WA • Dec 11

Northwest Edition Vol. 21, No. 12

December 2011

www.christianexaminer.com

Book reviews

Ministry

Penn State’s shame reflects immoral national norms

‘What if Jesus texted the Beatitudes?’

Learning disability overcome for successful missions career

page 4

page 8

page 11

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Cal Thomas

Better to Give Christmas gift alternatives provide blessings for the recipient — and the giver

By Lori Arnold

A

s the commercialization of Christmas continues to dwarf the spiritual aspects of the holiday, many Christian families are seeking ways to bring the giving spirit back to the holiday.

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.

Here is just a sampling of some of the alternative and unique programs available for online charitable giving that can make a difference in someone’s life.

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

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.

briefings, counseling sessions, Bible studies, weekly chapels and other spiritual services.

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.

See GIVING, page 6

Faith and volunteers undergird worldwide efforts of ministry

By Jennifer Ferrero SEATTLE — When disaster strikes, often one of the first responders and most prominent human health supporters is the American Red Cross. But Medical Teams International (MTI), a nonprofit, faith-based disaster and health services company out of Portland and Seattle, provides similar disaster response services and robust medical services both in the Northwest and around the world.

Oftentimes, like during the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, MTI will work alongside the Red Cross to provide immediate medical services to those in need.

However, its work goes beyond health-related disaster relief. Medical Teams International served about 2.1 million people in 72 countries in 2011. Its primary work includes setting up health clinics, supporting pregnant women and providing maternal care, educating about water safety and developing health care infrastructures in locations that have no health services in place.

MTI also ships medical supplies around the world, and this year provided “$126 million in medicines and supplies to 66 countries,” according to its website.

Started in 1979 as Northwest Medical Teams by Oregon businessman Ron Post, the organization opened its Redmond satellite office in 1996 and has recently grown into a 21,000 square foot building called the “Medical Teams International Mike and Kathy Holmgren Center,” based upon the extensive volunteerism of the Holmgren family with the organization.

Jim Mhoon, MTI’s executive director for Washington state, said that its work is not only essential but God led.

“Our mission is to demonstrate the love of Christ,” he said. “There are people out there who are suffering who we help. To help those in need resonates with our spirit; it is an expression of our love for God. We draw others to Christ through this work.”

In 2011, 142 teams of volunteers from MTI went to 21 countries. It is not a requirement that volunteers are Christians, and they are

PHOTO COURTESY OF MEDICAL TEAMS INTERNATIONAL

An MTI volunteer helps local Guatemalans dig holes for latrines.

not required to sign a statement of faith; however, they are asked to acknowledge the mission statement: “Our mission is to demonstrate the love of Christ to people affected by disaster, conflict and poverty around the world. Our vision is to help build a faithbased global health movement to save lives and transform people through the power of Christ’s love.”

Janey Pinneo, a retired registered nurse who spent 30 years with Seattle Children’s Hospital, has been volunteering with MTI since 2005. She has gone on both disasterand non-disaster-related trips and often risks her life traveling to other countries to help with medical needs. She became involved with MTI after watching the television news on a tsunami in Indonesia in 2004.

She felt devastated by what was going on, and her husband, Jeff, encouraged her to go and help. She became familiar with MTI at that time and offered her services. She wasn’t immediately sent out in the field to a third See MEDICAL TEAMS, page 2

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2 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • December 2011 NW

MEDICAL TEAMS… Continued from page 1 world disaster though because she didn’t have specific disaster experience. Later, on a planned trip to El Salvador, she went with a medical team and has since been on six international trips.

Depending upon the need in the country, Janey Pinneo will dispense medicine, give shots, provide wound care and sometimes act as a practitioner in the role of a physician providing diagnoses and treatment to patients. The couple is passionate about MTI, and Jeff Pinneo serves on the board.

According to Mhoon, there are health needs around the world that are unique to each country. In Guatemala, he noted that there is some medical infrastructure in place.

MTI has assessed that the best assistance in that country is to educate on water treatment and safety.

Volunteers with MTI go to Guatemala to provide training and dig trenches. Teams of people do research and develop a needs assessment to determine where MTI should spend its time and money and where to send teams and medical supplies. Volunteers typically raise their own funds to travel to countries and offer skilled support.

“In Liberia, there is no infrastructure, so there is much more to do,” Mhoon said.

www.christianexaminer.com MTI will train midwives on how to recognize issues and bring in pregnant women for prenatal care.

In many locations, pregnant women will not seek medical attention and will give birth in their homes with untrained midwives.

Mhoon noted that in some situations, the mothers “can bleed to death,” and that maternal mortality rates are much greater because of lack of professional oversight on delivery.

“A lot of women are suffering from malaria, malnutrition, and then they become pregnant,” he said. “By establishing clinics, we can help them, but getting them to use it is the issue. It is completely different by country. When they can’t or won’t access it, we can’t help.”

But by partnering with local services and other international support agencies, Medical Teams International can provide an appropriate response and support where they are most needed.

Beyond serving in impoverished countries outside of the United States, MTI offers mobile dental clinics in Seattle, Portland and Minnesota. The organization partners with local agencies and churches to set up clinic dates and to bring in those in need.

The Northwest region of the Tribe of Judah through the Christian Faith Center in Federal Way is one of MTI’s partners. Randy and Louvina Dresser have participated with the group as volunteers with the dental ministry.

Randy Dresser said: “Many patients that come to us are in a lot of pain and sickness from infection with no hope of finding a way out.

Once they come in and see who we are and why we’re here, they see that it’s not about us, it’s about the love of Christ.”

In 2010, MTI had about 900 dental professionals serving 17,000 patients in the Northwest, with 11 traveling motor homes.

MTI received $146 million in contributions and grants in 2011.

Its annual report noted that 97 percent of its budget goes to programs and services. Charity Navigator, an online charity ranking organization has assessed MTI with a four star rating.

Beyond the numbers, though, MTI is a growing organization doing God’s work of providing much needed medical support around the world and in local communities.

For more information about Medical Teams International, visit www.medicalteams.org.

World Vision effort to promote childhood literacy

PHOTO COURTESY OF MEDICAL TEAMS INTERNATIONAL

Medical Teams International volunteers and locals aid the injured in Haiti after the devastating earthquake in 2010.

FEDERAL WAY — World Vision recently announced its partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) on a $20 million project to promote childhood literacy.

Groups and individuals are invited to submit their innovative literacy ideas to the All Children Reading Fund established by the groups.

“Teaching children to read in primary school translates to improved health and economic growth in developing countries,” said USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah, via a media release. “Through this partnership, we are helping to promote scalable, sustainable innovations that will advance literacy and reading for millions of children in low-income communities.”

In addition to the fund, the groups introduced the mEducation

Alliance and the Mobiles for Reading working group. The initiatives are designed to encourage the use of mobile devices and applications in improving early childhood reading performance.

“Our goal is to help children, especially girls, gain access to quality early childhood education and primary education by strengthening community involvement in education and fostering an enabling environment for learning,” said Kent Hill, senior vice president of International Programs at World Vision. “We believe that All Children Reading will help create sustainable development solutions that will promote literacy among millions of children worldwide.”

For more information about World Vision and its literacy initiatives, visit www.worldvision.org.

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December 2011 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • 3

Pastor moved from Hong Kong to Seattle to start church

By Gail Wood SEATTLE — At age 66, no one would have blamed John Ip if he had simply retired five years ago. But instead of retiring, Ip left the Assemblies of God church he pastored in Hong Kong for 40 years and moved to Seattle to open another church in 2006. “I felt God calling me to come here to help, to work among the Chinese people,� said Ip, now 71. “My wife and I prayed about it, and the Lord led us this way.�

In Hong Kong, Ip pastored a church with 2,000 attending on Sunday mornings. He was also the superintendent for that district for the Assemblies of God. Now he pastors a small, one story church in the Rainier Valley that has an attendance of 40 at Sunday morning services. “That’s counting the children,� said Ip, who received his ministerial training in the United States and speaks English fluently. “It’s not a very big church. But there’s still a lot of work to be done.�

Ip’s goal is to minister to the Chinese speaking people who have transplanted

from China to Seattle, which is a growing group. Ip and his church—the Seattle Chinese Assembly of God—are part of a trend where immigrants start a church, evangelizing their community.

Since the 1990s, the Assemblies of God has sponsored Northwest Missions, an outreach aimed at evangelizing foreign speaking communities. “John is a very interesting person,� said David Harrison, who works with Ip through Northwest Missions. “Instead of retiring, he came here to take this little Chinese church. He’s really an inspiration for all of us.�

The goal of Northwest Missions is church planting, leadership training and evangelism. Every year, many immigrants who have recently moved to the Seattle area return to their home to visit. Northwest Missions disciples them so they can evangelize their own people.

With the financial support of the Assemblies of God, Ip bought a church five years ago that had been a Buddhist temple. In addition to tearing out the shrines and idols, putting on a new roof and remodel-

ing the basement to provide more classrooms for Sunday school, Ip said there was also a matter of praying over the building, casting out evil spirits. “We still have a great spiritual battle,� Ip said. “In our area, there are six Buddhist temples. The Buddhist faith was a surprise for us when we came here.�

Not long after Ip moved into his new church, the Rev. Louis Salarno and his small Filipino congregation began meeting in the same building on Sunday afternoons. “The Filipino pastor is very energetic and really a visionary young man,� Harrison said.

Two months ago, Salarno moved his growing church again, moving into a bigger building.

Ip sees himself much like the missionaries who came from the U.S. to China 100 years ago to evangelize. Except the process has reversed as Ip has moved from China to the U.S., preaching to Chinese speaking people and praying for a community in need of God. “I am a missionary. Here in Se-

attle, we found the people are not very religious,� Ip said. “There is a great spiritual need here. Many are looking for material things. I find it amazing. Many don’t celebrate even Christmas or Thanksgiving.

It’s just a holiday to them.�

Ip’s Sunday morning sermons are in Cantonese, his native language. But for the occasional English speaking guest, they can listen to an English translation through an ear phone. Interpretation to Mandarin is also available. “Our main target is Chinese speaking people,� Ip said. “We try to influence the young people too.

And the English speaking people— if they want to come we will translate it to them.�

Churches like Ip’s have an impact on the entire community. “They’re all really into evangelizing their communities, not just their people,� Harrison said.

The challenges Ip and his congregation face aren’t just spiritual.

A recent roofing job cost $10,000 and refurbishing of the church basement cost $30,000.

“In the last five years since we have come here, we can see the hand of the Lord impressing us,� Ip said. “We enjoy our work. We know we are in the center of the will of the Lord.�

Ip’s unlikely journey from Hong Kong to Seattle began many years ago when he was a teenager and a friend invited him to a youth service at an Assemblies of God church. “I was born into a Christian family,� Ip said. “My background is the Church of England. Then some friends invited me to their church.�

Ip said he was saved at that service and began attending the English speaking Sunday school classes there. “Through the Assemblies of God,� Ip said, “I got the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and I had a call to serve God.�

Ip is still answering that calling today nearly 60 years later.

For more information about Seattle Chinese Assembly of God, visit www.chinesechurches.org/ seattle-usa/index.html.

Univ. of Puget Sound situation serves as model for Christian campus groups

By Leigh Jones World News Service Four Christian groups at Vanderbilt University soon could be kicked off campus as school administrators quietly adopt a policy that prohibits student organizations from holding members or leaders to any standard of belief or behavior.

Representatives from Beta Upsilon Chi, Graduate Christian Fellowship, Christian Legal Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes are negotiating with school officials in hopes of persuading them to reverse their decision. But Jim Lundgren, director of collegiate ministries for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, said they are preparing themselves for the likelihood of becoming “third-class citizens� at Vanderbilt: “We all see the handwriting on the wall.�

What’s happening at Vanderbilt is part of a national trend. Last year, only two InterVarsity chapters faced challenges from university administrators over the groups’ right to pick leaders—or remove them— based on their beliefs. This year, 15 chapters have run afoul of school nondiscrimination policies.

Faced with increasing opposition from school administrations, some Christian groups, including InterVarsity, are preparing for what they fear is an inevitable break with the official university system. Unless the U.S. Supreme Court intervenes, religious organizations could soon be relegated to the fringes of college life.

Two cases, one decided at the high court last year and one that could end up there next year, are redefining discrimination and religious liberty on campus. In CLS v.

Martinez, which involved a chapter of the Christian Legal Society at Hastings Law School, the justices upheld the school’s right to adopt an “all-comers� policy that forces student organizations to abandon all membership restrictions.

In ADX v. Reed, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the California State University system, which does not have an “all-comers policy,� could prohibit membership restrictions based only on certain criteria, including religious beliefs.

The Alliance Defense Fund, which also argued CLS v. Martinez, plans to ask the high court to consider the California case. Its decision will determine whether religious organizations can maintain their autonomy and their status as official school groups.

Groups reviewed Officials at Vanderbilt began reviewing the constitutions of all official student groups last year when members of Christian fraternity Beta Upsilon Chi removed one of the group’s leaders after he revealed he was gay and actively engaged in a sexual relationship. During the review, administrators found 11 groups with constitutions that violated the school’s nondiscrimination policy.

Only the four Christian groups remain in violation. They refuse to strike clauses in their constitutions that require leaders to agree to statements of faith or participate in specific activities, like Bible studies—setting up a showdown with administrators who say official groups can no longer restrict their membership. “In order to be a registered student organization—which means using the Vanderbilt name, having the op-

portunity to apply for funding from student activity fees and access to university resources—opportunities for membership and leadership must be accessible to all,� said Beth Fortune, vice chancellor for public affairs, in a written statement.

When asked whether the school had any other option for the Christian groups, as an alternative to revoking their official status, Fortune would only say that the administrators were still discussing that issue.

InterVarsity tried working with the administration to resolve their differences, but when efforts at private negotiations failed, the group appealed to alumni and friends of the school’s board of trustees.

Similar strategy A similar strategy of public pressure worked well for InterVarsity at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wash. School administrators reversed their decision to bar InterVarsity from campus after alumnae protested. In the Vanderbilt case, 23 congressmen have joined the campaign, sending a letter last month to Chancellor Nicholas Zeppos asking him not to discriminate against religious groups.

The Vanderbilt case has attracted the most media attention in recent months, but it’s just one of dozens of cases playing out on campuses all across the country, said David Cortman, senior counsel with the Alliance Defense Fund. Most adults, who only know what college life was like when they were in school, have no idea how prevalent discrimination against Christians on campus has become, he said. “The university is supposed to be the marketplace of ideas, but it ends up being the storefront of

censorship,� he said. “Rather than being wide open to all viewpoints, including some you may disagree with, [administrators] want you to agree with liberal orthodoxy just to maintain equal status on campus.�

Cortman was surprised by Vanderbilt’s decision to adopt what is essentially an “all-comers� policy since the Supreme Court decision in CLS v. Martinez does not apply to private schools. He does not believe public schools will follow Vanderbilt’s lead because an “allcomers� policy would be difficult to enforce equally on a campus with a variety of groups.

Schools would have to allow girls to join fraternities and carnivores to lead vegetarian clubs. But more schools could adopt the position held by the University of San Diego and the entire California State University system, which makes that case even more important for the court to hear, he said.

Although he hopes the ADF will prevail in ADX v. Reed, Lundgren is making contingency plans. In July, several InterVarsity staffers went to

an evangelical student conference in Poland. The Americans gathered information about ministry strategies from groups in countries that prohibit Christian organizations from meeting on college campuses. Lundgren distributed a report detailing their findings to all InterVarsity’s chapters.

He is praying the Supreme Court will ensure they never need to use it: “Our hope is that [the court] will hear the U.C. San Diego case and clarify things in a way that will make this work.�

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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. Š 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.

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. Š 2011 Tribune Media Services Inc.

What will be your legacy?

Publisher: Founding Publisher: Managing Editor: Advertising: Correspondents:

Selah Media Group Tami Tedrow ASSOCIATION OF CHRISTIAN Scott Noble NEWSPAPERS Cynthia Quam-Patterson Elizabeth GrifďŹ n, Gail Wood, EVANGELICAL Jennifer Ferrero PRESS ASSOCIATION Calendar/ClassiďŹ eds: Brittany Keener Distribution: Chris Linderman Copyright Š 2011 Selah Media Group The Christian Examiner, established in 1990 as the Northwest Christian Journal and later called the Northwest Christian Times, is an independent Christian newspaper published monthly by Selah Media Group with an audience of Evangelical Christians. It is available without charge at Christian bookstores, churches, and Christian businesses throughout the Puget Sound region from Tacoma in the south to Bellingham in the north. The press run is 22,000 monthly. Mail subscriptions are available for $19.95 per year.

The newspaper is part of the Christian Examiner newspaper group with four other regional editions published in Southern California and the Minnesota Christian Chronicle published in the Twin Cities. The six newspapers have a combined monthly run of 180,000.

The Christian Examiner welcomes press releases and news of interest that is relevant to our readership.

All unsolicited material is subject to the approval of the publishers and is not returned.

Viewpoints expressed in the Christian Examiner are those of their respective writers, and are not necessarily held by the publishers.

Advertising in the Christian Examiner is open to anyone desiring to reach the Christian community. Reasonable effort is made to screen potential advertisers, but no endorsement of the publishers is implied or should be inferred. The publishers can accept no responsibility for the products or services offered through advertisements. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertising.

Deadline for all submissions is the 25th of the month preceding publication.

Address all correspondence to: Christian Examiner, P. O. Box 2720, Woodinville, WA 98072 0HONE s &AX % MAIL INFO CHRISTIANEXAMINER COM s 7EB SITE WWW CHRISTIANEXAMINER COM

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One of my favorite TV shows is “Decoded.� The History Channel show is hosted by best-selling author Brad Meltzer and investigates various controversial episodes in history with fresh eyes. After watching the program one night recently, I stumbled across a YouTube video of Meltzer talking about writing one’s own obituary.

While there was nothing overtly religious about his talk, there were several things that resonated with me and caused me to contemplate how my own obituary would be written.

Meltzer mentioned that there are two aspects to obituaries, the professional and the personal. The professional part lists your job, where you went to school, what awards you may have won and other elements associated with your career.

This part will be quickly forgotten soon after you pass away.

The personal part—what you do as a person—is what people will remember and what will resonate as your legacy. This will last for many

years—maybe even generations— is urging me to become more like this gentleman in the relationships after you die.

I have with others.

I had coffee with a I was reading a friend the other week, book recently where and we somehow got the story was told of a on the subject of menfather who never told tors. My friend menhis son that he loved tioned an older genhim. The father lived tleman he knew who, until he was fairly old when you were with and had never once him, used to nearly uttered the simple drown you in God’s words “I love you� grace. I think my to his son. While the friend used the phrase Editor’s Note: son said he knew that “a fire hose of grace.�

Scott Noble his father loved him, Years from now, it’s unfortunate that when that gentleman has passed on and his professional during his whole life he was never accomplishments are forgotten and able to hear those significant and his company has hired someone to life-changing words from the most fill his position, his legacy will be important man in his life.

Actions and words have consehis willingness to extend the grace quences, and those consequences God afforded him to others.

For some reason, I’ve been focus- can change lives far into the future.

Many years ago now, one of my ing on this story from my friend for the last several weeks. Maybe God best friends was killed in a car acis encouraging me to find some- cident. We were both young college one in my life who would offer this grace to me. More likely, God See NOBLE, next page

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December 2011 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • 5

Spending Christmas in occupied territory “Christian culture� toIt’s the Christmas day. Just take a look season again, so get at prime time TV, ready. It will be comnational advertising mercialized, people campaigns and curwill say “Happy Holirent movies. While days,� not “Merry national polls reveal Christmas,� and Santa that most people still will get much more call themselves “Chrispress than the Prince tian,� I’m not seeing of Peace. It happens them show up on year after year—so Sunday morning. The why do we keep acting Phil Cooke reality is, we’re living surprised? Why do we continue to expect non-believers to in occupied territory.

So this year, let’s take a different act like Christians?

Every December, I see an ava- approach. Sure, the secularization lanche of direct mail campaigns of Christmas is offensive, and while and magazine articles by Christian a healthy debate is the cornerstone organizations upset about how our of a vibrant democracy, the truth culture views Christmas. But while is, just being critical changes very this country was clearly founded little. After all, as Christians, we of on Judeo-Christian principles, it’s all people should be known as bepretty hard to believe we live in a ing for something. We’re sharing

NOBLE‌ Continued from last page students at the time, with our whole lives waiting ahead of us. This month will mark the anniversary of his death.

Yet to this day, many years later, his life and the way he treated me still have an impact on me. When I felt that no one believed in me and that the world was working against me, my friend, Jeff, told me otherwise. He encouraged me, supported me and played an important role in making me who I am today—even though he has long since passed from this earth.

Don’t you want to be someone like that? I know I do. I also know I fail at this more often than I ever succeed and am reluctant even to contemplate my personal legacy.

But as we enter the Christmas season and celebrate the One who grants new life to all who ask for it, it’s a great reminder to, in our own small way, offer life to others— whether through encouragement, being there for others when things are tough or giving much-needed counsel and advice. It’s about extending the life we have been given

by Christ to others.

The result is not only temporary; it can and does have eternal consequences.

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I suggest we begin rethinking why we’re here‌ Are we supposed to reach the lost or complain about the lost? the greatest story ever told, but instead of focusing on that story, we continually get distracted by turning our focus on issues peripheral to our real calling.

Yes—Christians are American citizens, with every right to speak in the public square. We also have the right to campaign against candidates or issues for which we disagree. I’m a strong believer in energetic social discourse, and we need to speak up. However, because we’ve focused so much of our time, money and resources lately against the entertainment industry, political parties, the culture, the media and other groups, the world is simply turning us off—because we’re just singing the same old song.

Demonizing the enemy It’s a real paradox that we criticize mainstream news organizations for reporting on negativity, rather than paying attention to positive 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 something—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.

6 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • December 2011 NW

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GIVING… Continued from page 1 Ten Thousand Villages, a nonprofit program of the Mennonite Central Committee, creates opportunities for artisans around the globe to earn a fair wage. A self-described fair-trade retailer, Ten Thousand Villages offers artisan-crafted home decor, personal accessories and gift items from across 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.

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.

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

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

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.

NightLight 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.

Alternative Gifts International was founded in 1980 by Harriet Prichard, then-director of children’s ministries at a Southern California 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

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

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.

Akerfa provides bicycles, appropriate technologies, consultancy and capital in Zambia. The ministry was launched in 2004 by Vaughn Spethmann and Dustin McBride after a missions trip to Zambia. Most of the population in Zambia suffers from the country’s 50 percent to 80 percent unemployment status. Those who have jobs earn about $2 a day.

The bicycles help the locals overcome the barriers of rural living with basic necessities of transportation: getting to work, medical appointments, markets and schools. For information, log on to www.akerfa.org.

Restore International—founded by college professor Bob Goff—offers products ranging from 30-cent bricks to a $3,300 Restore Vision Trip, where work is done on building projects and maintenance, well drilling, special programs and outreach.

Restore’s focus is on combating

human rights violations, including forced prostitution and slave labor.

For information, log on to www. restoreinternational.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.

Let Jan Markell assist you through her program

“Understanding the Times” SATURDAY 9:00 A.M. on AM820 KGNW SUNDAY REPLAY 6:00 PM Jan Markell’s program will help you understand the times, contend for the faith, and be a watchman on the wall! It presents the “inconvenient truth” and is biblically correct, not politically correct.

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December 2011 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • 7

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 sixDVD 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,� “Israel 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.

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 PG-13. 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 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,� Se-

nior Pastor Lynn Holmes said.

The film retails for $24.99.

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.

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. T h e m o v i e lists for $14.99, while the CD is $9.99.

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‘What if Jesus texted the Beatitudes?’

Author hopes kids are engaged with modern Bible story book

By Scott Noble “The Awesome Book of Bible Stories for Kids,” by Sandy Silverthorne, Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon, © 2011, 141 pages

“What if” questions can oftentimes plague those who ask them: What if I get in an accident? What if I lose my job?

What if my car breaks down and I can’t afford to fix it?

Sandy Silverthorne was faced

with a similar “what if” question some years ago. However, it came after watching a skit on TV titled, “What if Napoleon had a B-52?” and the question wouldn’t leave Silverthorne’s mind.

“A little while ago I proposed

a Bible story book to Harvest House and on each spread I had a little sidebar called ‘What if?’— like what if Samson and Delilah was a Soap Opera? and what if Moses had used Mapquest?,” he said. “Later, I thought ‘What if?’ might be a good book on its own.”

That ultimately led the Pacific Northwest author and illustrator to write “The Awesome Book of Bible Stories for Kids.”

The book includes nearly 20 stories centered upon the concept of “What if,” including “What if Abraham and Sarah drove to Canaan,” “What if Gideon competed on a game show” and “What if Samson substituted as your PE teacher?”

Silverthorne thought this unique approach would encourage kids to learn Bible stories.

“I kind of ‘think funny,’ so this was a natural project for me,” he said. “By relating the Bible stories to modern devices—texts, TV shows, commercials, video games—I thought it would be a fun and engaging way for kids to learn the stories and have a good time doing it. I’d love to see children’s workers and even pastors use the stories in their messages if it would help get the point across. God’s Word is so relevant to our lives today; I’m hoping that young people will see that.

And humor helps a lot.”

Silverthorne is not new to authorship; his “Great Bible Adventure” children’s series has sold nearly 200,000 copies and has been distributed worldwide in eight languages. He has worked for the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, Focus on the family and Universal Studios.

With so many stories in the Bible from which to choose, Silverthorne said he had to do a lot of searching to determine which ones to include.

“I took some time searching through the Old and New Testaments trying to figure out which stories lent themselves to mod-

Sandy Silverthorne

ern day applications,” he said. “A lot of the stories changed over time. I originally thought Samson could be a personal trainer; then I realized kids would relate more to him being a PE teacher.

I also wanted to make sure I never was irreverent at all, so I was pretty careful in my selections.”

Ultimately, Silverthorne hopes readers will understand God’s love for them.

“I’d love to see kids—and adults—get God’s Word into their hearts in a fun, user-friendly way,” he said. “The last chapter is basically a Gospel message, so I’m hoping people can catch a glimpse of how much God loves them and for them to respond to His invitation.”

“The Awesome Book of Bible Stories for Kids” can be purchased at retailers and online.

Local teens participate in National Bible Bee SEATTLE — Several local teens and youngsters participated in the 2011 National Spelling Bee Competition and Family Discipleship Celebration, held in Nashville, Tenn., in mid November. Some 300 national qualifiers from across the country demonstrated their Scripture knowledge and memorization in written and oral rounds.

Included in the Senior and Junior divisions were Sarah Eddy from Port Orchard; Dayton Griffin from White Salmon; and Kara Schmidt from Vancouver. Those who participated in the Primary category included Brennan Colberg from Lake Forest Park; Toriana Davis from Washougal; Owen Dixon from Anacortes; Annika Dykstra from Bothell; Maria Griffin from White Salmon; and Heather McKenzie from La Center.

The national event took place at the Marriott Renaissance Ho-

tel and the Nashville Convention Center and was surrounded by a variety of family-friendly events.

“This event is designed to be family-friendly, engaging and encouraging for everyone,” said Mark McMahan, the chief executive officer of the foundation that sponsors the event, via a media release. “Those who attended last year’s Nationals were deeply impacted by the celebration of God’s Word and the sense of community among the families and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.”

Guest speakers at the competition included actor Kirk Cameron, the Rev. Voddie Baucham, John Stonestreet of Summit Ministries, author Susan Heck and several others.

Winners shared in the more than $260,000 in prize money.

For more information on the 2011 National Bible Bee Competition, visit www.biblebee.org.

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Put it on the calendar.

List your Christian events for free.

If it is happening in the Puget Sound region, we want to know about it, and so do our readers. Send your information no later than the 25th of the month prior to publication. Sorry, Sunday morning services cannot be included. Fax to 1-888-305-4947, e-mail to calendar@christianexaminer. com, or mail to P.O. Box 2720, Woodinville, WA 98072.

DEC 8-11 • THU-SUN

DEC 23 • FRIDAY

The Lights of Christmas. 5-10pm, Warm Beach Christian Camp, 20800 Marine Dr., Stanwood • warmbeach. com, 1-800-228-6724

Debby Boone: Christmas Memories.

8pm, Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N Commercial St., Bellingham, $20-49 • mountbakertheatre.com, (360) 734-6080

DEC 8-24 Langston Hughes’ ‘Black Nativity.’ The Moore Theatre, 1932 2nd Ave., Seattle. Presented by the Seattle Theatre Group • stgpresents.org, 1-877-784-4849

DEC 26-28 • MON-WED

DEC 9 • FRIDAY

JAN 6 • FRIDAY

Procession of Lessons & Carols, with the Chancel Choir. 7:30pm, St. John’s Episcopal Church, 127 State St., Kirkland • (425) 827-3077

Bud Tutmarc’s Hymnbook Sing.

7-9pm, Berean Church, 1st NE & N 185th, Seattle • (425) 205-9427

DEC 10-11 • SAT-SUN

Northwest Christian Writers’ Association monthly meeting, with Michael Kostov. 7pm, Northshore Baptist Church, 10301 NE 145th St., Bothell • 1-800-731-NCWA

11th Annual Drive-Thru Christmas Story. 6-8:30pm, Normandy Christian Church, 908 S 20th St., Des Moines, free • normandychristian. org, (206) 878-4740 DEC 15 • THURSDAY Imagine Christmas. 7pm, Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N Commercial St., Bellingham, $15-24 • mountbakertheatre.com, (360) 734-6080 DEC 15-23 The Lights of Christmas. 5-10pm, Warm Beach Christian Camp, 20800 Marine Dr., Stanwood • warmbeach. com, 1-800-228-6724 DEC 16-17 • FRI-SAT ‘A Christmas Carol.’ Fri 2pm & Sat 7pm, Orting UMC Stage, 109 Train St. SW, Orting, $1-5 • achristmascarol@hotmail.com DEC 16-18 • FRI-SUN Handel’s Messiah. Fri 8pm; Sat 1pm & 8pm; Sun 2pm, Seattle Symphony, 200 University St., Seattle • seattlesymphony.org DEC 17-18 • SAT-SUN ‘We Danced Our Best for Him,’ presented by Dancing for Joy. 6:30pm, Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N Commercial St., Bellingham, $15-24 • mountbakertheatre.com, (360) 734-6080 DEC 18 • SUNDAY

The Lights of Christmas. 5-10pm, Warm Beach Christian Camp, 20800 Marine Dr., Stanwood • warmbeach. com, 1-800-228-6724

JAN 9 • MONDAY

JAN 21 • SATURDAY Rock of Hope Jamboree Hymn Sing.

7812 224th SW, Edmonds • (425) 673-7985 FEB 3 • FRIDAY Bud Tutmarc’s Hymnbook Sing.

7-9pm, Berean Church, 1st NE & N 185th, Seattle • (425) 205-9427 FEB 6 • MONDAY Northwest Christian Writers’ Association monthly meeting, with Gabe & Gigi Murfit. 7pm, Northshore Baptist Church, Bothell • 1-800-731-NCWA FEB 18-25 Sandi Patty & Friends Cruise, with Natalie Grant, Mark Shultz, Wayne Watson & more. Eastern Caribbean • 1-800-288-4778, cruisewithsandipatty.com MAR 2 • FRIDAY Bud Tutmarc’s Hymnbook Sing.

7-9pm, Berean Church, 1st NE & N 185th, Seattle • (425) 205-9427 MAR 5 • MONDAY Northwest Christian Writers’ Association monthly meeting. 7pm, Northshore Baptist Church, Bothell • 1-800-731-NCWA

Annual Christmas Pageant, “Away in the Mangerâ€?. 4pm, St. John’s Episcopal Church, 127 State St., Kirkland, free • (425) 827-3077

MAR 22-24 •THU-SAT

DEC 21 • WEDNESDAY

MAR 23 • FRIDAY

Christian Women’s Connection.

11:30am-1pm, Golden Steer Restaurant, 23826-104th Pl. SE, Kent, $14.75 • (425) 227-8312, (425) 432-1144

Tim Hawkins and Friends Comedy Night, with Bob Smiley & John Branyan at the NW Ministry Conference.

7:30pm, Overlake Christian Church, Seattle, $19-25 • timhawkins.net

Northwest Ministry Conference. Seattle, $29-99 • ministryconference. org, (206) 949-9945

MORE EVENTS online now at... • Future events for the Puget Sound region not listed in this issue. • Weekly and monthly ongoing meetings: Bible Studies, Evangelism, Fellowships (Men, Women, Seniors, Singles, Youth, MOPS), Motorcycle Ministries, Music/Entertainment, Prayer Groups, Recovery and Support groups (Alcohol, Divorce, Domestic Violence/Abuse, Food, Sexual, Grandparenting, Grief, Celebrate Recovery, The Most Excellent Way, and many more), Seminars/Classes, Health/Fitness.

Lights of Christmas event gets underway STANWOOD — The annual Lights of Christmas event attracts thousands of visitors each year.

More than one million lights will be displayed throughout the 15 acres of Warm Beach Camp this December.

More than 800 volunteers work more than 15,000 hours to prepare the free event, which is the largest holiday light display in the Northwest.

The event will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Dec. 8-11, 1523 and 26-28.

In addition, the dinner presentation “Winds in the Morning� is available on select nights.

For more information about The Lights of Christmas, visit www. warmbeachlights.com or call (800) 228-6724.

Taproot Theatre to produce ‘Beasley’s Christmas Party’ SEATTLE — Taproot Theatre will run “Beasley’s Christmas Party� from now until Dec. 30.

Theatre officials said in a release: “When a curious journalist moves to a small Midwestern town in 1909, he’s captivated by his unusual next door neighbor, gubernatorial candidate David Beasley. Is Beasley crazy, or does he just have more imaginary friends than we can count? Brimming with hope and heart, this holiday tale will charm your whole family with its surprising twists.�

The play was adapted from the 1909 novel written by Booth Tarkington.

For more information about Taproot Theatre and “Beasley’s Christmas Party,� including tickets, visit www.taproottheatre.org or call the box office at (206) 781-9707.

In addition, Taproot Theatre began its annual Christmas touring season on Nov. 19. Each year, the theatre visits different locations and performs several plays.

This year, Taproot will perform “Twelve Days of Christmas,� “The Birth,� “The White Elephant: IMPROV-ing Your Christmas Spirit� and “Christmas in Flight.�

Performances will run through

December 2011 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • 9

Dec. 23.

For more information or to schedule a performance, call (206) 529-3669 or email touring@taproottheatre.org.

Tacoma rescue mission looking for food and warm clothes TACOMA — The Rescue Mission of Tacoma recently announced that it is in need of warm clothes and food for its homeless guests. The organization said individuals and families—including children—are in need of these items as the weather changes and homeless shelters try to meet the increasing needs.

Specifically, the organization is hoping to receive 2,000 turkeys to stock in its pantry for the remainder of the holiday season. Additional needed food items include hams, eggs, potatoes, and fresh vegetables and fruits.

Clothing needs include coats, socks, hats, mittens and blankets.

Donations may be dropped off

any day of the week from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at its downtown campus at 425 S. Tacoma Way. The food service is in the back of the building.

For more information about The Rescue Mission and its needs, visit www.rescue-mission.org.

‘Black Nativity’ to be performed at The Moore SEATTLE — Langston Hughes’ “Black Nativity� will be performed at The Moore Dec. 8-24. Hughes was a poet, novelist, journalist and writer, and the play first appeared on Broadway in Dec. 1961, this year marking its 50th anniversary. “Black Nativity� retells the Nativity through gospel music, dance, poetry and narrative.

The show will be directed by Jacqueline Moscou, choreographed by Donald Byrd and directed musically by the Rev. Patrinell Wright.

Tickets are available through the Seattle Theatre Group by visiting www.stgpresents.org or by phone at (877) 784-4849.

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Report: Jailed Iran pastor facing abuse, torture Christian Examiner staff report RASHT, Iran — The mistreatment of a pastor in Iran awaiting a decision on his death sentence for refusing to recant his faith amounts to physical and psychological torture, a source close to the pastor’s family said.

Yousef Nadarkhani, sentenced to death a year ago after a court of appeals in Rasht, Iran, found him guilty of leaving Islam, is in deteriorating health, according to a member of Nadarkhani’s denomination, the Church of Iran, who requested anonymity.

He said that communication with Nadarkhani is limited, but that sources close to the imprisoned Christian indicated that he has undergone physical and psychological torture. “Certainly he was hit, but his (telephone) conversations are heard (by authorities),� the source said. “We know that he has been in extreme situations, and we consider that torture. When you have spent time in a solitary cell unable to talk to others for a long time, or you are told you will be killed, this is also torture.�

The court in Rasht, 150 miles northwest of Tehran, was expected to pronounce a verdict on Nadarkhani’s

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his charges and death sentence.

At an appeal hearing in June, the Supreme Court of Iran upheld Nadarkhani’s sentence but asked the court in Rasht to determine if he was a practicing Muslim before his conversion. The court declared that Nadarkhani was not a practicing Muslim before his conversion, but that he was still guilty of apostasy due to his Muslim ancestry.

The Supreme Court had also determined that his death sentence could be annulled if he recanted his faith.

The Rasht court gave Nadarkhani a chance to recant Christianity in accordance with sharia (Islamic law), but Nadarkhani refused to do so. His final appeal hearings ended on Sept. 28, and the court was expected to make its final decision two weeks from the final hearing. “For the moment, we are waiting,� said the Church of Iran source. “We have no response for now. The only thing his lawyer told me is that the file went to the Supreme Court, but normally we should have had a response by now.�

BP News Service and Compass Direct News were sourced in this article.

Pakistani evangelist shot dead

By Murad Khan Compass Direct News

s 4RADE INS 7ELCOME

appeal in October, and sources said the court’s long silence bodes ill. Instead of pronouncing a verdict, the court sent the Christian’s case to the nation’s Islamic authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, to make a ruling.

Authorities have also continued to pressure Nadarkhani to recant his faith while in prison. In October they gave him Islamic literature aimed at discrediting the Bible, according to sources, and instructed him to read it.

Some sources indicate a ruling could come the second half of December.

One said some Iranian Christians believe that, in the face of international outrage over the case, the government would announce a verdict near the Christmas holidays so that it would receive less attention. On Nov. 10, the Christian Broadcasting Network reported that a verdict on Nadarkhani’s case was expected in mid-December, regardless of whether there is a ruling

by Khamenei.

Authorities arrested Nadarkhani in his home city of Rasht in October 2009 on charges that he questioned obligatory religion classes in Iranian schools.

After finding him guilty of apostasy, the court of appeals in Rasht in November 2010 issued a written confirmation of

KARACHI, Pakistan — An evangelist was shot dead Nov. 16 by an unidentified gunman in what his family believes was a radical Muslim group’s targeting of a Christian.

Zahid Jameel, 25, told Compass Direct that his father, Jameel Saawan, and a helper were opening the doors of their cosmetics shop in the Gulshane-Iqbal area of Pakistan’s commercial hub of Karachi on Wednesday morning when a young man appeared and shot his father, first in the neck and then in the face.

The assassin fled on a motorcycle on which two people were waiting, keeping watch for him, Jameel said. “We firmly believe that my father was killed because of his preaching of the Bible, because there is no other reason,� Jameel said.

His father had not spoken of any

threats on his life in recent weeks, though he had received threats after voicing his desire to start a welfare organization for poor Christians in the Essanagri area of Karachi two years ago, Jameel said. “That could not materialize after he started receiving threats from some unknown forces,� Jameel said. “We do not know who threatened him, but my mother persuaded him not to put his life in danger, for our sake.�

Nevertheless, Jameel said that his father continued to preach and was widely respected for being a vocal supporter of the Christian community. “We live in a rented apartment and our shops are also on lease— we don’t have any property, and no enemies, which is why we are shocked by our father’s killing,� he said. “It wasn’t a robbery, because the assassin only walked towards my father and shot at him.�

Jameel said that his mother was in a state of shock, as were his three sisters and older brother, Shahid. “Our father has been gunned down for no reason at all,� Jameel said. “He used to share the Word with Muslims, but I have never heard that he entered into an argument with any person.�

Jameel said that the family had moved to Karachi from Quetta about 10 years ago, with his father starting the cosmetics business two years later. “My father was a very religious man, and some years ago he decided that it was time for him to reach out to the people and share the Good News with them,� his son said. “Every day he would visit several families to share the Word of God and was very content with his life.�

Although police registered the case on Nov. 16, they have yet to make any progress in the investigation, sources said.

Study finds Americans will spend less, give more on holidays this year Christian Examiner staff report FEDERAL WAY — A World Vision study recently found that 71 percent of Americans said they will spend less on the holidays this year as a result of the economic downturn. Those findings stand in contrast to results of the recent Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping holidays, where sales were reportedly strong.

This is the third year the Christian humanitarian organization has commissioned the study from Harris Interactive, and the results have remained relatively consistent.

However, the study also found that more than half of those surveyed are more likely to give a charitable gift this year. Some 80 percent supported the idea of a “meaningful gift,� something that would help someone, in opposition to traditional holiday

gifts like clothing or electronics. “It is worth noting that while the proportion who wants to receive a meaningful gift has been steady over the past two years, it is still an increase since the low of 76 percent who felt this way in 2009,� said Michele Salomon, senior research director at Harris Interactive, via a media release. “This suggests that the relevance or meaning of the cause, charity or gift becomes more important for people as they make giving decisions in a strained economic environment.�

In 1996, World Vision launched its Gift Catalog as a way to help people give meaningful gifts and to help those in need around the globe. The Gift Catalog lets the

buyer purchase a gift in the name of a friend, relative or co-worker.

The person then receives a card, informing him or her how the gift given in his or her name was used. “A gift given from the Gift Catalog significantly improves the life of a child or family in need by providing tools and opportunities to overcome extreme poverty, while at the same time honoring your friends and loved ones,� said Traci Coker, World VisionU.S. gift catalog senior director.

Last year, the Gift Catalog raised more than $32 million and helped more than 800,000 people around the world.

For more information about World Vision, visit www.worldvision.org.

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December 2011 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • 11

Abilities Trump Inabilities Learning disability overcome for successful missions career

By Elizabeth Griffin MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — Doug Nichols, founder and international director emeritus of Action International Ministries, applied to 30 different mission boards before one accepted him.

Operation Mobilization sent him on a two-year mission to India, where, according to Nichols, he learned how to minister. Then he returned to Canada to finish Bible college, and he and his wife, Margaret, were accepted to serve with Oversees Missionary Fellowship (OMF).

Hampered by a learning disability, Nichols recalled the Lord’s direction for ministry.

“We wanted to go to Japan, but they said, ‘Don’t send him here, he’ll never learn Japanese,’” Nichols said. “Then we wanted to go to Korea, but they said, ‘Don’t send him here, he’ll never learn Korean.’ But the Philippine people said, ‘Send him here, we know English better than he does. We’ll teach him.’ God is sovereign. He uses whatever He wants to put us where He wants us—not just our abilities but also our inabilities.”

The Nichols worked in the Philippines with OMF for five years before working with Christ for Greater Manila.

The organization grew to 160 workers, and Nichols formed Action International Ministries in 1975 to oversee the financial support for all of the missionaries there.

Action International Ministries is a para-church organization that operates under the motto “Evangelism, discipleship and development to the glory of God.” There are 260 missionaries currently serving under its umbrella in the Philippines, Brazil, Cambodia, Uganda, Malawi, Ukraine, Portugal, Spain, New Zealand, Canada and the United States.

Nichols worked in the Philippines for 20 years prior to returning to the U.S., where he currently works in the headquarters for Action International, which is located in Mountlake Terrace, Wash. He and his wife plan to return to the Philippines when family commitments allow.

Action International is involved in a

Doug and Margaret Nichols have spent many years working overseas for Christ.

variety of ministries to strengthen the church, including encouraging and training pastors, evangelizing the rich and poor, planting churches, prison ministry, working with street kids and helping the poor.

“There are two million pastors in the world who have received less than an hour of training,” Nichols said.

In Manila, a city of 16 million people, the organization works with 60 other ministries that collaborate to meet the needs of the people. One of the things they do is take street kids to camp. In the process of showing Christ’s love to the youth, many come to faith in Christ. Action International works with existing churches to provide follow-up for the new believers. It also facilitates a vocational training program called “Working Hands,” which teaches youth wood working, sheet metal work, catering, highspeed sewing and other skills.

Nichols recalled meeting a nicely dressed man at a celebration for an older missionary couple a few years ago.

“I introduced myself and he smiled and said to his wife, ‘I told you he wouldn’t remember,’” Nichols recalled. “Then he said to me, ‘I was a street kid that you picked up off the streets of Manila. You took me to camp, and I came to faith in Christ. I went into Paul Ellis’ sheet metal training program, and I graduated after a year and got a good

job. But I felt the call of God on my life to share the gospel. “‘I took a job as the janitor at your church, so I could go to all the seminars being held in your building. I’d be at the back of the church, mopping and listening.

Some of the people in the church saw that and sent me to Bible college, and I became the curriculum director of a major Bible college in the Philippines.’”

Nichols added, “That’s the result of a ministry like that.”

The result of another ministry through Action International— loaning films about the Lord to local churches—was a reported 85,000 decisions for Christ in one year. And the organization’s ministry at one of the most dangerous prisons in the Philippines continues to yield extraordinary fruit for the kingdom of God. Nichols recalled working in the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa City, outside of Manila.

“The place is located in the southernmost part in Metro Manila,” he said. “There are 14,000 prisoners. When I used to go there, I wouldn’t go inside at all because they were so violent they would kill you. Since then, 4,000 have trusted Christ, and there are 17 churches, three Bible schools and one seminary inside the prison now.”

As diverse as the ministries that Action International encompasses, the missionaries within the organization are equally diverse. The ministry advertises for people from ages 21 to 75 to join. But, Nichols pointed out, they do make exceptions to that.

Marvin Graves, the director of representation and recruitment for Action International is one of those exceptions. He is 80 years old. He and his wife, Sara, travel throughout the U.S. telling people about the ministry.

Graves remembered an advertisement that Nichols put in a newspaper in Great Britain asking for missionaries who were 50 years old or older. A Christian woman who earned her living as a midwife answered the call joyfully. She went to

Nearly 300 Action International missionaries are currently active in countries like Mexico, working with the poor and evangelizing.

the Philippines and has been working there for more than 20 years.

“She delivers 125 babies a month,” Nichols said, adding that she is now in her 70s and was recently honored by the Queen of England.

“We want mature, godly people

who love to share the gospel,” he said.

That’s the only qualification necessary.

For more information on Action International Ministries, visit www. actionintl.org.

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