researched more about the water crisis and went to organizations like the World Health Organization. I found that 844 million people don’t have access to clean water, then realized that there’s 350 million people in the United States, which means more than twice the population of the United States around the world has to drink dirty, horrible water. I found the Sawyer water filters, manufactured in Florida, and started using them at the lake near my house in Dallas. I made my family drink out of lake water for a week and everybody did fine — well, everyone lived!
The Sawyer filters yield 350 to 500 gallons per day and have been lab tested up to a million gallons. The average home in the Amazon will use 20 to 30 liters per day, roughly eight gallons, which means that this filter is going to last 20 to 22 years. In 2014 I guilted friends and family into donating the $5,000 for our next trip down to the Amazon where we were taking 80 filters. This is where God showed us really what this filter was. At the first village there were 20 to 30 homes, and we invited all the villagers to come sit down and learn about the water filter. We explained why they were getting sick from the drinking water. We taught them how to use, how to care for, and how to share this gift. At the end a Brazilian man stands up and he said, “Can you tell me how you made your way to our village?” I joked and said, “Well that boat and that captain got me here.” He’s like, “No of all the villages, how did you come to ours?” I had to think about this. I told this man, “I’m a follower of Jesus Christ and we were called to be in your village.” Then he asks “Well, who is this Jesus?” At that point I thought, “Wow, now I understand what this water filter is!” It’s a tool to be able to introduce people to Jesus. We told him who Jesus is, basically giving my testimony. The villager asked, “How can I do that?” Then the rest of the villagers were saying, “Yeah, we want that too.” Not only will this water filter save lives physically, it’s also a great tool to introduce people to The Living Water. In 2016 we were blessed to distributed 750 filters in only one country; in 2017 we distributed 3,300 filters in 15 countries; and in 2018 we distributed 8,300 filters in 20 countries. Clearly the Lord showed me that this was all His plan. It really comes back to that I understood what my role was: simply to say... yes. In Acts 4:13 Peter and John were pulled before a council, and they were having to testify at whose authority they performed these miracles (healed a man). The council saw that Peter and John were ordinary, untrained, uneducated men. Keyword “ordinary.” I really relate to that verse because I think I’m very ordinary; I was not equipped with any skills other than saying ‘yes.’ Acts 4:13 (NIV): When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Continued on page 22
Christian Living | September / October 2019 13
MOM Keep Calm
Change: helping kids bend not break
our family, it’s important to make time to adjust By Janet Lund together. Seasons of Change: Seasons are a part of life. We would not have been able to weather these Some are predictable, like the weather. We experimany changes nearly as well if we had not done four ence the present season while preparing for the next. critical things. Other seasons may come only once or twice in 1) Create Space for Open Communication. our life: graduation, the birth of a child, or the loss No matter how difficult the change, it’s important to of a job. The preparation time for these seasons take time to talk about it. Discuss what is happenvaries. This often leaves us with a mixture of feelings ing, why it is happening, and how each of you feels including joy, nervousness, or even overwhelmed. about it. Doing so makes the transition (or adaptaOur Year of Change: For our family, 2019 has tion) smoother. been a year of change. These changes have varied in Providing a time and space for your child to share their degree of welcome. will help them understand what they are feeling. We kicked off the year preparing our house of 13 If they have trouble finding their words, give them years for sale. Our realtor had buyers within the first some paper and pens to list their feelings. If your hour of the open house. We were happy to have a child is not old enough to read or write, encourage buyer but sad to say goodbye to our home. them to draw a picture of their feelings. February and March involved 20 days of moving Expressing their feelings will help them understand into an apartment, plus selling and giving away 50% Janet Lund that no matter how big their emotions feel right now, of our belongings. Letting go of our accoutrements, they won’t be overcome by them or feel that way forever. Instead of we felt both melancholy and relief. being scared stiff from their emotions, they will learn to be curious Throughout the winter and spring, Joel experienced a health and flexible. change — grievous back pain. This was scary and left us wonderTalk about your own feelings. This will help your child understand ing if this was his new normal. Thankfully, he has mostly recovered. what you are feeling too. They will also learn that it’s not unusual However, the injury is still something he is mindful of, daily. to have more than one feeling at a time. As you share regularly with In May, our daughter graduated from university. We nearly floated each other, your child will also see how feelings evolve and change off the ground with pride as we attended her Baccalaureate and with time. Graduation ceremonies. Sharing this moment with dear friends was Sharing helps kids heal and adjust to their new reality. Doing this a great joy. In June, Joel’s mom passed away. We are so grateful for her 98 years as a family provides opportunities to cry together, care for each other, and become curious about what is to come. but still grieve her passing. Use these moments to help your child understand that change is a In July, I started a part-time job (in addition to being self-empart of life. Although sometimes change is painful, it can also provide ployed). It was immensely fun work…until the physical requirements for new opportunities to learn and grow. of the job aggravated old injuries and horrendous chronic pain re2) On-the-Spot Sharing. Let’s be honest here — as a parent, turned. It was scary to be in that much pain again. Physical therapy change can really shake up your world. You bear the weight of is helping me slowly heal, and I hope to work there again. responsibility for not only yourself, but your family. The stress of This summer, our daughter has been applying for jobs to kick off her career. Goodness yes, another change is coming around the bend. change can shorten your fuse and even push you to the point of yelling at inanimate objects (and other kinds of outbursts). So much change in so little time. When you find yourself acting out your stress, it’s important to 4 Keys to Weathering the Storm of Change: Change is calm down and take a moment to hit the pause button. Do this by something we all experience in a variety of ways. As change impacts
14 September / October 2019 | Christian Living
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NOW ENROLLING sharing what you are feeling. This will help your family understand the source of the emotion behind all the bellowing. Show your kids how you can pause, recover, and keep moving forward. It’s important to keep talking about your feelings. Throwing in a little humor and laughing at yourself can also help everyone keep their cool during this time. We’ve done that a lot this year. 3) Keep Plugged into God’s Word. Read God’s Word together to remember all His promises. This is essential to riding out the storm of change. It is so easy to get caught up in the never-ending cycle of feeling overwhelmed or sorry for yourself when the changes are difficult, unwanted, or unplanned. Psalm 77 is a great chapter to spend time in when going through difficulties. The first half of the chapter is all about “woe is me.” It’s entirely relatable! Candidly, this is something I can resonate with more than I’d wish. However, the second half of the chapter hits a very different tone. The writer’s viewpoint goes from inward to outward focus, from himself to God. It pivots from personal experience to what God has done and is able to do. 4) Keep a Victories Journal. Fuel the flame of hope. Help your family move from the “woe is me” spin-cycle to celebrating all that is good. Start a family “Victories Journal.” Gather together once a week, and write down your individual and family victories. Nothing is too small for celebrating. These positives will help feed your determination and keep you energized to get through the tough stuff, together. And they’re loads of fun to review months later, and full of encouragement. Change is a constant part of life. Sharing our feelings, working together, remembering what God has done, and celebrating helps us to be grateful and trust that God is with us always. Be Open. Be Honest. Be Reminded. Be Hopeful.n
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Janet Lund is a relationship coach who specializes in nurturing the bond between moms and their teen/preteen daughters. She leads moms through coaching, speaking, and songwriting. Janet has spoken and performed in Canada, the United States, and Norway. Follow her on facebook.com/momkeepcalm and visit her website momkeepcalm.com for parenting tools and words of support to be a calm mom.
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Christian Living | September / October 2019 15
OUR civic duty
Following the advice of John Jay
When considering the impact of our votes, I can By Daniel Bobinski think of several stories here in Idaho where votes Every year on the first Tuesday in November, citwere close. In fact, just a few years back, a town in the ies hold elections. Of course, the “biggie” is always middle of the state decided the results of an election the Presidential election every four years, but guess by a coin flip, because each candidate received an what? Your opinion still matters in what are known equal number of votes! as the off-year elections, which occur every year. When it comes to Jay’s advice, I agree with him. I Why are these elections important? Sometimes think our society is healthier when we have people in these off-year elections are when we get to elect office who hold a biblical worldview. So yes, your vote school board members, a mayor, or someone to matters. Not long ago there was a city council race in serve on the city council. You may also be voting Idaho in which a Bible-believing candidate won by on bond issues that will impact your finances. In less than 100 votes. As a member of the city council, many ways, the results of these off-year elections impact you just as much if not more than who gets this person made decisions that impacted the entire elected President. population of the city. If the opposition candidate Should Christians be involved in the voting had won, those city council decisions might have run process? counter to a biblical worldview, and the Bible-believTo answer this question, let’s take a tip from John ing citizens of the city would have been forced to live Daniel Bobinski Jay, our country’s very first Supreme Court Chief with the fallout. Justice. It was Jay who wrote, “Providence has Here’s another reason to vote: It validates your right given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is their duty, as to speak your mind. Perhaps you’ve heard believers express their well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and disappointment regarding ballot results or decisions made by their prefer Christians for their rulers.” city leaders. Sadly, statistics show that believers aren’t all that great Jay was no slouch when it came to understanding the founding and at stepping up to make a difference in the voting booth. Christian structuring of our country. Not only was he our country’s first Chief researcher George Barna reports that only 25 percent of evangelicals Justice, he also co-authored the Federalist Papers, a collection of 85 vote. Even worse, 40 percent of evangelicals aren’t even registered articles and essays to promote the ratification of the United States to vote. When reading those numbers, I kinda shake my head. It Constitution. reminds me of something my dad used to say: “If you don’t vote, you So, regarding our question about Christians being involved in the forfeit the right to complain.” voting process, I’d say the answer is a resounding “yes.”
16 September / October 2019 | Christian Living
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By the way, I should take this opportunity to clarify that when John Jay was encouraging Christians to vote for Christians, he was not advocating a theocracy. He was well-aware that our government was designed as a Constitutional Republic. He simply knew that people who hold themselves accountable to the righteous, relational ruler of the universe would be more likely to be fair and objective in making decisions that affect our citizens. Also, when Jay said that we should “prefer Christians” as our leaders, he was not suggesting we choose leaders based upon denominational affiliation. I also think he was warning us not to be deceived by Christian rhetoric. I’ve seen some pretty deceptive candidates claiming the brand of “Christian” to garner votes, only to get recalled when the truth about their character became visible through actions that violated their oath of office. Are there verses that tell us to vote? No, because nobody held elections in biblical times. Kings and rulers were either anointed, assumed leadership because of bloodlines, or took control by force. But in 1 Timothy 2:1-2, the Apostle Paul writes, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” If voting occurred in biblical times, do you think that Paul would have addressed the subject? I’d also like to underscore the need to be informed about the candidates and ballot issues, referring to Hosea 4:6a: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Personally, I try to study up on the issues and vote every year, but if for some reason an issue appears on the ballot that I’m not familiar with, I don’t vote on that matter. I don’t want to accidently vote for something that would be contrary to biblical principles. So yes, elections occur every year on the first Tuesday in November. Voting in the “big” elections every four years is important, but equally important are the off-year elections. I encourage believers everywhere to follow the advice of John Jay. Selecting Christians to hold office is not only our privilege, it’s also in our best interest. n Daniel Bobinski, M.Ed. teaches teams and individuals how to use Emotional Intelligence (more info at MyWorkplaceExcellence.com). He’s also a home fellowship leader, a homeschooling dad, a best-selling author, and a popular speaker at conferences and retreats. Reach him at daniel@eqfactor.net or (208) 375-7606.
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Christian Living | September / October 2019 17
REAL Man’s Toolbox
Leave lies behind and seek truth
By Leo Hellyer Men of God, wake up and realize, “You are being lied to!” As we live our lives at work, at church, in community, at home, and at play, we are being lied to. We are being lied to about God, ourselves, sin and sexuality, marriage and family, work and wealth, circumstances and the world. Just recently I came across a fantastic book by Robert Wolgemuth titled, “Lies Men Believe – And the Truth That Sets Them Free.” Yes, this is another book you need to read. This is a very good read. Not only is this a good read, but it also hits us where we live. We live in a world of lies. If we aren’t careful, if we aren’t wide awake, if we aren’t battle ready, if we aren’t using the full armor of God, we will be deceived by the lies around us. By the way, men, this is not a fact just for men. Women also are challenged by the lies that are around them. Without God’s intervention into our lives we will succumb to the lies around us. We will be deceived by these lies. We must turn to the Word of God, the Bible, to find the truth of life. We must know the truth to know what the lies are. In his forward to Robert’s book, Patrick Morley states, “The Bible is the written and sealed agreement between a sovereign God and me. And you. It’s eminently reliable and trustworthy. ‘Lies Men Believe’ is a book that lifts high the veracity of God’s Word.” When we follow the lies around us, in most cases we are not doing so out of ignorance. Even when we come alongside the lies of life, or using another term, when we sin, we do so aware of what we are doing. Robert Wolgemuth puts it this way, “When you and I fall prey to lies, the cause is more likely to be pride and less likely to be gullibility. In the moment, we think we know better than God. We know in our heart and our conscience what is right, but we choose what is wrong.” Religion does not show us how to be victorious over the lies in our lives. Religion doesn’t speak to us about the lies we face. The only way we can find the truth and learn how to follow it, instead of following the lies, is through an active, personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In his book, Robert lists many Scripture references to assist us in learning how to defeat lies. Two of those come from Jesus as recorded by John in John 8. In John 8:31-32 Jesus says, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you
18 September / October 2019 | Christian Living
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will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Later in chapter 8 of John, in verse 36, Jesus goes on to say, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Jesus is always with us. He is present as we go through everything that we face in life. He is present, He has the answers, He has the power, He is the Truth that will bring joy, peace, excitement, contentment, and everlasting and abundant life to us. This book, “Lies Men Believe,” can be life-changing to you. It has lit a fire in me, and it can for you as well. As men, we may be seeking truth, but we will not find it until we get to the point where we not only have knowledge of Christ, but we have a close, loving, heart relationship with Him. In addition to being our Savior, Christ through the Holy Spirit can become the best Accountability Sponsor, or Mentor, that Leo Hellyer we could ever have. If we will let Him, He can be the One who will call us on our stuff, and the One who we will actually listen to, and we will follow His direction. The last Scripture Robert Wolgemuth includes in his book is one that has become the life verse for my wife and me. A counselor of ours, who eventually became a friend of mine, Kevin Rhinehart, from Christian Counseling Center (now Center for Hope and Healing), brought this verse to our attention, and since then it keeps coming back into our lives in very unique ways, and at perfect times. The Scripture is Philippians 1:6, where Paul writes, “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” What this is talking about is the fact that God Almighty, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit who have begun a good work in us will never cease in that effort until Jesus Christ returns, or we meet Him for eternity. God will never leave us. Regardless what the architect of lies, Satan, says, we are never alone. Even in our darkest moments, we are loved by God Almighty, the God of Creation. We may deny Him, we may run from Him, we may try to hide from Him, but He is ever-present in our lives. When you feel lonely, scared, confused, neglected, overwhelmed, used, or abused, cry out to the only One who is always there, the only One who always has your best in mind, the only One who loves you absolutely unconditionally, the Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. n Leo Hellyer is a non-staff pastor with a local church and has been married to his wife Norma for more than 45 years. The couple volunteered with the Boise FamilyLife Ministry Team for 20 years. They are both employed by Boise Rescue Mission Ministries, Norma at City Light Home for Women & Children and Leo at River of Life Rescue Mission. Leo is also the President and Chief Firearms Instructor with Helping Hands Firearms Training LLC. If you have questions about Real Man’s Toolbox, or need other assistance, Leo may be reached at silverplate426@msn.com or 208-340-5544.
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UNDERSTANDING Relationships
Your wife’s No. 1 emotional need
By Gary Moore When you read about the emotional needs of women, most authors and therapists agree that it is affection. Women read that sentence and say “Duh.” Men read that sentence and also say “Duh.” If that’s true, then what’s the problem? Men and women basically look at and define affection differently. For most women, affection is nonsexual. For most men, affection is just a long way of spelling sex. Women find affection important in its own right. They love the feeling that accompanies both the bestowal and the reception of affection. But men, understand this — it usually has nothing to do with sex. It’s the same emotion they exchange with their children or pets. If men don’t understand this, they will be confused. A man often views affection as part of sexual foreplay, and it usually arouses him in a flash. Mistakenly he assumes that it has the same purpose and rapid effect on a woman. So the only time these men are affectionate is when they want to make love. But this kind of affection does not communicate, “I care about you.” Instead, it communicates, “I want sex.” Instead of giving, it’s taking. Most women deeply resent their husbands using such an important symbol of care only for the purpose of meeting his need for sex. In his book “His Needs, Her Needs,” Dr. Willard Harley defines affection as the nonsexual expression of care through words, cards, gifts, hugs, kisses, and courtesies; creating an environment that clearly and repeatedly expresses care. To most women, affection symbolizes security, protection, comfort, and approval — vitally important commodities in their eyes. When a husband shows his wife affection, he sends the following messages: I care; you are important to me, and I will care for you and protect you; I’m concerned about the problems you face and will be there for you when you need me. Men need to understand how strongly women need these affirmations. For the typical wife, there can hardly be enough of them. What are some of the ways that a man can show a woman affection? One is simply to give her a hug. In fact, Dr. Harley says that hugging is a skill most men need to develop to show their wife affection. Think about it for a minute, guys. Most women love to hug. They hug each other; they hug children, animals, and relatives — even stuffed animals. That’s not to say they will throw themselves into the arms of just anyone. They can actually get quite inhibited about hugging if they think it could be misinterpreted in a sexual way. But the rest of the time, across most cultures, women hug and like to be hugged. A greeting card, a note or a text expressing love and care can simply but effectively communicate the same emotions. An invitation to dinner also signals affection. It is a way of saying to your wife, “You don’t need to do what you ordinarily do for me. You are special to me. I’ll treat you instead.”
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There are a lot of jokes about how almost immediately after the wedding, a wife has to find her own way in and out of cars, houses, restaurants, and so on. Open the door for her at every opportunity. It’s another way to tell her, “I love you and care about you.” Holding hands is another time-honored and effective sign of affection. Walks after dinner, back rubs, phone calls, and conversations with thoughtful and loving expressions all help to add units to your Love Bank. Then there is that all-time favorite — a bouquet of flowers. Women, almost universally, love to receive flowers. For most of them, flowers send a powerful message of love and concern. Most of the things that show affection to our wives are what we men would consider “small things.” And, what conveys affection to her is doing these small things on a regular basis. We men don’t normally think in terms of the “small things” Gary Moore and how important they are to our wives. We think of the “big things.” And, because we do, we feel that a few big things done each year (birthday, anniversary, Christmas, Valentine’s Day) will “hold her” — will convey our lasting affection. Not so. A single rose a month is more appreciated than a single bouquet a year. From a woman’s point of view, affection is the essential cement of her relationship with a man. Without it, a woman usually feels alienated from her mate. With it, she becomes tightly bonded to him, while he adds units to his account in her Love Bank. Yet another area where Mutual Understanding is the key to your marriage. n
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Gary Moore is currently a part-time staff member at Cloverdale Church of God in charge of Adult Education. He’s served as associate pastor there for the past 14 years. He does couples’ coaching and leads couples’ workshops and retreats called MUM’s the Word. He also does a weekly radio program called Life Point Plus on KBXL 94.1FM at 8:45 a.m. on Fridays. For information on his workshops and retreats, contact him at pastorgary@cloverdalechurch.org.
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Christian Living | September / October 2019 21
The Bucket Ministry Continued from page 13
The Bucket Ministry works in two different ways. We take our own trips into a few countries where we have been called to work specifically. We also train other teams, other churches / denominations, other organizations to use this bucket filter as a tool to reach people for Christ. For instance, we are working with Sophia Fleming and the General Council of the Church of God Seventh Day here in Idaho. When we give the bucket filter to the recipients, it comes with more than just that, it also includes anti-parasitic medicines that we give the entire family that will treat the parasites that they have. We also teach them sanitation and hygiene lessons because if you have clean water, but you’re still not washing your hands, it’s not going to be a total solution. We also collect recipient information from every person that receives a bucket filter for follow-up visits. A common belief is that when missionaries give things away without any sustainability it can actually hurt more than it’s helping. We learned that when we gave away a filter and did not go back to follow up on it, half the people would stop using it. We then started a follow-up program. We found that with one follow-up after they receive their filter, it increased the use of the bucket from 50% to 83%. If there were two follow-ups, it went from 83% to 85%. Three follow-up visits increased bucket use from 85% to 88%. We have been able to prove that the sustainability of The Bucket Ministry is in the follow-up; it’s vitally important. At the follow-ups we work with local pastors, missionaries, and other church groups. We like to identify a local pastor to train, equip, and support, so that the local pastor becomes the hero with the villagers, and then he will make Jesus the hero! We don’t have a licensed Bucket Ministry entity in any other country because we exist to work through that local partner and that local partner is the one that does the follow-ups. Each bucket filter that we distribute comes with basic terms and conditions. The recipient has to agree to clean the filter and agree to let us check on them to make sure they are cleaning the filter. During the follow-up visit we verify the filter is working properly; troubleshoot problems, if they’re having any; then we transition into spiritual conversations, where if they’re not believers we continue to share the gospel, and, if they are believers we’ll teach some discipleship lessons. The bucket filter allows that local partner unfettered access to the families to build relationships — no matter where and how they live.
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Christopher Beth travels the world with the life-giving filters that he uses to show people how to turn dirty, deadly water into healthy, thirst-quenching water. He’s shown here with a group of youngsters in Africa. (Photo provided by Christopher Beth)
The average filter in most countries costs about $50 for the bucket, the filter, the anti-parasitic medicines and follow-up visits. The package also includes either a written Bible or a solar-powered audio-Bible, based on where they are in their own faith journey. The bucket filter will yield 350 to 500 gallons per day — more than any one family needs. This one bucket filter will provide enough water to change their lifestyle. With this water they can brush their teeth, wash their pots and pans, and wash their hands. With the medicines that we give at the same time, we give those for the entire family whether there’s two people in the family or 22. At The Bucket Ministry we work from a very simple engagement model that I “stole” from my own church. It’s: “Pray. Give. Go.” What we do doesn’t need to be any more complicated than that. Pray: We need additional prayer warriors for intercessory prayer over the ministry. We have an intercessory prayer team of almost 100 people that pray over the ministry and its needs every day — and we want to grow this team. Give: We can give clean water to the average family for about $50 and that gives them at least 20 years’ worth of clean water. Go: On our website there’s a trip calendar; anyone who’s called to go, and is ready to say yes, can join us on a trip. It will change your life remarkably forever. Go to www.thebucketministry.org for more information or to get involved. n
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A mom’s perspective on a daughter’s trials
BOISE
CHURCH DIRECTORY MERIDIAN
600 N. Ten Mile Rd. Meridian, ID
You are invited Sundays...
Worship Service 8 am, 9:30 am, 11 am Bible Study 9:30 & 11 am Children’s Church 11 am Join us Wednesday Nights at 6:45 pm for:
Editor’s note: During a brief phone interview, Sarah Hill’s mother, Karen, had the following to say about her daughter’s struggles over the years and how she feels about her today.
• AWANA - Pre-K - to 6 grade • Youth Group • Adult Bible Studies Pastor Clint Henry: clint@centralvalleybaptist.com
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“I don’t think I ever lost hope — I felt despair. One of the most difficult things was that other people were telling me that Sarah was Family Experience using meth. I didn’t believe it. She A West-Boise finally told me it was true, and that Home Fellowship was, for me, a to-your-knees prayer (kids okay!) moment. Friday nights @ 7 “I’m beyond proud of Sarah now. I always wanted to be a good (208) 375-5048 example for her, but I felt that I had failed. I had guilt, and I still do, HOMEDALE because of the divorce her father and I went through. … She’s doing wonderful. I didn’t imagine she would be like she is now. I thought that if she became sober, I still Inside the Tango didn’t see her finishing anything. 406 US HWY 95 HOMEDALE, ID Now she’s graduated from the Chrysalis program and working ✯EVERY SUNDAY✯ there by the grace of God. Church Service 9:30 am “I would tell other parents, ‘Don’t Cowboy Enjoy Great Food Before of After Service at the Moxie Java! give up hope and always be there IT’S TIME for your child. Sometimes you have TO BRING PASTORS AMERICA BLAINE & to be tough, and that may be hard. BACK M OLLY LILLY TO HER They may resent you, but you have ROOTS! to do it.’” n MIDDLETON
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Loyal To One Ministry
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For information on adding your church to this directory, please call 208-703-7509 or email: boisechristianliving @gmail.com Passion for God Compassion for People 150 W Maestra Street
(off Meridian between Overland & Victory) 208-888-2141 www.valleyshepherd.org
A Women’s Ministry Open to All Churches to Connect Women to One Another
Say YES to Adventures! For more info call: Katy Nelson 503-816-3042
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Thank you Pastors for your faithful ministry
Equipping you to impact the world for Jesus Christ
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