IE • Dec 11 by Selah Media Group

Inland Empire Edition Vol. 22, No. 12

December 2011

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Cal Thomas

Community

Spending Christmas in occupied territory

Penn State’s shame reflects immoral national norms

Southern California has strong showing for Christian Film Festival

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FREE

Phil Cooke

Better to Give Christmas gift alternatives provide blessings for the recipient — and the giver By Lori Arnold As the commercialization of Christmas continues to dwarf the spiritual aspects of the holiday, many evangelical families are seeking ways to bring the giving spirit back to the holiday. As a result, more and more families are opting to forgo the traditional “I want” lists for charitable giving opportunities, which have now become as diverse as the people seeking them. Below is just a sampling of some of the Christian-based programs available online. Military BibleStick Outreach, a project of Faith Comes by Hearing, the BibleStick is a digital audio New Testament provided to the military. The slim audio player, pre-loaded with a dramatized version of the New Testament, is the size of a pack of gum. Because of the ongoing campaign to America’s military, chaplains from every branch routinely seek the Bibles, with more than 143,000 of the devices in the field. In all, more than 800 chaplains use Military BibleSticks in pre-deployment briefings, counseling sessions, Bible studies, weekly chapels and other spiritual services.

At 3 inches long and less than 1 inch wide, the Military BibleStick is about the size of a pack of gum. More than 143,000 of the devices are now on the field.

For $25, a Military BibleStick, which includes an MP3 disc of the entire New Testament along with a response card for service members to have New Testaments and KIDZ Bibles sent to their families, civilians can purchase a BibleStick for the military. For information, log on to www. faithcomesbyhearing.com. Project Prayer Flag is an Irvinebased ministry founded by Shawn See GIVING, page 2

Burden Busters Adonai cares for cancer families during Christmas and all year By Patti Townley-Covert RANCHO CUCAMONGA — With a heart full of the holiday spirit and arms laden with groceries, Dave rang the doorbell at the Hemet home of a 3-year-old cancer patient. When the door opened, the dad stood there, his small son by his side—crying, crying and crying. Finally, the exhausted father spoke. “It’s not a good time. I can’t get him to stop.” Dave stooped to put the bags down, then reached out to the sick little boy. Responding to the tender gesture, the child’s tears ceased. The overwhelmed father sighed. “Can you just stay?” According to Pam Brown, Ado-

nai’s founder and executive director, stories like these are why this nonprofit reaches out to the families of children stricken with cancer. When a child is sick, the parents can feel so alone. One focuses on the sick child, while the other works—and tries to take care of the siblings. To combat this sense of isolation, Adonai, the Hebrew word for Lord, cares for these families as an entire unit, Brown said. Though Christmas brings help and hope, events like an Easter party, a promstyle dinner dance, a back-to-school bash and a Halloween party all ease the load on families caught in the grip of a cancer crisis. Brown said she, her husband, Mark—Adonai’s cofounder and

chairman of the board)—and their two children have a long history of helping needy families. But it took getting injured in a car accident to convince her to launch the nonprofit in 1998. That’s when, two weeks before Christmas, Brown had major surgery on her neck. Still recuperating, she didn’t think there was any way they could adopt another family. Still, calls for help kept coming. So, while lying on the couch in a neck brace, she began recruiting friends. Her son and daughter got their friends involved, too. That year, Brown said, they provided food and gifts for 15 cancer families. A father spends time with his cancer-stricken little girl during Adonai’s “Let’s Sail Away” prom and dinner dance.

See ADONAI, page 9

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2 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • December 2011 IE the globe. Their inventory includes products from more than 130 artisan groups in 38 countries. In addition, the group has a network of more than 390 retail outlets throughout the United States. Artisans use the income to pay for food, education, healthcare and housing for themselves and their families. For information, log on to www.tenthousandvillages.com.

GIVING… Continued from page 1 and Angelica Black. An official Department of Defense nonprofit military support organization, the ministry provides flags, care packages, baseball equipment, family and financial support, military phone cards and unit support to soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan and various international deployment areas. A donation of $28 will buy a chow mess kit for one U.S. soldier on patrol, while $60 will provide a phone card so a U.S. soldier can call home from Afghanistan. A $100 gift will allow 500 Patriot Packs to be shipped to deployed military members. The Patriot Packs are small pocket flags the U.S. soldiers carry and are meant to be a reminder of the prayers of millions of Americans and the hope of freedom that the flag represents. They are accompanied by a thank you card imprinted with an encouraging Scripture verse. For information, log on to www. projectprayerflag.org.

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The Ten Thousand Villages catalog includes a rolled paper frame crafted from artisans in the Philippines, who wrap discarded newspaper around broom bristles and create a funky, recycled newspaper gift to frame your favorite photo.

Ten Thousand Villages, a nonprofit program of the Mennonite Central Committee, creates opportunities for artisans around the globe to earn a fair wage. A selfdescribed fair-trade retailer, Ten Thousand Villages offers artisancrafted home decor, personal accessories and gift items from across

Holiday Village Market Gift Catalog is an online shopping guide for people wishing to support the work of Southern California-based Plant With Purpose. The organization works to curb deforestation in an effort to help the rural poor use

Help a family start a garden with a gift of just $50 through Plant With a Purpose.

A set of six gift cards, drawn by children served by the Maya Mesoamerica Mission, is available for $12.

the land for sustenance and commerce. Since its 1984 founding, the group has helped the residents in nearly 250 villages lift themselves out of poverty through its holistic approach to sustainable development. The shop features 15 povertyfighting gifts ranging in price from $1 to plant a tree to $1,000 to build a cistern. Other life-sustaining gifts include a brood of 10 chicks for $20 to provide eggs for a family to eat or sell in the marketplace, a fuelefficient stove for $30 to improve a family’s health or a garden for $50 to provide nutritious food for a family. Scott Sabin, executive director of Plant With Purpose, said their goal is to raise $10,000 by Dec. 31, up from $8,000 last year. For information, log on to www.plantwithpurpose.org/gifts.

The NightLight Design jewelry line provides an economic alternative for women who have been exploited in the bars of Bangkok, Thailand.

NightLight, which has a branch in Los Angles, is an international organization committed to addressing the complex issues surrounding trafficking and prostitution by catalyzing individual and community transformation. NightLight’s vision is to offer intervention to sexually exploited women and children, to enable them to discover their dignity and to provide a program of holistic transformation, empowering them to live and work in their community. The cost of the project is offset by an online jewelry store that also includes such accessories as charms and lanyards. Products are available in a wide range of prices, styles and materials. For information, log on to www. nightlightinternational.com. Maya Mesoamerica Mission, founded in 2000, operates an English-speaking church in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala and recently launched Denims for Guatemala, a micro business endeavor. The ministry’s store offers a

six-note card set featuring artwork from Mayan children for $12. The cards were designed using original artwork created by children involved with the community of Xolcaja, an outreach of Maya Mesoamerica Mission. The back of each card includes Spanish translations and information about the Maya Mission. Shipping is free. For information, log on to www.mayamission.org /cards. html. Alternative Gifts International was founded in 1980 by Harriet Prichard, then-director of children’s ministries at Pasadena Presbyterian Church, in an effort to model a noncommercial way to give authentic gifts at Christmas. They created an alternative gift market in which children and adults sold relief and selfdevelopment goods and animals for persons in need in the Third World. Cards were inscribed with the gifts purchased and sent to friends and relatives to inform them that an alternative gift was given in their honor. By 2004 there were 325 markets in 43 states. Alternative Gift Markets have also been organized in England, Holland, Japan and Korea. In the course of 20 seasons more than $17 million has been raised for people in crisis around the world. For information, log on to www.altgifts.org. World Vision—the Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice—also has its own market. It’s online market is easy to search by category or price and includes such gifts as animals, clean water, clothing and shelter, education, emergency aid, gifts that multiply, meeting needs for girls and women, food, help for kids in the United States, maximum impact, medical care, monthly giving and support orphans and widows. The ministry offers non-specified gifts for as low as $10 or two soccer balls for $16. More expensive options include an animal-ofthe-month program, deep water wells, small business loans for women, $22,000 to build a school and $39,000 for a health clinic. For information, log on to www.worldvision.org.

World Vision offers a variety of unique gift-giving ideas, including a sheep for $105 or 5 ducks for $30.

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December 2011 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • 3

Bibles, books, family-friendly films make for lasting gifts By Lori Arnold Looking for that special something that will last longer than a gift of argyle socks, platform shoes or that little black dress? Thousands of options are available to Christmas shoppers from, that trendy tie for dad to the newest iGadget for the kids. There are also many options for those wishing to present holiday gifts more in keeping with the spiritual meaning of Christmas. Below are just a few ideas from Bibles to movies to resource materials. Scriptures as story The Voice New Testament, a new translation from Thomas Nelson and the Ecclesia Bible Society have approached the Scriptures from a fresh angle, creating a version that reads like a story with all of the truth and wisdom of God’s Word. Through compelling narratives, poetry, and teaching it invites readers to enter into the whole story of God with their heart, soul, and mind. This bold new translation, its publishers said, engages readers like no other Bible. In producing the new edition, its authors sought to create a translation that goes deeper than informative notes, charts and graphs to help foster personal relationships. “The Voice is focused on helping readers find (or rediscover) this connection with Him,” the Bible’s website says. “Scripture is presented not as an academic document, but as an engaging story. The intention of the scholars and authors who collaborated on The Voice is to enable readers to hear God speaking, to experience His presence in their lives.” According to its publishers, care was taken to accurately translate the individual words from the original texts and reflect the idioms of the original languages. Amazon price is $8. A version of the full Bible is due out in April and is expected to list for $39.99. Essentials of life Modern technology combines with Holman Christian Standard Bible to create the new tech savvy Life Essentials Study Bible. Created by Pastor Gene Getz, the Bible uses Quick Response technology to link readers to more than 250 hours of free online coaching and teaching by the author. The new 2,208-page Bible is the “result of 10 years of intensive study and painstaking cross-referencing to present 1,500 principles relevant to any Christian, in any culture, any time—all in the text of the popular Holman Christian Standard Bible.” In addition, each principle appears adjacent to the text that inspired it, providing ready access to timeless truth for everyday, personal living. “Also featured are lists of principles at the beginning of each book of the Bible and a topical index and cross-references for all 1,500 principles. Any reader can easily start with questions, categories, verses, ideas ... and begin to read, learn, apply and grow.” Prices range by cover, but generally range from $44.99 to $69.99.

Promising word The makers of the portable GoBible audio player have produced “The Word of Promise,” a dramatic narration of the New King James Version by some of Hollywood’s top stars, including Academy Award winners Marisa Tomei, Richard Dreyfuss, Louis Gossett Jr., and Marcia Gay Hardin. Other actors include Gary Sinise, Jason Alexander and Michael York. Featured Christian music stars are Rebecca St. James and Michael W. Smith. Billed as an engaging, scripted reading of the Bible that is backed by a stirring musical score, the full version is available on the portable, easy-to-use Original GoBible and GoBible Voyager models, which feature the ability to search the Scriptures and begin play at the verse level. More than 600 actors contributed to the Word of Promise project using audio technology in the narration, scoring and sound effects to create a “you are there” listening experience. Prices range from $89.95 to $109.65. For more information, visit www. GoBible.com. Behind the Bible scenes Students of the Bible are sure to enjoy The Baker Illustrated Bible Handbook, offers a glimpse into the ancient biblical settings through 1,100 full color pages, including 500 photos and illustrations, and 80 maps and charts. In addition to its emphasis on photos and graphics, the scripture resource includes easy-to-understand explanations of key biblical themes and boasts 100 articles by leading evangelical scholars including Dr. Peter Enns, Dr. Grant R. Osborne and Dr. Daniel B. Wallace. The three parts of the handbook—“God’s Story (and Your Story),” “The Spirit and The Scribes (How the Bible Came to Be)” and Digging Deeper Into the Bible”— orient readers to the history and culture of the Bible, as well as how to apply the texts in everyday life. The book’s authors are J. Scott Duvall, Ph.D, chairman of the Department of Biblical Studies and J. C. and Mae Fuller Chair of Biblical Studies at Ouachita Baptist University and J. Daniel Hays, Ph.D, dean of the School of Christian Studies and professor of biblical studies at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. For more information, visit www.bakerbooks.com. A journey through Israel A new six-DVD pack from Exploration Films offers viewers an impressive look at the birthplace of Christianity through its “Israel: A Journey Through Time,” boxed set. The video series offers 4,000 years of historical and biblical information about the land of Israel and its people. Filmed entirely in Israel, its highlights include stories from Abraham’s divine call through Israel’s ongoing struggle, to the prophetic battle of Armageddon. Christian entertainment legend Pat Boone has called the film package “a graduate course in the Jewish roots of Christianity.” The six featured DVDs, hosted by Dr. John Tweedie, are “From Abraham to Jesus,” “Jesus, The Jew That Divided History,” “Anti-Semitism,” “Aliyah, Rebirth of a Nation,” “Is-

rael in Crisis” and “What Time Is It?” The boxed set retails for $99 and also has an accompanying study guide for $10. The film company also has another film series, “Israel: A Journey of Light,” which traces the Jewish influence and accomplishments despite prejudice and persecution. That set also retails for $99. A week in paradise “Seven Days in Utopia,” a familyfriendly film starring Robert Duvall and Melissa Leo, was set to release on DVD at all major retailers on Nov. 29. The G-Rated movie explores life, love and faith, through the life of Luke Chisolm (Lucas Black), a talented young golfer set on making the pro tour. When his first big shot turns out to be a very public disaster, Luke escapes the pressures of the game and finds himself unexpectedly stranded in Utopia, Texas, home to eccentric rancher Johnny Crawford (Robert Duvall). But Johnny is more than meets the eye, and his profound ways of looking at life, love, and faith force Luke to question not only his past choices, but his direction for the future. “I was attracted to this because it’s a great tale about a man’s journey, and about how you survive life’s unexpected curve balls,” Duvall said in a

news release. Viewers will also be treated to “Born Again,” a new song by Third Day that is featured in the movie. In addition to outstanding Hollywood and PGA talent, the film features a new recording of the hit song “Born Again” by Third Day. List price is $28.99.

have helped to propel a variety of mercy and service projects in the community, including the adoption of a local Boys and Girls club, homeless ministry assistance and shelter support for disaster relief. “All of these are examples of grace being extended beyond the walls of Calvary Church,” Senior Pastor Lynn Holmes said. The film retails for $24.99.

Grace abounds “The Grace Card,” conceived and produced by Memphis optometrist David Evans, explores the power of forgiveness in the life of Mac McDonald, who loses his son in an accident. “The ensuing 17 years of bitterness and pain erode his love for his family and leave him angry with God—and just about everyone else,” its publicists said. “Mac’s rage stonewalls his career in the police department and makes for a combustible situation when he’s partnered with Sam Wright, a rising star on the force—who happens to be a part-time pastor and a loving family man.” The film’s directors drew believing actors from more than 50 churches in the Memphis area to star in the movie, which is rated PG13. Hundreds of other local residents volunteered in a variety of capacities. They included members of Calvary Church in Cordova, where the Evans attend. Proceeds from the film

Asparagus with a beat VeggieTales gets into the Christmas spirit with “The Little Drummer Boy,” a follow up to the highly successful “Saint Nicholas” Christmas story from 2009. Based on Ephesians 4:32, “The Little Drummer Boy” teaches children about the joy found in giving your best gift to others, using your talents and forgiveness. The lead is played by Junior Asparagus, a lonely child who finds the true meaning of Christmas when he stumbles upon the birth of the baby Jesus. Big Idea Entertainment, producers of Veggie Tales, have also created the holiday CD, “VeggieTales: O Holy Night—A Journey of a Little Drummer Boy,” in conjunction with the DVD. The movie lists for $14.99, while the CD is $9.99.

Reel local Southern California has strong showing in Christian Film Festival By Lori Arnold LA JOLLA — Every good story has a critical climax that changes— or confirms—the direction of the protagonist. For Pasadena resident Chad Ahrendt, his conversion to Christianity four years ago exposed the budding filmmaker to faithbased films. For Christian-themed films—long in need of a professional makeover to elevate them from schmaltzy to authentic—the genre’s climax may just well be found in the growing number of faith-based film festivals. “On the faith-based side you don’t have the same dollars to film and distribute your film,” said Ahrendt, who has spent 15 years in the industry, a decade on the production end with Columbia Pictures. “A great way to get your name out there is the film festivals. It lends credibility to your project.” Having earned production credits for such films as “Dream Girls,” “As Good as It Gets,” “I, Robot” and “Finding Forrester,” Ahrendt understands credibility. Now a producer promoting his first feature-length film, Ahrendt is earning his own credibility with “Reconciliation,” having won Best Film awards at three of six Christian Festivals this year and a gospel storyteller award at a fourth. He’s hoping to bring home some more honors at the Second Annual San Diego Christian Film Festival, set for Dec. 27 to 30 at the La Jolla Marriott Hotel. Ahrendt’s film explores the estranged relationship of a father and son, and their painful struggle to forgive on the dad’s deathbed. Richard Bagdazian, executive director of the film festival, said nearly

150 projects were entered for the December event. In all, 20 full-length narratives and documentaries were selected. An additional 13 shorts were also selected for screening, as were five music videos. On the international front, six fulllength and six shorts were chosen. Of the 144 submissions, 38 came from California, with 30 of those entered by Southern California residents. El Cajon resident Drew Renaud’s work “Espwa: Hope For Haiti,” was chosen for screening in the international documentary short category, while La Mesa resident Oliver Dark’s “Life Iz,” which captures the ritzy lifestyle of Rodeo Drive as it faces the reality of L.A.’s skid row, secured a spot in the music video genre. Poway resident Eric Perez was also given a spot for his “Sleepless Pacific” music video. Workshops and panels In addition to the film screenings, the festival will include numerous workshops, a hero’s roundtable and a screenwriter’s panel. A highlight of the event will be the gala and award night. A youth night is planned for Dec. 29 and will include the screening of “Hardflip,” a movie filmed in San Diego that follows the story of a young skateboarder dealing with adult realities. Members of the cast will be on hand and prizes will be given away. Faculty for the event include Dr. Ted Baehr, founder and publisher of Movieguide and chairman of the Christian Film & Television Commission; Dr. Carl Moeller, president of Open Doors USA; Rev. Majed El Shafie, producer of “Freedom

Fighter”; John Ware, founder and president of the 168 Film Project, Brian Godawa, screenwriter for the award-winning film, “To End All Wars”; John Ward, an industry insider whose projects range from large studio blockbusters to independent films and cutting-edge emerging media; Allan Camaisa, CEO of Risen Media; Dr. Gary David Stratton, a lead teacher for worldview formation and film at Bethel University and Derrick Warfel, writer, director and producer of the thriller “Midnight Reckoning.” Significant opportunity The screenings, combined with the educational aspects of the festivals, provide a valuable outlet for filmmakers, Ahrendt said. “They are learning to tell a really good story and bring that story to fruition,” he said. “I see Christian films sort of taking on the same role as Christian music did. You see it evolving, you see it getting better.” He said he believes the increasing demand for stories from a faith perspective have opened up a window for filmmakers willing to truly grapple, not sugar coat, life topics. “They are trying to tell stories that Christians and people of faith want to see,” he said. “Hollywood is ignoring that audience a great deal.” Ticket prices for the festival range from $8 for a single film screening to $150 for an all-access pass. Individual workshop tickets are available for $25. A family pass that allows four people to view four films is $50. For more information, visit www. sdchristianfilmfestival.com.

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Spending Christmas in occupied territory It’s the Christmas of a vibrant democseason again, so get racy, the truth is, just ready. It will be combeing critical changes mercialized, people very little. After all, will say “Happy Holias Christians, we of days,” not “Merry all people should be Christmas,” and Santa known as being for will get much more something. We’re press than the Prince sharing the greatest of Peace. It happens story ever told, but year after year—so instead of focusing on why do we keep acting that story, we continuPhil Cooke surprised? Why do we ally get distracted by continue to expect non-believers to turning our focus on issues periphact like Christians? eral to our real calling. Every December, I see an avaYes—Christians are American lanche of direct mail campaigns citizens, with every right to speak and magazine articles by Christian in the public square. We also have organizations upset about how our the right to campaign against canculture views Christmas. But while didates or issues for which we disthis country was clearly founded agree. I’m a strong believer in eneron Judeo-Christian principles, it’s getic social discourse, and we need pretty hard to believe we live in a to speak up. However, because “Christian culture” today. Just take we’ve focused so much of our time, a look at prime time TV, national money and resources lately against advertising campaigns and current the entertainment industry, politimovies. While national polls reveal cal parties, the culture, the media that most people still call them- and other groups, the world is simselves “Christian,” I’m not seeing ply turning us off—because we’re them show up on Sunday morning. just singing the same old song. The reality is, we’re living in occupied territory. Demonizing the enemy So this year, let’s take a different It’s a real paradox that we critiapproach. Sure, the secularization cize mainstream news organizations of Christmas is offensive, and while for reporting on negativity, rather a healthy debate is the cornerstone than paying attention to positive

I suggest we begin rethinking why we’re here… Are we supposed to reach the lost or complain about the lost? stories of hope. For the networks, it’s all about ratings, and negative, sensational stories score higher ratings. But the fact is, especially when it comes to fundraising, Christians do the same thing. The negative, the lurid and the evil gets a bigger response every time. In fairness, it’s not just religious organizations that should be blamed. Political groups, activists, environmentalists and others are just as guilty. Demonizing an enemy is an easy way to get the supporters worked up and the cash register ringing. But this Christmas, I suggest we begin re-thinking why we’re here and what our real assignment is on the earth. Are we supposed to reach the lost or complain about the lost? And second, we need to understand that being against some-

thing—even if we’re right—isn’t always the best strategy for actually changing the world. And keep in mind—when you receive that indignant, monthly direct mail letter from some ministry that’s outraged about the secularization of Christmas, chances are it’s really designed to promote a fundraising campaign. Will sending your hard earned dollars to that ministry and sign a petition actually make a difference? Probably not. Speak lightly through love Certainly there are Christian organizations out there really attempting to call us back to a godly culture, and I appreciate their work. But most of those who are consistently outraged actually accomplish very little.

I can tell you this—speaking from decades of studying the media and culture—if we don’t learn to put down the protest signs, we’ll never make much of an impact. As a television and film director, I learned long ago that if an actor yells all the time, people turn it off and the performance loses its impact. But when he speaks quietly, the occasional shout gets the audience’s attention. In other words, if all we do is complain, the culture will simply tune us out. At some point we have to reach out a hand and start a conversation. So this Christmas, worry less about a store clerk saying “Happy Holidays,” and more about a widow or needy family in your neighborhood. After all, the barrage of fundraising letters won’t change much. But if we actually lived out our faith on a daily basis in our offices, our homes and with our friends, who knows? We might actually change the world. Phil Cooke is an author, speaker and media consultant to churches and ministries, helping them share their story with the larger culture. Find out more at philcooke.com.

Christmas showcases classic battle of heat vs. warmth Our family has lived in California for the past four and a half years. We love it here, now entering our fifth Christmas season in the Golden State. We moved here from New England, a place that evokes more scenes associated with holiday songs: “Sleigh bells ring, are you listening...,” “Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh…” In Southern California, we sense no lessening of the spirit of Christmas than we did in Boston, the city where no one wrapped palm trees with strings of white lights. Christmas on the West Coast and East Coast and everywhere else gives off a warmth that so many of us begin to sense increasingly as the 25th of December approaches. There’s a warmth to Christmas that comes not

The hell-bound sinful nature original within each of us is overtaken by the warmness of God’s love for us. simply from the baked food and the glowing hearth. There’s a warmth to Christmas that comes from Christ. Warmth, though, is not the same as heat. I’m no physicist, but I do understand the difference. And I am convinced that Christmas brings

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out the stark contrast between heat and warmth. Heat is dangerous. It can be evocative. Seductive. Scorching. Hollywood gets it, launching movies like Body Heat or Saturday Night Fever. Warmth is not heat in that warmth does not hurt. It comforts. It’s that wonderful feeling of snuggling cozily under a cotton quilt or a down comforter and being secure. I absolutely love the sensation of warmth, especially in the midst of winter nights like I remember as a child. I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t. Warmth is not at all like the incineration of heat. The way I look at it, heat destroys and warmth preserves. Heat is perilous. Warmth is trustworthy. The story of Christmas, simply put, is a story about the collision of heat and warmth. King Herod was told by the wise men of the birth of Christ the Savior, and his

personal kingdom. soul began to smolder And the Christ Child in fury. That intensity of lives today to proclaim heat ignited within him that radical and transand he raged, thinking forming truth of the that someone, some kingdom of God: God child, may depose him. loves us immeasurHe raged and fumed and ably. hated and schemed, a “You will find the baby reaction to the heat of wrapped in strips of his fury. His heat stirred becloth and lying in a mancause in the warmth of ger,” the angel said that Barry H. Corey swaddling cloth there night to the shepherds lied a baby, the Savior, in their fields. Christ the Lord, the King. The heat I imagine it was for a purpose of Herod’s wrath in the Matthew that of all the things describing the story is set against the warmth of Christ child that could have been God’s love, born in a manger; the mentioned, the angel spoke of the burning anger and hatred coiling cloth, the blanket, keeping warm within the wicked king juxtaposed the child of God. against the cooing baby wrapped in Any of you who have tucked into a newborn’s blanket. bed your newborn, snuggled tightThe armies of this corrupt and ly in a quilt, know what I mean. vile tyrant were mustered against An innocent baby wrapped in the the innocence of an infant lying in warmth of a blanket is spared the the warmth of a cow’s feedbox be- heat of Herod’s wrath. side his parents in a barn. There is no experience in your And we know the story. Warmth life that you will ever know that beat heat. This is what Christmas compares to being held in the wrap is all about! The hell-bound sinful of God’s tenderness. Christmas. He nature original within each of us is sent His Son into our world to let overtaken by the warmness of God’s each of us know that the curse of love for us. heat will ultimately concede to the warmth of God’s love. Love wins Dr. Barry Corey is the president Herod dies angry without ever hunting down the one threat to his of Biola University.

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December 2011 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • 5

Divorce study offers a first look at ‘Second Chances’ Divorce is epidemic in the culture and, I’m sad to say, in the Church. Can that change? In her 1968 country tear-jerker about her divorce, Tammy Wynette sang about her son and aboutto-be ex-husband, “I love you both and this will be pure H. E. double L. for me. Oh, I wish that we could stop this D.I.V.O.R.C.E.” New research shows that Tammy is not alone. Working with the Institute for American Values, principal investigators Professor William Doherty of the University of Minnesota and retired Georgia Supreme Court Justice Leah Ward Sears discovered that “About 40 percent of couples already deeply into the divorce process report that one or both spouses are interested in the possibility of reconciliation.”

According to their study, “Second Chances: A Proposal to Reduce Unnecessary Divorce,” this means that a significant number of divorces are preventable and thus unnecessary. Most people believe that divorce is the result of long-term marital strife, but this turns out to be false. As Dr. Doherty and Justice Sears wrote in the Washington Post, “[O]nly a minority of divorcing couples experience high conflict and abuse during their marriages. Most divorces occur with couples who have drifted apart and handle everyday disagreements poorly.” And they add, “It is these ‘average’ divorces that research shows are the most harmful to children.” And because the state has a compelling interest in the wellbeing of children, the state also has a compelling interest in preventing

these unnecessary divorces. That’s why Doherty and Sears have gone beyond research to develop a proposal for changing state laws. First, they recommend a one-year waiting period before a divorce is granted. The decision to diChuck vorce is often made when emotions are hot. Once the papers are filed, couples find themselves on what Justice Sears calls “the divorce superhighway.” As a result, couples find they don’t have the time, the tools or the space to reconsider. A slower road, especially for couples with children, will allow couples to consider the consequences of divorce against other options.

Second, they recommend a mandatory early warning letter from the spouse intent on filing for divorce. It’s a way of putting the other spouse on notice that, “we have a problem” before the legal wheels begin turning. And it Colson would trigger mandatory pre-filing education for parents of minor children. Doherty and Sears go on to recommend that couples contemplating divorce have access to marriage reconciliation services whether they use them or not. While many couples with troubled marriages seek counseling, most therapists aren’t adequately trained in couples counseling and

many feel they should be neutral on the question of divorce. Second Chances recommends proper training and a pro-marriage bias for counselors. Second Chances is “a modest proposal” to reduce divorce, and I am all for it. My question for Christians and for churches is, why wait for a new law? Do we really believe that marriage was instituted by God, that He intended it for human flourishing, and that marriage and the family unit are the cornerstones of civilization? Then for heaven’s sake, let’s use our creativity and gifts to do everything we can to help struggling married couples stay together. © 2011 Prison Fellowship. Reprinted with permission. “BreakPoint with Chuck Colson” is a radio ministry of Prison Fellowship.

Penn State’s shame reflects immoral national norms “Success with Honwell to examine the or” is the motto of reasons behind such Penn State’s athletic things. Yes, it begins program. They got it with human nature, half right. but society—butThe alleged sexual tressed by religion— abuse of young boys once did a better job by former defensive of keeping human nacoordinator Jerry ture in check. Sandusky is disgustSince the free-loving, outrageous and ing ’60s, we seem to Cal Thomas immoral. That so have taken a wrecking many at the school’s highest level ball to social mores. Today, anyone allegedly engaged either in cover- appealing to such a standard is deing up serial abuses or turned a nounced and stamped with the lablind eye to them in order to main- bel of the day, usually ending in the tain the “integrity” of the football suffix, “-phobe.” program and its legendary coach, The medical and psychological Joe Paterno, adds insult to unfath- professions have aided and abetted omable injury. the cultural rot. Doctors once took Baseball may still be called the an oath to “never do harm,” accomnational pastime, but football has panied by a pledge never to assist become the national religion. Col- in an abortion. Now the official polege football is played on Saturday, sition of the American Medical asthe Jewish Sabbath, while profes- sociation’s “code of ethics” is this: sional football is mostly played on “The principles of medical ethics Sunday, the Christian Sabbath. Fans of the AMA do not prohibit a physiof both often express themselves in cian from performing an abortion ways that are more vocal than the in accordance with good medical wildest Pentecostal preacher. practice and under circumstances While denouncing what is al- that do not violate law.” leged to have happened at Penn Doctors once led, now they folState as repugnant, we would do low cultural trends.

How to personally know God Realize that you are a sinner. No matter how good a life we try to live, we still fall miserably short of being a good person. That is because we are all sinners. We all fall short of God’s desire for us to be holy. The Bible says, “There is no one righteous—not even one” (Romans 3:10 NIV). This is because we cannot become who we are supposed to be without Jesus Christ. Recognize that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead. The Bible tells us, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 NIV). This is the Good News, that God loves us so much that He sent His only Son to die in our place when we least deserved it. Repent of your sin. The Bible tells us to “repent and turn to God” (Acts 3:19 NIV). The word repent means to change our direction in life. Instead of running from God, we can run toward Him. Receive Christ into your life. Becoming a Christian is not merely believing some creed or going to church. It is having Christ Himself

take residence in your life and heart. “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9 NIV). If you would like to have a relationship with Jesus Christ, simply pray this prayer with complete sincerity. Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe you died for my sins and rose again. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life. I confess you as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank you for saving me. Amen. If you just prayed that prayer and meant it, Jesus Christ has now taken residence in your heart! Your decision to follow Christ means God has forgiven you and that you will spend eternity in heaven. The Bible tells us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NIV). To put your faith in action, be sure to spend time with God by reading your Bible, praying, getting involved in a Bible-preaching church, and telling others about Christ.

What we tolerate and promote we get more of and what we discourage and reject we get less of. On its website, the American Psychological Association brags, “Since 1975, the American Psychological Association has called on psychologists to take the lead in removing the stigma of mental illness that has long been associated with lesbian, gay and bisexual orientations.” It once considered such behavior otherwise and while even most conservatives no longer regard homosexuality as a mental illness, many still regard it as sinful. That theological diagnosis, too, has been discarded in our increasingly secular and anomalous society where everything is to be tolerated except those people who assert that, according to a standard higher than opinion polls, some things remain

intolerable. What changed? Pressure groups aided by secular education and the entertainment industry. Vulgarity on the screen In November, an episode of “Glee” featured two couples—one straight, one gay—“losing their virginity.” The show’s co-creator, Ryan Murphy, told Bravo’s “Sex in the Box”: “Hopefully I have made it possible for somebody on broadcast television to do a rear-entry scene in three years. Maybe that will be my legacy.” Some legacy. What we tolerate and promote we get more of and what we discourage and reject we get less of.

C.S. Lewis said it best in “The Abolition of Man.” “In a sort of ghastly simplicity we remove the organ and demand the function,” he said. “We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and bid the geldings be fruitful.” No boundaries The message at Penn State was that we live in a culture that forbids almost nothing. Jerry Sandusky apparently believed that and crossed one of the few remaining lines of morality left in our culture. But even that line might soon be erased if the pressure groups and their campaign contributions grow large enough. In the last verse of the Old Testament’s book of Judges, there is this: “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” That could have been the motto at Penn State. Increasingly, it appears to describe contemporary America as well. © 2011 Tribune Media Services Inc.

6 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • December 2011 IE

Legislative Update

San Francisco supervisors limit real choice for women By Rebecca Burgoyne SACRAMENTO — With the October death of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, focus has been placed on him as the product of an outof-wedlock pregnancy—given up for adoption at birth. Biographer Walter Isaacson said that Jobs saw himself as “chosen and special”— not abandoned by his birth parents. And that conviction, Isaacson said, stayed with Jobs throughout his life. Jobs’ saving grace was that he was born in a pre-Roe v. Wade era. Abortion was not a legal option for his birth mother, a graduate student at the time. Prior to 1973—when the U.S. Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade decreed the “right” of a woman to choose abortion—9 percent of all infants born to never-married mothers were given up for adoption. In recent years, only 1 percent of all babies born to unwed mothers have been given up for adoption. Today abortion has whittled down the opportunities for millions of couples who want to adopt. For 40 years, crisis pregnancy centers—also called pregnancy resource centers—have given women real choice and helped millions avoid the heartache of abortion. Often faith-based, thousands of these centers operate in the United States and Canada, providing counseling, testing, maternity care and support to women experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. Peggy Hartshorn, president of Heartbeat International, has described the movement as “dedicated to empowering women with life-affirming alternatives so abortion is unwanted now and unthinkable for future generations.” Sadly, thorough information and real choice isn’t what the abortion industry really wants; it wants to restrict a woman’s “choice” to abortion, an ideology that has financed and empowered Planned Parenthood and other pro-abortion groups like NARAL Pro-Choice America. As pro-life organizations and individuals nationwide have responded to abortion with lifeaffirming alternatives, pro-abortion organizations have opposed the successful work of crisis pregnancy centers, whom they view as competition. CPCs’ now outnumber abortion clinics. Viewpoint discrimination Over the past three years, legislation has been introduced in Congress and at least nine states, including California, targeting pregnancy centers. When a coalition of pro-life organizations was able to blunt much of this focus, abortion advocates refocused on cities and counties. Orchestrated by NARAL,

ordinances have been approved in New York City, Montgomery County in Maryland, Baltimore and Austin, Texas. Now, the focus is on San Francisco, where in October the board of supervisors approved an ordinance limiting CPCs. The ordinance, introduced by Supervisor Malia Cohen, would prohibit CPCs—defined as “limitedservice pregnancy centers” for their failure to refer for or provide abortions—from making misleading or incomplete statements in their advertising—something already prohibited by consumer laws. The ordinance would mandate that all crisis pregnancy centers accurately advertise only the services they provide. Supporters of the ordinance claim these centers are deceiving women who may expect counseling options to include abortion. However, the language in the ordinance is vague, and many argue that it is a form of viewpoint discrimination, since those who support abortion are free to falsely present a message of “comprehensive” care. The city claims the ordinance will protect women from losing their window of opportunity to abort, because such a decision is time-sensitive. Biased approach One of the centers that would be affected by the ordinance, First Resort, issued a news release strongly denouncing allegations that their communications mislead their clients. Instead, they argue, “Simply stated, the board disagrees with the services we provide, and therefore seeks to limit what we say and how we say it, to the women we serve.” The sole supervisor to vote against the measure, Sean Elsbernd, said the backers showed no evidence that women are being misled. Despite the fact that similar ordinances elsewhere have been struck down or blunted in the court—and a warning from the city attorney that they must provide a record of false or misleading advertising to mount a strong defense should the measure be challenged in court—city supervisors chose to proceed with an ordinance that targets one viewpoint, while failing to apply it to groups with a competing message. Women are not the only ones affected by abortion. The preborn child in the womb is most at risk of victimization, yet lacks its own voice. God sees each of us as “chosen and special,” even an unplanned child. God has a plan for each life— however short or long. Crisis pregnancy centers—protecting each life—deserve our protection, our support and our prayers. Burgoyne is a research analyst with the California Family Council.

• Become informed about crisis pregnancy centers and the amazing work they do. Research can be found at www.apassiontoserve.org, www.heartbeatinternational.org and www.heartlink.org/beavoice. • Contact a local pregnancy center and ask what you can do to help. You can find a center by visiting Option Line, a project of two faith-based organizations—Heartbeat International and Care Net. Information is available at Heartbeat’s website, listed in the previous bullet point. • Help spread the story of CPCs to friends, churches, local legislators and media. • Pray for pregnancy centers—their work, their volunteers and their funding. Pray that God would protect and use these life-affirming alternatives. • The Alliance Defense Fund and Life Legal Defense Foundation have promised to challenge the San Francisco ordinance should it go into effect. Find out more about these organizations and their work. Visit www. alliancedefensefund.org or www.lldf.org.

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Prop. 8 backers win major ruling By Lori Arnold SAN FRANCISCO — Backers of Proposition 8 won a major victory Nov. 17 when the California Supreme Court ruled the group has a legal right to defend the measure in court, since elected officials have declined to do so. The non-binding decision means the case returns to the federal level, where justices with the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will decide the amendment’s constitutionality. Earlier this year, federal appeals justices deferred the matter to the state’s highest court for direction on a technical aspect of the case called “standing,” the legal term designating a vested stake or interest in the lawsuit’s outcome. “It is essential to the integrity of the initiative process ... that there be someone to assert the state’s interest in an initiative’s validity on behalf of the people when the public officials who normally assert that interest decline to do so,” Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye wrote in her opinion. The decision was widely expected after justices, during a hearing earlier this year, appeared reluctant to give elected officials that much power over a voter-approved measure. “We are delighted that the Supreme Court has clearly reaffirmed our right, as the official proponents of Prop. 8, to defend over seven million Californians who amended their own State Constitution to restore traditional marriage,” said Andy Pugno, general counsel for Protect Mar-

riage, the grassroots organization that drafted the successful amendment. This victory is an enormous boost for Proposition 8 as well as the integrity of the initiative process itself. This ruling is a huge disaster for the homosexual marriage extremists. The court totally rejected their demands that their lawsuit to invalidate Proposition 8 should win by default with no defense. Their entire strategy relied on finding a biased judge and keeping the voters completely unrepresented. Today that all crumbled before their eyes. Opponents of Proposition 8 unsuccessfully argued that the only parties with standing to challenge an amendment are the governor or the state attorney general. But Protect Marriage attorneys argued that the initiative’s sponsors must be able to defend a measure if elected officials decline to represent the voters. By not allowing the initiative’s backers to defend the measure, they argued, elected officials would effectively have veto power over the will of the people. The state high court agreed. “Neither the governor, the attorney general nor any other executive or legislative official has the authority to veto or invalidate an initiative measure that has been approved by the voters,” the chief justice went on to write. With the issue of standing likely resolved, the appeals court is now expected to focus on the issue of constitutionality of the amendment, which declares marriage in California to be be-

tween one man and one woman. Last year, Judge Vaughn Walker, who later disclosed he was in a long-term same-sex relationship, overturned Proposition 8 on constitutional grounds. “Today’s decision is a critical step in our three-year battle to uphold marriage between a man and a woman,” Pugno said. “Now we can return our focus to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and our appeal to reverse the lower court’s decision declaring Proposition 8 and traditional marriage itself unconstitutional.” Advocates for Faith and Freedom, a Murrieta-based non-profit legal defense organization, applauded the court’s recognition that voters must have a voice to defend the will of the people. “If the court ruled against the right of the people to defend a law that they passed using the initiative power, it would have tragically undermined the foundation of our democratic system in California,” said Robert Tyler, founder and general counsel for Advocates. Advocates for Faith and Freedom represents Imperial County whose county clerk, Chuck Storey, is also seeking to have standing to defend Proposition 8. Seventy percent of Imperial County voters voted in favor of the measure in the 2008 election. Tyler said their efforts to defend the law are necessary because the opposition is expected to continue to challenge the Proposition 8 campaign’s legal standing in the U.S. Supreme Court.

SDSU’s new LGBT major raises economic and religious concern By Melody Karpinsi World News Service SAN DIEGO — The approval of San Diego State University’s new Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender major in October set in motion a wave of similar decisions across the state, causing concern among students, politicians and religious leaders. SDSU became the second university in the United States to offer an LGBT studies major Oct. 7, and students will begin entering the program in the spring semester. Hobart and William Smith College in Geneva, N.Y., was the first college to offer the major more than a decade ago. A few weeks following SDSU’s announcement, City College of San Francisco and Napa Valley Community College both announced that they had their own LGBT studies programs in the works. City College, which will also begin offering the associates degree program in spring, is in the process of negotiating a transfer agreement with SDSU for students to complete bachelor’s degree requirements at the school. Critics of the program deride the timing of the new major. “I question the decisions to expand programs and departments at a time when our education system is dealing with cutbacks,” Assemblyman Martin Garrick, R-Carlsbad, said in a written statement to the Union Tribune. “Thousands of students are (already) struggling to get the classes they need to fulfill the requirements for their degrees, and our focus should be on retaining programs and classes that

prepare students for the workforce.” But Esther Rothblum, a professor in the SDSU Women’s Studies department and the current adviser for the new major, disagrees. “Garrick should be thrilled since this new major costs nothing!” Rothblum said via email. “All (of) the courses already exist. Had we started a major in, say, Eastern European languages, that would have cost several million dollars.” Costs nothing? Rachel Rodriguez-Mournian, a department secretary at nearby Point Loma Nazarene University, said the process it takes to even get a class approved at the university level, much less a major, is lengthy. Paperwork, budget approvals, and matriculation requirements with other schools are just a few of the things that have to fall into a place before a new major can be added to a department’s offerings. Samantha Minnor, a senior marketing major at SDSU, is currently taking a women’s sexuality class as part of requirements for her major. The class is one of the courses offered within the new LGBT major. “As a student, I don’t see the relevance of (LGBT studies),” she said. There’s no such thing as heterosexual studies. Our tuition keeps getting hiked up so much, and I feel like the money could be put to better use instead of just trying to gain attention as a school that promotes tolerance and are trendsetters.” Along with questions about the economic wisdom of a new major, Minnor is also concerned about

violations of religious liberties. Minnor says both she and other Christian students are facing growing discrimination at public schools like SDSU, especially in places like her sexuality class where Christian views are the minority. “At the beginning of class, our professor said all opinions were welcome, but as soon as I expressed (mine) I ended up getting into a 10-minute argument in front of the whole class which left me very flustered,” Minnor said. “I really just feel like they’re forcing an agenda on me.” It’s a concern Peter Sprigg, a senior fellow for policy studies at the Family Research Council, shares. “I’m afraid the curriculum content would be one-sided, that they wouldn’t honestly study the negative mental and physical health risks of those lifestyles,” he said. “Instead, the studies would be about celebrating those lifestyles.” Rothblum countered the religious concerns by pointing out that two Religious Studies professors, including the department chair, teach classes in the new major. Dismantling God’s design Jim Garlow, Minnor’s pastor at Skyline Church in La Mesa, questions the religious perspective portrayed. “On a global scale, God establishes ... the three distinct roles that gender specificity, marriage and procreation fulfill,” Garlow said. “Radical secularists and their attempts to change these roles have begun to try and undo these roles one at a time in the opposite direction.”

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December 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ CHRISTIAN EXAMINER â&#x20AC;˘ 7

The future of American evangelicalism

Beliefs and doctrines may stay the same but demographics will change By Scott Noble This is Part 3 in our three-part series on â&#x20AC;&#x153;The changing face of evangelicalism.â&#x20AC;? As with any time-tested movement, the notion to change based on current challenges is always prevalent. However, a successful movement manages change well, thus ensuring that its core beliefs and doctrines are not sacrificed on the mantle of â&#x20AC;&#x153;the newest thing.â&#x20AC;? For a movement like American evangelicalism, which has a long and storied history, established and essential doctrines will form the basis for any change or temptation to change in future generations. The nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s roughly 100 million evangelicalsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;or approximately one-third of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s populationâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;is not immune, however, from the challenges of postmodernism and secular society. Advances in science and anthropology for years have caused many to question some of the significant truth claims of evangelical Christianity. Also, as American society continues to become less biblically literate, other belief systemsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;including no religion at allâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;will gain acceptance and attempt to make claims that challenge Christianity. Finally, younger generations are nearly always tempted to alter the beliefs or prevailing positions of previous generations in an attempt to become more relevant to a changing culture. In light of these challenges, however, a unified commitment to core doctrines may help any movement avoid significantly altering what it believes. Leith Anderson, who is the president of the National Association of Evangelicals and also the senior pastor of Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie, Minn., believes the core doctrines of what makes an evangelical are durable, able to stand the test of time. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To be an evangelical is to take the Bible seriously and to accept Jesus Christ as personal Savior,â&#x20AC;? Anderson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think that will change. If it did change, then people wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be evangelicals anymore. Because thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what an evangelical is. In terms of central, historic orthodox Christian beliefs, they are highly durable. While there may be periodic deviations and distractions, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t foresee that in a generation they are going to be any different than they are now.â&#x20AC;? One of evangelicalismâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s significant components is its commitment to propositional truth, claims that are made based on objective criteria. As many in American society have moved away from propositional truth, Anderson believes that evangelicals will continue to place strong emphasis on these claims. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Propositional truthâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;to meâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;is at the epicenter and core of what evangelicalism is,â&#x20AC;? Anderson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Again, there canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be an abandonment of propositional truth. However, evangelicals have always been experiential, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not dry orthodoxy; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how we actually live.â&#x20AC;? Previous generations of evangelicals have placed more emphases on various experiential things. However, those emphases did not distract the overall movement from its commitment to the basic truth claims of Christianity.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the 1960s, there was a very heavy emphasis on different theories of eschatology,â&#x20AC;? Anderson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the 1970s, there was a strong emphasis on spiritual gifts. Sometimes that is [an] enhancement of the understanding of biblical truths, and sometimes thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a peripheral controversy that comes with it. I think those types of things will happen. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not debate over the Trinity, the deity of Jesus Christ, the substitutionary atonement. The central doctrines of Christian faith I foresee as holding strong even though there may be disagreement over propositions of secondary matters.â&#x20AC;? Younger generations As with all movements, younger generations of adherents play a significant role in its success and whether or not the same commitments will be retained. While itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s difficult to ascertain reliable statistics on what younger evangelicals believe and how they view their role in the future of evangelicalism, some leaders are encouraged by younger believers and their commitment to the faith and to demonstrating Jesus to unbelievers. Anderson sees much to be excited about with younger evangelicals. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In terms of our younger generation, I am more than encouraged; Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m enthused,â&#x20AC;? Anderson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have a younger generation who are zealous in their Christian faith, who believe in evangelism, who are engaging social issues with hands-on compassion for the poor and the needy.â&#x20AC;? Anderson has the unique opportunity as president of a national organization and as a pastor of a church to see first-hand younger generations of believers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As a pastor of a church, I can just tell you that the growing edge of excitement and engagement is in teenagers and young adults,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Honestly, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never seen anything like it in my life before. And I hear similar reports from all over the country. Occasionally, you hear naysayers who think that we have a generation of young adults who are abandoning the faith. And while that may be true for some, for those that are engaged their numbers are growing and the promise is great.â&#x20AC;? Politics While some may be encouraged by younger evangelicals and their commitment to the faith, many are concerned with what they see as a drifting away from some of the conservative political commitments that have defined the last 40 years. Throughout evangelicalismâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history in the U.S., many in the movement have been involved to some degree with political issues and elections. The last 40 years, however, beginning in the early 1970s, was a pivotal and defining time for evangelicals and their seeming reemergence into politics after a several decade retreat. The Scopes trial in the mid-1920s caused many conservative Christians to seek shelter in a Christian subculture, and it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t until the early 1970s that many began to emerge from this subculture and re-engage mainstream society. Anderson sees future generations of evangelicals being engaged in societyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most important issues. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Evangelicals have always been involved to an important extent in social issues,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was abolitionists in the 19th century, it was prohibitionists who were often

evangelicals in the early part of the 20th century. I would expect that engagement in whatever are the most important contemporary issues will continueâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;like abortion, I think evangelicals will stay engaged as pro-lifers.â&#x20AC;? However, Anderson is unsure if evangelicals will be committed to a specific political party or candidate. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To the extent that evangelicals will stay involved with one political party or with certain candidates, I think that thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s uncertain at this point,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And there will be rise and fall of enthusiasm and sometimes because of triumphalism and other times because of disappointment.â&#x20AC;? Diversity As the nation becomes more ethnically diverse, many believe evangelicals will continue to become more representative of the U.S. One of the ways evangelicalism

is becoming more diverseâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;ethnically and perhaps doctrinally as wellâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;is through immigration. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The growing edge of evangelicalism is among immigrants,â&#x20AC;? Anderson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The U.S., unlike European countries, is experiencing most immigration coming from countries where Christianity is booming. So the revivals and the expansion of evangelicalismâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; particularly Pentecostalism in Latin America, Africa and Asiaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; is being brought by immigrants to our shores. It is quite a conservative expression of evangelicalism. So I said thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s our growing edge, so thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the future.â&#x20AC;? As each generation ages and passes on the baton of faith to those who are younger, there is always a possibility that the faith may look different down the road. The evangelicalism of today looks quite different than the evangelicalism of the 1840s or the 1930s. One of the hallmarks of the

movement, however, is its ability to adapt to new and various cultural conditions and challenges while remaining committed to its essential doctrines and beliefs. While leaders can surmise the challenges evangelicals will face in 2020 or 2040, no one knows for sure if those challenges will actually develop. The peace of mind that comes from daily living out and passing on the ancient faith to younger generations may serve as the best assurance that tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s evangelical movement will be even more dynamic than todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

Part one in â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Changing Face of Evangelicalismâ&#x20AC;? series, â&#x20AC;&#x153;How politics and cultural engagement have shaped the Evangelical movement,â&#x20AC;? has been archived at www.minnesota. christianexaminer.com under August 2011. Part two, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Why do some leave the movement?â&#x20AC;? has been archived under September 2011.

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8 â&#x20AC;˘ CHRISTIAN EXAMINER â&#x20AC;˘ December 2011 IE

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THRU DEC 30

DEC 4 â&#x20AC;˘ SUNDAY

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a Wonderful Life.â&#x20AC;? Fri 7:30pm; Sat 2:15pm & 7:30pm; Sun 2:15pm, LifeHouse Theater, 1135 N Church St., Redlands, $7-18 â&#x20AC;˘ lifehousetheater.com

Celebrate Messiah, Christmas concert with Community Choir & Orchestra. 4pm, Temecula United Methodist Church, 42690 Margarita Rd., Temecula â&#x20AC;˘ (951) 667-5388

DEC 2 â&#x20AC;˘ FRIDAY

DEC 7 â&#x20AC;˘ WEDNESDAY

Worship Him Fest, Family Christmas, with Deliverus Ensemble. 7pm, Covina United Methodist Church, 437 W San Bernardino Rd., Covina, free â&#x20AC;˘ hymnfest. ocom, (626) 331-3193

Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Connection, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Christmas treasuresâ&#x20AC;? luncheon. 11am-12:30pm, Calimesa Country Club, 1300 S Third St., Calimesa, $12 â&#x20AC;˘ (951) 845-8082, (909) 795-2796

DEC 2-4 â&#x20AC;˘ FRI-SUN

DEC 8-11 â&#x20AC;˘ THU-SUN

Rialto Family Christmas Event, with Carmen Palmer & Bob Fraley. Fri 7pm & Sat-Sun 12pm, Playhouse, 150 E San Bernardino Ave., Rialto â&#x20AC;˘ (909) 873-8514

The Living Christmas Tree. Magnolia Avenue Baptist Church, 8351 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside â&#x20AC;˘ magonline.com, (951) 689-5700

DEC 3 â&#x20AC;˘ SATURDAY Christmas Rotational Dinner Dance. (details to follow) â&#x20AC;˘ christiansinglesfunevents.com, (714) 622-4002

DEC 9 â&#x20AC;˘ FRIDAY Worship Him Fest, Family Christmas, with Deliverus Ensemble. 7pm, First Mennonite Church, 379 N Campus Ave., Upland, free â&#x20AC;˘ hymnfest.ocom, (626) 331-3193

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DEC 9-11 â&#x20AC;˘ FRI-SUN

DEC 15 â&#x20AC;˘ THURSDAY

DEC 31 â&#x20AC;˘ SATURDAY

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Little Shop Around the Corner.â&#x20AC;? Fri-Sat 7pm; Sun 2pm, Heartland Players Theatre, 33993 Avenue E, Yucaipa, $8-10 â&#x20AC;˘ heartlandplayers.org, (909) 556-4092

Temecula Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Connection Luncheon & Bazaar. 11:30am, Wilson Creek Winery Ballroom, Temecula, $20 â&#x20AC;˘ (951) 515-4778

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Meet the Taylors,â&#x20AC;? Christmas drama by Know Him Productions, 7pm, Redlands Adventist Academy, 130 Tennessee St., Redlands â&#x20AC;˘ (909) 793-6337, knowhimproductions.com

DEC 15-17 â&#x20AC;˘ THU-SAT

Upper Room cof fee house, New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve Celebration, with The Darrell Mansfield Band, Brian Gentry & Robert G. Lee. 7:30pm, Venue TBA â&#x20AC;˘ theupperroompresents. com, 1-888-679-8228

DEC 10 â&#x20AC;˘ SATURDAY A Night in Bethlehem Musical & Marketplace. 5-8pm, CrossPoint Church, 6950 Edison Ave., Chino, free â&#x20AC;˘ (909) 606-9833

DEC 11 â&#x20AC;˘ SUNDAY 2nd Annual Christmas Car Show. 124pm, Hesperia First Assembly, 11616 Hesperia Rd., Hesperia, $10-15. To benefit Kids Crew & Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ministries â&#x20AC;˘ (760) 949-7867 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Messiahâ&#x20AC;? from Handel performed by Cal Baptist University Choral Union. 6pm, CrossPoint Church, 6950 Edison/Euclid Ave., Chino â&#x20AC;˘ (909) 606-9833 Worship Him Fest, Family Christmas, with Deliverus Ensemble. 6pm, Crosslight Family Ministries, 9720 Wilson Ave., Alta Loma, free â&#x20AC;˘ hymnfest.ocom, (626) 331-3193

Christmas with Michael W. Smith and the Pacific Symphony. 8pm, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Renee & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa, $30 â&#x20AC;˘ pacificsymphony.org, (714) 755-5799

Christian Singles: Giant New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve Dance Party. Cal State Fullerton, Titan Student Building â&#x20AC;˘ christiansinglesfunevents.com. (714) 622-4002

DEC 16-17 â&#x20AC;˘ FRI-SAT Annual Living Nativity, walk or drive thru. 6-8pm, New Song Calvary Chapel, 31507 Machado St., Lake Elsinore â&#x20AC;˘ (951) 245-5664 â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Music of Christmas,â&#x20AC;? with the California Baptist University Choir & orchestra. Fri 6pm & 8pm; Sat 4pm, Calimesa SDA Church, 4th & Myrtlewood, Calimesa, $10-12 â&#x20AC;˘ (909) 795-4960

DEC 16-18 â&#x20AC;˘ FRI-SUN â&#x20AC;&#x153;Little Shop Around the Corner.â&#x20AC;? Fri-Sat 7pm; Sun 2pm, Heartland Players Theatre, 33993 Avenue E, Yucaipa, $8-10 â&#x20AC;˘ heartlandplayers.org, (909) 556-4092

DEC 17 â&#x20AC;˘ SATURDAY Big Gospel Musical, with CJC Gospel Singers, The Kelly Sisters, Ron Burns & more. 5pm, Greater New Foundation Fellowship Church, Pomona â&#x20AC;˘ (951) 675-0655 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mary & Joe,â&#x20AC;? Christmas play. 5pm, Trinity Baptist Church, 29175 Ironwood Ave., Moreno Valley â&#x20AC;˘ (951) 601-0253

So Cal Christian Singles: New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve Masquerade Bash. elaborate Dance Studio , 551 N Azusa Ave., West Covina â&#x20AC;˘ (951) 440-4201, newyearseve2012. eventbrite.com

JAN 4 â&#x20AC;˘ WEDNESDAY Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Connection, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Winter Wonderlandâ&#x20AC;? luncheon. 11am-12:30pm, Calimesa Country Club, 1300 S Third St., Calimesa, $12 â&#x20AC;˘ (951) 845-8082, (909) 795-2796

JAN 14 â&#x20AC;˘ SATURDAY 2nd Annual Men of Valor Awards. 5pm, AGAPE Family Life Center Church, 8429 White Oak Ave., Rancho Cucamonga, $15 â&#x20AC;˘ (909) 215-8910

JAN 21 â&#x20AC;˘ SATURDAY Mark Lowryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Unplugged and Unplannedâ&#x20AC;? tour, music and comedy, 6pm, Calvary Church, 1010 N. Tustin Ave., Santa Ana. $12-$25 â&#x20AC;˘ 1-800-9659324, iTickets.com

FEB 25 â&#x20AC;˘ SATURDAY

Christmas with Kirk Franklin Gospel Concert. 7:30pm, Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, $27-47 â&#x20AC;˘ (909) 477-1843, breadyproductions.com

Educator Job Fair. Stoneybrooke Christian Schools, San Juan Capistrano. Hosted by Network of International Christian Schools â&#x20AC;˘ nics.org

DEC 27-30 â&#x20AC;˘ TUE-FRI

MAY 25-27 â&#x20AC;˘ FRI-SUN

San Diego Christian Film Festival. The La Jolla Marriott â&#x20AC;˘ sdcff2011.com

Spirit West Coast, San Diego. Del Mar Fairgrounds â&#x20AC;˘ spiritwestcoast.org

DEC 23 â&#x20AC;˘ FRIDAY

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December 2011 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • 9

ADONAI… Continued from page 1

‘A Night in Bethlehem’ includes music, market CHINO — Crosspoint Church will host “A Night in Bethlehem Musical and Marketplace” from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 10. The free event is designed to recreate the night when Jesus was born and, in addition to the music, will include live demonstrations, crafts, food, live animals and a live nativity. Two nights later, at 6 p.m. Dec. 12, the church will also host the California Baptist University Choral Union and its 300 voices and 40 musicians. They will perform “Hodie,” a Christmas cantata by Vaughan Williams, under the direction of Dr. Judd Bonner. There is no admission fee for the concert, but a free-will offering will be taken. The church is located at 6950 Edison Ave. For more information, call (909) 606-9833.

Christmas at the Taylors REDLANDS — Know Him Productions will present the Christmas drama “Meet the Taylors” at 7 p.m. Dec. 9, 10 and 11 at Redlands Adventist Academy. The production follows a day in the life of the Taylors as they cope with the stresses of the holiday season. Know Him Productions is a ministry of Redlands Seventhday Adventist church. The academy is located at 130 Tennessee St. For more information visit knowhimproductions.com or call (909) 793-6337.

Churches offer new college program HEMET — Redeemer Legacy Institute, a cooperative effort between Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and Redeemer Lutheran Church in Nuevo, is offering a new Christian college program. “So many pastors send their kids off to college as Christians and soon the influence of a secular university overwhelms them,” said Prince of Peace founding pastor Trent Thompson. “We believe that higher education in the context of a Christian community is essential.” According to administrators, the program will offer a fully accredited bachelor’s degree, along with high accountability Christian living and apprenticeships in local Christian congregations. Those enrolling in the institute will receive a fully accredited degree through Thomas Edison State College of Trenton, N.J. They receive college credits in the first phase of their education by studying for and passing the College Level Equivalency Program tests and others. The last quar-

ter of their education is through more “traditional” education by distance through Thomas Edison State College. The institute is also working on providing classes in Biblical studies by extension through other accredited Christian colleges. Redeemer Legacy is located on the campus of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 701 N. Sanderson Ave. in Hemet. For more information, visit www.redeemerlegacy.org or call (951) 925-6121.

Christmas with Michael W. Smith COSTA MESA — The Pacific Symphony will host a “Michael W. Smith Christmas” in performances at 8 p.m. Dec. 15 to 17 at the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Smith, a three-time Grammy Award-winning singer who has sold more than 13 million albums, will join the Pacific Symphony to share his hits — “Friends” and “Go West, Young Man” — as well as music from his popular Christmas albums. The show will include conductor Richard Kaufman, the L’Angelus family band and narration by John McCook. Tickets start at $30. The concert is part of the Orange County Pacific Symphony’s pop series. The concert hall is located at 615 Town Center Drive. For more information, visit www.pacificsymphony.com or call (714) 755-5799.

Foundation reaches milestone in grants IRVINE — The National Christian Foundation, which has an affiliate office in Southern California, has distributed $3 billion in grants since its 1982 founding. Foundation executives said the milestone shows that the charity, including the National Christian Foundation of Southern California in Irvine, has gained significant momentum in recent years as they granted $12 million in their first decade, $425 million in the second, and more than $2.5 billion over the past 10 years. In October, the group was also named the 19th largest charity in America last month by The Chronicle of Philanthropy. “We’re grateful to be able to offer givers a foundation which helps simplify giving and multiply the impact,” said NCF National President David Wills. “This is just the latest milestone in the modern-day Christian generosity movement, and we’re excited to play a part in this historic time of giving.” CityTeam Ministries, a Christian nonprofit headquartered in San Jose, received a $300,000 grant to eclipse the record milestone.

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“God had to show me that people want to help,” she said. “This was a huge eye-opener. I was shocked. 35 people showed up at my house with groceries and toys.” Now Loma Linda University Medical Center, Kaiser, City of Hope and Children’s Hospital of Orange County all refer families, Brown said. Sometimes a parent gets diagnosed with the disease and their family needs help, too. Adonai offers support throughout the process, which typically lasts five years. The gift of community Each December, Adonai hosts the “Big Wrap” where about 300 volunteers put together gifts and food boxes for approximately 100 families. Afterward, the volunteers take a family’s “Christmas” with them to deliver. About half the volunteers aren’t even Christians, Brown said. But they’re willing to pray according to Mark’s instructions. One woman, a Buddhist, stood on the lawn of the family about to receive her delivery where she prayed for them in Jesus’ name. Not having to worry about putting together Christmas is a tremendous gift, but families don’t usually understand how many others struggle with similar circumstances “until they come to an event,” Brown said. “Then they realize they are not alone.” Recently a desperate mom asked for advice because she didn’t know what to do. “Her husband had left,” Brown said. “She had four little kids under 8 years old, one with cancer.” Brown said she forwarded the woman’s email to Adonai families because they could say, “this is what happened to me and this is what I did.” Cultivating that type of community helps them bear each other’s burdens. The trend of dads leaving during a cancer crisis frustrates Brown. Sometimes she said she will even lecture parents who aren’t getting along. “It’s not about you right now,” she tells them. “You have a sick child and that child has to come first.” A time to dance Giving the entire family support often helps couples stay together. Brown said that last year’s, “Let’s Sail Away,” prom and dinner dance gave the whole family a much-needed break. Prom dresses were collected so cancer girls, their moms, grandmas and sisters could choose “a beautiful dress for our special night.” Teams of volunteers styled hair, painted fingernails and did make-up. That night photographers captured the memorable event with family portraits. One 28-year-old dad with stage 4 testicular cancer brought his wife and two little girls, aged 6 and 3. “This was his first Adonai event,”

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A volunteer hugs her own child as they wrap Christmas gifts for Adonai families.

Brown said. He expressed his gratitude saying, “’I danced with my girls and with my wife.’” Brown said the parties let the entire family escape for a little while. One year she sent out a survey—asking families “if they could choose one thing for Adonai to do, what would that be?” The response was “parties.” Maya Bacon, whose teen-aged son Kyle died of a brain tumor, said the parties offer more than just a temporary break. “Our mantle has all of the pictures from the parties and the Halloween party was such a blessing because it really cheered Kyle up,” she said. “I have those great

pictures of him smiling and I know he’s happy. So thank you for giving me those memories I will always treasure.” Unfortunately, Adonai had to cancel this year’s Halloween party due to a lack of funds. And, there’s only enough funds to reach out to 75 families this Christmas. But, Brown said, there’s always hope that next year, they’ll be able to encourage more families struggling with cancer. And she still dreams. She’s praying for a place where Adonai can store food donations and host their events. To donate or get more information, see www.adonaifamilies.org or call (909) 948-3438.

10 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • December 2011 IE

Author wants to help readers gain a transformed prayer life Review by Scott Noble “Transforming Prayer: How Everything Changes When You Seek God’s Face” By Daniel Henderson Bethany House Publishers, Minneapolis, Minnesota, © 2011, 236 pages, $13.99 Most Christians would eagerly embrace the idea of deepening their prayer life in order to experience more of who God is and what He has planned for our lives. The problem, however, is exactly how to accomplish that. Do we spend more time in prayer, pray in a new or different manner or speak less and thus open up spaces for God to communicate with us? The answer to all of those questions—to some degree—is yes. Daniel Henderson, however, who has spent many years in ministry, including prayer-focused efforts, believes that our prayer lives can be transformed by approaching God in a more worshipminded manner. He lays out this approach in “Transforming Prayer: How Everything Changes When You Seek God’s Face.” Henderson is president of Strategic Renewal, an organization that helps churches and individuals renew their passion for Jesus Christ. In addition, Henderson teaches part-time at Liberty University and is pastor of prayer and renewal at Thomas Road Baptist Church in Virginia. For more than two decades, he pastored churches in Washington, California, and Minnesota. Henderson now describes his passion as a “spiritual pyromaniac, traveling to churches and conferences, demonstrating the power of seeking God’s face and leading prayer experiences that establish a fresh, life-transforming approach to prayer.” In our fast-paced society, many Christians cite lack of time for prayer or an unprepared heart, as our minds race to the next thing we have to accomplish on our to-do list. Many times prayer becomes an afterthought, something uttered as we walk out the door or

spoken during times of crises. Henderson writes: “Sadly, too many times we engage in prayer with little thought for the reality that we are in the presence of the Almighty and that we are invited, even commanded, to seek His face.” Yet instead of seeking His face, Henderson wonders if we concentrate too much on composing and uttering our prayer lists. He sees “little evidence” in Scripture for prayer lists that focus nearly exclusively on temporal concerns. He writes: “I am not suggesting that everyone stop using prayer lists. But we must recognize the possibility that our prayer lists are replacing the Scriptures and the Spirit as the primary content providers for our prayer times.” With that in mind, Henderson gets to the heart of “Transforming Prayer”: encouraging believers to respond to the invitation to spend devoted time with the Creator of the universe in a worship-minded manner—and then see our lives transformed. Henderson encourages believers to adopt worship-based prayer by being committed to starting our prayers from the Bible, praying with the Scriptures open and keeping our focus on (abiding in) Christ. The last half of the book forms the foundation for what Henderson believes is worship-based prayer, including tips and ideas for adopting this approach—both for individuals and for groups. It’s a very thorough effort at laying out his vision for worship-based prayer, and every reader will find something challenging and helpful in these chapters. “Transforming Prayer” also includes five appendixes, which offer additional help and information on the idea of transforming your prayer life. The appendixes are filled with examples from the Old and New Testament and attempt to buttress Henderson’s points. “Transforming Prayer” can be purchased at www.strategicrenewal. com/books.

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CMA physicians warn transplant policy is a threat to patients WASHINGTON — The 16,000-member Christian Medical Association urged a “no” vote Nov. 14 on proposed changes in the ethical standards the government endorses to guide organ transplants, contending that the changes would weaken ethical boundaries and could endanger patients, open the door to abusive practices by healthcare facilities and force conscientious professionals out of medicine. CMA CEO Dr. David Stevens conveyed the warning in a letter sent to John R. Lake M.D., president of the board of directors of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network in Richmond, Va. The procurement board is considering the mandatory policy change to guide procedures in securing organs from patients immediately after death—the very definition of which has engendered controversy. “CMA is concerned that relaxing the definition of death would considerably increase the risk that procedures to remove vital organs would be performed on some patients lacking unambiguous signs that death has occurred,” the letter read. The CMA said the new rules would subject grieving families to undue pressure. “Gone is the crucial wall separating patient care from donation solicitations,” the letter read. “Such undue influence on difficult decisions at a heart-wrenching time is ethically unacceptable.”

Congressmen encourage colleagues to pray for president WASHINGTON (WNS) — Three congressmen—Reps. Dan Boren, D-Okla., Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., and James Lankford, R-Okla.— have distributed a book on presidential prayer to all 435 members of the House of Representatives. Given in November, “Obama Prayer: Prayer for the 44th President,” is written by Charles Garriott, who ministers to those in the federal government through Mission to North America, an arm of the Presbyterian Church in America. The congressmen included a letter with each book, where they wrote, “All of us who have served our nation as members of the House understand the place and significance of prayer. Over the years we have prayed for presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush Sr. and Jr.” They added that the book is “a means of encouraging specific and thoughtful prayer for President Barack Obama.” The gift came several months after Obama mentioned at the National Prayer Breakfast that his

friend Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., prays for him. “It’s comforting to know people are praying for you who don’t always agree with you,” he said. “Even though we are on opposite sides of a whole bunch of issues, part of what has bound us together is a shared faith, a recognition that we pray to and serve the same God.”

‘Courageous’ passes $30M, nears ‘Fireproof’ ALBANY, Ga. (BP) — The church-made film “Courageous” passed the $30 million mark the first week in November and finished No. 12 among all movies in its seventh weekend. The movie’s $1,012,220 placed it just behind “Moneyball” for weekend total gross, and its loss of 34 percent was smaller than all but one movie above it. It has made a total of $31.5 million, which trails the $33.4 million that “Fireproof” made in 2008. Courageous was released Sept. 30. Fireproof also was released in late September in 2008 and wasn’t pulled completely from all theaters until the following January. If Courageous is in theaters that long, it should easily pass Fireproof. Both movies were made by Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga. The movie follows the story of five men—four of them police officers—as they seek to become better fathers.

Bless Friday outreach to serve community on Black Friday HOUSTON — Houston and Galveston area churches and Christian organizations were scheduled to provide an alternative to the frenzied day-afterThanksgiving shopping spree. The eight mainline churches scheduled community service projects on Nov. 25 as part of their Bless Friday alternative to Black Friday. “I am excited that Bless Friday expanded in its second year,” said Chuck Fox, founder of the project. “People get our message that when we focus too much on buying things, we lose sight of the real reason for Christmas—remembering and honoring Christ. We want to begin our Christmas celebration by serving others just as Jesus did.” Planned projects include painting a hurricane-damaged home, clothing and food distribution, tending to a community garden and various other outreaches including Clean Galveston Day. For more information, visit www.BlessFriday.org.

Supreme Court allows ruling against memorial crosses to stand WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to

review a case concerning the constitutionality of roadside memorial crosses honoring fallen Utah state troopers. A federal district court upheld the constitutionality of the crosses in 2007, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit later struck them down. The high court announced Oct. 31 that it decided to let the decision stand. “One atheist group’s agenda shouldn’t diminish the sacrifice made by highway patrol officers and their families,” said Alliance Defense Fund Senior Counsel Byron Babione. “Thirteen heroic men fell, leaving their survivors to mourn and memorialize their loved ones, and now those widows, children, parents, colleagues, and many more must suffer through losing the very memorials that honored those heroes. Justice is not well served when unhappy atheists can use the law to mow down memorial crosses and renew the suffering for the survivors.” ADF officials vowed to continue the fight for such memorials. “In the end, justice must prevail,” he said.

Bush Institute gifted hand-copied Chinese Bible DALLAS — The George W. Bush Institute was presented Nov. 1 with a portion of the Bible hand-copied in Chinese by house church Christians imprisoned in a labor camp in northwest China. The gift was made by ChinaAid as a token of appreciation for Bush’s “dedication to the advancement of religious freedom in China” and his “tireless efforts as an advocate for those Chinese ‘in bondage.’” ChinaAid president and founder Xiqiu “Bob” Fu personally presented the hand-written Bible text to former President George W. Bush at a mid-day ceremony. The Chinese Bible will be added to The Bush Institute’s Freedom Collection. According to Fu, the Bible was crafted a decade ago by hand after someone smuggled in one copy of the Bible and gave it to a group of Chinese house church Christians were sent to a labor camp after their 5 a.m. worship meeting was raided by authorities. The prisoners began to copy the Bible by hand, book by book. “These hand-copied Bibles were used by more than two dozen house church Christians in the labor camp for more than a year, sustaining the faith of these prisoners who read them in turn, book by book, in secret in the dark of night,” read a letter that accompanied the Bible. ”On the eve of the prisoners’ release, the text was smuggled out of the labor camp to prevent them from being confiscated when the prisoners left the camp.”

Employee case against JPL goes to court LOS ANGELES — A lawsuit alleging that NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab unlawfully discriminated against a former employee for discussing the scientific theory of Intelligent Design at work will move forward, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled Nov. 18. David Coppedge, a 14-year veteran of the lab and team lead computer administrator on the Cassini Mission to Saturn, was demoted for lending ID-related DVDs to coworkers, behavior that one lab complainant called “harassment” and another branded

“pushing religion.” After he filed suit to vindicate his free expression rights, Coppedge’s employer terminated him. In his ruling, the judge found there “are triable issues of fact as to whether plaintiff’s demotion, written warning, negative performance evaluations, and ultimate termination were adverse employment actions” which involved discrimination. His attorneys maintain that evidence shows that officials demoted and terminated Coppedge because he expressed a pro-ID scientific

viewpoint disliked by his employer and labeled “religion” by JPL decision-makers. “The court’s ruling allows a jury to vindicate David Coppedge’s rights,” said Joshua Youngkin, a legal affairs policy analyst with Seattle-based Discovery Institute. “California law forbids employers who view an employee’s expression as religion to punish or diminish the employee on that basis. “Although ID is not religion, it can’t be singled out by JPL or other employers in this way.”

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Uncontained Love Ministry links donors, impoverished towns to create preschools By Lori Arnold IRVINE — When it comes to international Christian ministry, Marius van der Colff specializes in thinking inside the box. That’s why nearly a decade ago he founded Cargo of Dreams, a ministry that meshes two passions he said God placed firmly on his heart—filling a void of preschool facilities in the mostly impoverished black townships in his native South Africa, and offering practical international outreach opportunities that Americans can do without leaving the country. “Using the containers is really a way to give people a hands-on way to get involved, said van der Colff, who founded the ministry in 2002. Through its ministry model, Cargo of Dreams partners with existing organizations around the globe that are seeking preschool classrooms. Cargo of Dreams fulfills those requests by finding donor organizations who are willing to purchase shipping containers and then convert them into a portable classroom. Before they are shipped, local volunteers paint colorful murals on the exteriors and pack the insides with school supplies, furnishings and other items for the recipient school. Recent container adoptees include Stoneybrooke Christian Schools in San Clemente and Ladera Ranch and Glenkirk Church in Glendora. Although the focus of Cargo of Dreams is South Africa, other ministries worldwide have participated. The Stoneybrooke container, completed this fall, should be shipped to Nepal in the coming days. Through the program, donors purchase the containers for about $5,000. Other associated costs, including shipping, brings the total investment to about $10,000. Van der Colff said the sponsoring groups generally use a dualprong approach with the project, with one focusing on the physical aspects of preparing the container for a classroom, while another team concentrates on using their talents to create fundraising opportunities to underwrite the costs.

Above: A principal praises God after receiving a new container of school supplies from Irvine-based Cargos of Dreams. Right: Volunteers paint the outside of a cargo container that will be packed with supplies and then shipped to South Africa where it will be used as a preschool.

“We tell them to focus on the gifts and talents first, and the money will come after that,” he said. “You can do whatever you like to do. What has God gifted you to do?” Many times, he said, crafters will sell their wares, allocating proceeds to their Cargo of Dreams project. Others will use their craftiness to create decorations for the classroom. One woman, a scrap booker, chronicled the entire process and sent the memory journals along in the containers for its future students to appreciate. Families have also joined forces with dads and sons using hammers, while the girls and women offer their own touches. Van der Colff likened the process to the folk story of the stone soup, where area villagers each donate one ingredient to make a hearty pot. “It’s really great to see people use their gifts and talents in a proactive

and hands-on way,” he said. “If everyone does that we would change the world in phenomenal ways.” Community benefits Since the first container was shipped in 2007, nine new facilities have been sent. Once the containers arrive, the local min-

istry handles the myriad details required to get the preschool operational. “It’s not a handout because there is still a lot of work they have to do once the containers arrive,” van der Colff said. “There is grading, adding brick walls, enclosing the structure, whatever

they choose to do.” By working with existing ministries in the impoverished communities, van der Colff said Cargo of Dreams is able to maintain its key focus on the containers and the hands-on work emphasis. “We are working with people who have existing ministries and relationships,” he said. “We never go into a country and start something new. We go where God already has people in place. We simply need to find them, support them and shake hands with them. We let the reins go and let them do it however they want to.” Because the communities are so impoverished, the schools often also become hubs for a variety of neighborhood events, similar to an American recreational or community center. To help simplify the process on the other end, the executive director said they spent much of the early days of the ministry finalizing blueprints and manuals. They had to work through various issues involving metric conversions, voltage requirements and export and import regulations. “We are really in our infant shoes on this,” he said. While they are toning up their ministry legs, God already appears to be moving. Van der Colff said there are no words to describe the feeling of watching the community as they receive their new school, though the children can be a little overwhelmed, especially when the heavy equipment arrives. “It’s a place where they traded their memories,” he said. “It usually takes the kids a day or two to wrap their arms around the new school.” As soon as it arrives, however, community volunteers, young and old, demolish decaying shanty structures, tin roofs and the sticks and pieces that hold it together. “That’s off the chart, a highlight of my life,” he said. “The containers are the cherry on the cake.” For more information, visit www. cargoofdreams.org.

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