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San Diego County Edition Vol. 29, No. 10

October 2011

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Forget the masquerades, God created each of us in his image

Christmas Tabernacle event to bring back true focus of holiday

230 tons of dirt, debris removed from ancient Canaanite water system

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Cell ’n out for God Inmate turns life around, heads up Protestant ministry in San Quentin By Lori Arnold

More than 500,000 children are at risk in the Horn of Africa because of the severe drought.

Famine in the Horn of Africa By Elizabeth Griffin SEATTLE — On July 20, the United Nations announced that a famine has hit a large section of Somalia, with severe drought conditions throughout the Horn of Africa. An estimated 10 million people have been affected in northeastern Kenya, Somalia and eastern Ethiopia. This is the first official famine in the region since 1984-85, when one million people died in Ethiopia and Sudan. Famines mean a lack of resources to meet the basic food requirements for the population, acute malnutrition in more than 30 percent of the population and a death rate equal to five out of 10,000 people per day. Somalia has not had rain for the past two years, and no rain is predicted until October. Without the rain, the people, who rely on

agriculture for sustenance, have no food. At least 500,000 children from the region are at risk of death, according to UNICEF. The challenges in Somalia are not new. According to Dave Eller, president of World Concern, the nation has existed in an almost feudal system of government since the official government collapsed in the early 1990s. Militarized control of shifting regional governments has resulted in oppression. “Somalia is like the wild, wild west,” said Derek Sciba, marketing director of World Concern. The nonprofit Christian relief organization based in Seattle has worked in the nation since the mid-1980s, digging wells to provide water, improving the agricultural system and teaching hygiene and See SOMALIA, page 10

SAN QUENTIN — Robert Lott makes no excuses for his austere surroundings. It’s the price to be paid for a life derailed by bad choices and drug addiction. Even his Christian upbringing failed to reign in his rebellion. “He’d be good for three or four months then he’d get back on the drugs,” said his father Andy Lott, a retired El Cajon firefighter. After each cycle of incarceration—sometimes jail, sometimes prison—the younger Lott, a graduate of Christian High School, would seek out a construction job, work diligently at sobriety, become depressed, relapse and then often steal to finance the next buzz, his father said. “He’d tell his mom, ‘Do not pray for me’ because she would pray that he would get caught and he always did,” his dad said. “That was a blessing because he didn’t fry any brain cells.” Years later, the father still hears his son’s mantra ricocheting around in his head. “Dad, you don’t know how good the high feels,” Robert would tell his disappointed father. “I’m thinking, ‘I’m high on life. I don’t need anything else in my life. I love the Lord,’” the elder Lott said. The Lord, however, was the farthest thing from Robert Lott’s mind when he broke into a local

A team of spiritual leaders pray over Robert Lott at a ceremony marking his ordination at San Quentin.

Three strikes: Critics of California sentencing law say it’s time for reform ..........3 garage looking for loot to finance his habit. He got caught, and with two priors he qualified for California’s three strikes law. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison and shipped off to Centinela State Prison in El Centro. Once inside those walls, Lott said he could no longer escape a most certain reality: “Sometimes God is trying to get a hold of you. How far are you willing to go for God to get your attention?” His father quickly recognized the change of heart.

“God was talking to him,” Andy Lott said. “God put a burden on his heart. Twenty years will get your attention.” With the state now in control of his physical life, Lott finally surrendered his spiritual life. “Before long, my cell was full of guys wanting to hear what I had to say about the Bible,” Lott said. “I told Him, ‘If you are really calling me, I will do what I can to prepare myself for ministry.’” Following through on a promise In the El Centro prison, Robert Lott was asked to serve on the ChapSee INMATE, page 2

Homeschoolers pool their talent, raise $2,500 for audio Bibles By Lori Arnold RANCHO BERNARDO — A group of North County homeschoolers raised $2,500 for Talking Bibles that will be distributed to the Fishermen Village churches of Machiliphatnam on the Bay of Bengal in India. “The people receiving the Talking Bibles are all lower-caste, Hindu illiterates who have no access to any form of education and have never heard the Good News even once,” Dan Meek, vice president of development for Talking Bibles said in a news release. “They get together in Listening Bible Study Groups which are supervised by national church planters.” The money was raised through a talent show organized by two homeschoolers who took to heart information they learned at a “Do Hard

Things” conference this summer. Founded by teenagers Greg and Brett Harris, Do Hard Things is a movement that challenges young people to move beyond themselves by extraordinarily ministering to others through the power that only comes through Jesus Christ. “It was an amazing conference,” said Rory Eggers, who took two of her seven children, Jordan, 18, and Christianne, 15. “So many times we go to conferences and hear a lot of things and that’s all we ever do, go to conferences.” On the way home from the conference, Rory asked the teens how they would like to put what they learned into practice. “I think they needed to hear and be encouraged by (the message),” she said. See STUDENTS, page 9

A group of student dancers performs at a benefit for Talking Bibles. The talent show was organized by two local teenagers.

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INMATE… Continued from page 1 lain Inmate Advisory Committee and he enrolled in a correspondence program through Moody Bible Institute to earn his bachelor’s degree. In 2003 he requested a transfer to San Quentin, the Northern California prison once notorious for its violent underpinnings but now rebuilding its reputation through its educational offerings to counter recidivism. It was there that Robert Lott believed he would have the best resources for transformation. “It’s been a time of surrender, realizing that I can’t live my life on my own,” he said in a phone interview from San Quentin. “When you are on the bottom, there is nowhere else to look but up.” His studies at San Quentin have included leadership coursework through Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary and general education classes with Patten University. Four years ago he finished his bachelor’s degree and the following year he was ordained through American Evangelical Christian Churches. Not long after starting a God Chaser Bible study at San Quentin, and assisting the chaplain with Protestant worship services at the Garden Chapel Christian Fellowship, the only formally established church inside a California prison, Lott found himself at the spiritual helm after the institution lost its chaplain. “He was pretty much running the chapel himself,” said the Rev. Doug Schlemmer, missions coordinator for American Evangelical Christian Churches, a denominational licensing and ordination ministry. “Talk about leaving it to the inmates.”

Robert Lott, who is serving time for burglary, has earned a bachelor’s degree from Moody Bible Institute while incarcerated. Here he is all smiles at his ordination service at San Quentin.

About 250 inmates attend the weekly chapel services. “This body is not just a chapel, but it’s a body of believers,” Robert Lott said of his congregation. Heart for the Kingdom Mike Bonnel, a retired San Francisco fire chief who donates as much as 30 hours a week at San Quentin, said he’s impressed with Robert Lott’s commitment to the Kingdom. A former drug user himself who cleaned up after converting to Christianity 38 years ago, Bonnel said he is quick to see through false fronts. “When I meet somebody it’s easy for me to recognize the redeeming power of Christ in their life,” the prison volunteer said. “He’s definitely an upright guy. I’m not into painting pictures that are not true.” He said that once inmates understand the redeeming power of

Christ, their conversion is often dramatic. “They know they’ve been forgiven greatly and their lives have been changed forever,” Bonnel said. “Bob has a guy’s heart. He’s been totally transformed. I see it in his speech, I see it in how he deals with people, how he shares Christ.” Robert Lott is equally impressed with Bonnel’s commitment, saying his efforts reflect the true heart of prison ministry. “Going into the prison and leading (the inmates) in church is not really prison ministry to me,” he said. “Prison ministry is helping them to transition inside, helping their families.” Pursuing leadership training As part of his vision for transforming lives, Robert Lott has been working with officials at Golden Gate Theological Seminary to get inmates plugged into

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its Contextualized Leadership Development program, which he himself completed. Having now secured special permission from prison officials, he hopes to soon begin work on his master’s degree through the seminary’s North Bay School of Theology at San Quentin. Last year, the seminary conferred degrees to four inmates, many encouraged by Robert Lott. “He has a great heart for training leaders for the kingdom and the church,” said Don Beall, who administrates the seminary’s leadership program. “He did help us to recruit people to help them become the leaders God has called them to be.” Morris A. Curry Jr., a pastor and former chaplain at San Quentin, said during his tenure at the Bay Area facility that his goal was to “provide as much semblance to a Christian church experience as possible in order to help men understand how congregations functioned so that when they returned to society they would be in a position to function as biblically literate members.” “Some people often dismiss an inmate’s profession of faith as ‘jail house religion,’ but I can truly say that for Bob and the men of the Garden Chapel Christian Fellowship of San Quentin, they are genuinely committed to Jesus Christ.” To Judea and beyond That commitment to Christ and the Kingdom extends well beyond the armed gates of the prison. Several years ago, spurred on by the Great Commission and seeking to expand the prisoners’ ministry reach, Robert Lott formed Beyond the Walls, a missions and prayer ministry supported by the inmates. The prisoners—who donate the 19 cents to 35 cents an hour they earn

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from prison labor—have distributed more than $20,000 to various projects in the Philippines, Spain, Africa and India. “I can’t go beyond these walls, but there are other groups out there that I can support,” said Lott, adding that the group conducts prayer vigils as the need arises. Through Beyond the Walls, the inmates have also contributed to local food banks and Sleep Train’s program for foster children. “He’s done a phenomenal job of raising funds for missions and the soup kitchens in the area, making sure all the prisoners had gifts for their kids at Christmas to taking pictures of the inmates to send to their families,” Schlemmer, the AECC mission coordinator, said. “Here are these guys, inside, thinking of us on the outside.” There are other ways that Robert Lott’s reach is extending past the prison. Schlemmer recalled another inmate who was trained under Lott and then transferred to a prison in San Luis Obispo. “That guy is probably going to be ordained,” he said. “It hasn’t just stopped with San Quentin. That’s good discipleship. It’s crazy. It’s snowballing, but in a good direction, and I’m just watching it from the outside. Beall, the Golden Gate leadership administrator, agreed with Schlemmer’s assessment. “There’s a cadre of men just like him who are coming to live a Christ-like life inside the prison, no matter what other inmates might say or do,” Beall said. Some might call it confirmation of what can happen when we take time to listen to the Master. “It’s become a recognition of God’s call on my life,” Lott said. “It sounds like boasting, but my fingerprints are all over the place, and a lot of the guys realize the things I brought.” Lott, still several years away from his release date, said he’s thankful for all the doors opened by the Lord and that he’s hoping to someday serve on a pastoral staff—if someone is willing to take a chance on an ex-con. “The thing about prison is it’s a stigma that will never leave,” Lott said. “People will say you are forgiven, but it’s still a stigma. There are a lot of good people in here who have just done the wrong thing.”

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October 2011 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • 3

Three strikes is no game Critics of California sentencing law say it’s time for reform By Lori Arnold SAN QUENTIN — When El Cajon native Robert Lott was arrested for his third felony, California’s stringent three strikes law assured him of a long sentence: 20 years for burglary. One of his former cellmates, also a thirdstriker, is doing life for stealing $40. Robert’s father, Andy, believes the law needs reforming. “He got sentenced to 20 years, which is ridiculous,” he said. “There are people serving less time for killing someone. The Lord has a plan. If it wasn’t for believing that God was in control, I’d be bitter.” In instances of nonviolent offenses, the law, enacted in 1994 by California voters, strips the opportunity of leniency when it may be warranted by circumstances. In those cases, they say, justice becomes hard-core retribution. “California’s three strikes law is the harshest in the nation,” said Pat Nolan of Justice Fellowship, a prison reform project of the highly respected Prison Fellowship. “When most voters approved it they thought the three strikes would be for violent or serious felonies. The way it was written it could be for any crime. That’s very draconian. Obviously, someone who has committed three crimes has a serious problem and society needs to deal with that, but in a way that is commensurate with the crime they’ve done.” Nolan is a former California assemblyman who was sentenced to prison for racketeering. The former law-andorder Republican said life inside the penitentiary proved to be as much about injustice as justice. “It really opened my eyes about how little was being done to help the inmates to rehabilitate,” the former legislator said. “They were being warehoused rather than taught to be law-abiding citizens when they get out.” It was primarily prison volunteers, most of them Christians, who were working diligently to help prisoners transform their lives and prepare for a clean start upon release, the former lawmaker said. “There are very, very dangerous people who need to be separated from society,” Nolan said. “The public has the right to protect itself, but we need to leave open the possibility that some

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San Quentin is among several state prisons facing overcrowding, sparking a debate over whether California’s stringent three strikes law should be modified.

can indeed change and turn their life around. Sometimes people can be pretty stingy about it.” Supporters of modifying the law said its shortcomings are especially glaring in light of serious state budget shortfalls and a recent U.S. Supreme Court order to release as many as 40,000 prisoners because of overcrowding. The three strikes law prevents any of the nonviolent offenders from being eligible for early release under that order. “Unfortunately, the law doesn’t allow that unless the governor commutes the sentence or an appeals court overturns the conviction,” Nolan said. A flawed system? Mike Bonnel, a Christian who volunteers at San Quentin as much as 30 hours a week, said he has changed his mind about the law, especially after watching Robert Lott and his in-prison ministry. During his time in prison, Lott has earned a bachelor’s degree from Moody Bible Institute, is poised to start his master’s degree, is leading the prison church and has established a ministry to support missions outside the walls of the Northern California correctional facility. “Our system is so bad, and it’s the one I voted for,” the retired fire chief said. “I thought the third strike was for violent crimes. The whole system needs to be reworked.

“I think if anybody is ready to get out its Bob. He’s ready to move on and live his life.” Pastor Morris A. Curry Jr., who once served as the Protestant chaplain at the prison, agreed, saying society stands to benefit from Lott’s heart. “I can’t wait for his release to occur because his contribution to the cause of Christ will be an asset to any Pastor or congregation,” Curry said. The three strikes project Michael Romano, a Stanford law professor, agrees with Nolan that the law needs to be changed. Citing a June 30, 2011 report by the California Department of Corrections, 8,783 people have been sentenced

to life through three strikes since its inception, and of that number, more than half—4,704—committed a nonviolent crime. And last year, California’ s state auditor issued a report estimating that the cost to incarcerate three strikers over the next 25 years to be $4.8 million—about $200 million annually. “These are usually minor, nonviolent crimes of poverty and desperation,” the professor said. “It’s especially egregious when serious and violent criminals are being released early because of the prison overcrowding.” Romano, who said he believes the law as it is written is “morally reprehensible, unconscionable and unconstitutional,” established

the Stanford Three Strikes Project, a two-pronged approach that includes seeking reduced sentences for inmates sentenced to life for nonviolent third strikes and advocating for three strikes law reform through such avenues as the courts, legislation and the executive branch. As part of Stanford’s inmate project, the university’s law students investigate viable cases, write briefs and argue the cases in court. Because of limited resources, they handle about 15 cases at time. To date, he’s received about 5,000 requests for assistance from inmates. Among the cases in which a inmate received a life sentence include someone who stole a $2 pair of socks, a man forging his signature on a DMV test, theft of a check used in an attempt to purchase a slice of pizza, a man who broke into a soup kitchen to get something to eat and numerous cases of possession of a small amount of drugs. One man received a third strike for abetting by telling an undercover cop where he could buy drugs. Standard sentencing guidelines for murder, Romano said, are 25 years to life. Momentum changing? Although approved by voters by a 72 percent to 28 percent margin through 1994’s Proposition 184, momentum appears to be building for a modification of the law. See THREE STRIKES, page 4

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THREE STRIKES… Continued from page 3 “It was promoted as a way to keep murderers and child molesters behind bars where they belong,” Romano said. In 2004, voters narrowly, by 52.7 percent, rejected Proposition 66, an attempt to amend the law. A telephone survey in June of 950 registered voters conducted by the independent Field Poll found that 74 percent of voters support modifying the law “to give judges and juries more discretion in deciding the sentences given to persons convicted of a third felony as a way to ease prison overcrowding.” While voters may be inclined to make some adjustments to three strikes, the existing law still enjoys widespread support, especially in law enforcement circles. Those opposing Proposition 66 include the California Police Chiefs Association, California District Attorneys Association, Prevent Child Abuse California, National Tax Limitation Committee, California Sexual Assault Investigators Association, California State Sheriffs Association, Mothers Against Gang Violence, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and Marc Klaas of the Klaas Kids Foundation. Those groups argue that while a third strike may be nonviolent, in most instances those being prosecuted as third-strike offenders have a long criminal history, including previous violent strikes. Grace, they said, should have its limitations. “We are not claiming that they shouldn’t be punished, but that the punishment fits the crime,” Romano said, saying that many of those sentenced for third strikes are developmentally disabled, uneducat-

ed or homeless addicts. Many are products of the state foster system and little family support. “Many times when my students go see their clients in prison they are the first person to visit them ever,” Romano said. “They haven’t seen what the visiting room looks like, and we are talking about people who have been in there 11, 12, 15 years. “They are pretty hopeless. They have been written off by everybody.” A biblical perspective Like Romano, Nolan said he’s hopeful another push will be made to modify the law and that evangelicals need to carefully reflect on how they respond to the three strikes question and the wider issue of mandatory minimums, which can also limit judges when it comes time for sentencing of nonviolent offenders. “The same biblical principles apply, but no punishment should do more harm than what was done to the victim,” Nolan said. “Eye-for-an-eye was meant to restrain horrific crimes of retribution.” He added that there should always be a consideration for a second chance, or in this case a fourth chance, because people do change. “Justice should always be tempered with mercy and grace,” the former inmate said. “A lot of Christians supported (the law). I don’t think they realize how extraordinarily harsh this law is. It does seem to be over the top. “As Christians, that is one of our jobs, to remind (society) of Jesus’ sacrifice and what He did for us and forgiving our sins.” For mor e infor mation on Nolan’s organization, visit www. justicefellowship.org. For more information on the Stanford project, visit www.stanford.edu and type Stanford Three Strikes Project in the search box.

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Legislative Update

Compromise and the battle of worldviews By Rebecca Burgoyne SACRAMENTO — As politicians argue their perspectives—both in Sacramento and in Washington, D.C.—news analysts and citizen activists call for compromise. After all, children learn at the earliest ages they need to “share” and get along with friends, and businessmen learn the art of the deal in which each side benefits and each side loses. Yet the power grabs in the state capital continue, and citizens wonder why their elected representatives can’t find some common ground. C.S. Lewis said it well: “There is no question of compromise between the claims of God and the claims of culture, or politics, or anything else. God’s claim is infinite and inexorable.” What Lewis was describing—and what we see in culture and politics—is a battle of worldviews between traditional, biblical views and autonomous individualism. Compromise is seldom possible when it comes to defining beliefs. Compromise is not possible when defining marriage or family or supporting life made in the image of God, and many of the goals of our political elite run contrary to the principles of Scripture. California’s Democratic-majority Legislature is intent on reshaping California’s culture, making absent the wisdom of biblical truth. In summation, they are working overtime to stamp their worldview on culture and in law, reshaping California to solidify homosexual and abortion rights and to deny the rights of par-

ents to raise their children without government interference. We saw this earlier in the year with the passage—and signing—of Senate Bill 48, Leno, D-San Francisco, legislation demanding children as young as 5 years old be introduced to homosexuality, bisexuality and transgenderism through school history lessons. Sadly, SB 48 was just the tip of the iceberg. This session alone, legislators have passed more than a dozen bills that promote the homosexual lifestyle. These bills—many of which are currently on the governor’s desk—expand school bullying policies to promote lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender lifestyles, ease the requirements for transgender individuals to apply for amended birth certificates, expand domestic partnership rights, require most health-care personnel to complete LGBT sensitivity training and make sweeping changes to California law, redefining gender to mean “a person’s gender identity and gender expression.” Additionally, legislators passed Assembly Bill 499, Atkins, D-San Diego, which allows minors to circumvent parental authority and consent to medical care related to the prevention or treatment of a sexually transmitted disease. The focus of the legislation is to allow teens to receive the hepatitis-B and the controversial human papilloma-virus or HPV vaccines without parental knowledge. Promoting special rights The final days in the 2011 legislative session evidenced

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the battle, as we saw many proDemocrat power grabs surface in bills that promoted special rights for unions and homosexuals. Legislators attempted to increase their own election odds with measures that hamstring the people’s right to the initiative process—used increasingly by conservatives to take issues directly to the people and avoid the toxic legislative climate. One bill that materialized in the final hours of session would move all initiatives to the November election, barring them from appearing on primary or special election ballots. November yields a bigger turnout, enhancing the chance that Democrats will vote. With a Democrat in the governor’s office, many long-shelved organized labor, personal injury and environmental measures were dusted off in hopes that these agendas might find success this year. Democrats do not want their polar political opposites to have that opportunity. Watching the governor Focus now turns to the governor, who has until Oct. 9 to act on the hundreds of measures that reached his desk. He can sign, veto or allow legislation to become law without action on his part. Legislators, currently home in their districts, will return to the Capitol in January for the second year of the 2011-12 legislative session. The first order of business will be two-year bills, legislation that passed its house of origin but is still under consideration in the second chamber. Ten years ago, in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, then-President George W. Bush said, “Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America.” Perhaps, in light of the many sweeping changes being made in Sacramento that affect California’s families, we will finally revolt against a Legislature implementing its own—not the people’s—agenda. Burgoyne is a research analyst with the California Family Council.

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October 2011 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • 5

The changing face of evangelicalism How politics and cultural engagement have shaped the movement By Scott Noble Part one in a three-part series TWIN CITIES — While the term “evangelical� or the broader description, “evangelicalism,� has been used for many years, it was really only during the 1940s in the United States where the term and movement began to gain widespread use. After the modernist-fundamentalist controversy reached its zenith with the Scopes trial in the mid 1920s, many conservative Christians— stung by their defeat—began to retreat from culture, beginning a long yet effective effort to build and sustain a subculture. This subculture included schools, radio stations, magazines, universities, newspapers and a host of other cultural institutions that mimicked the American mainstream. For the rest of the 1920s, 1930s and early 1940s, this subculture and this new way of approaching American culture satisfied the majority of conservative Christians. Yet something began to stir in the late 1930s and early 1940s that would eventually grow into the modern-day evangelical movement. This new movement was not content with holding mainstream culture at arm’s length and meeting most or all of their cultural and social needs within this newly constructed Christian subculture. So in an attempt to break out of this pattern and engage culture on a much different level, evangelicalism—in its modern American context—was born. While descriptions are never exhaustive, this new movement was basically defined by several theological beliefs and by its new approach to culture and the non-Christian world. Evangelicalism would rally around the beliefs of a “decision� for Christ, the central aspect of Scripture in the life of a believer, the hope of an eternal home for those who put their faith in Jesus and a desire to tell others about Him. Social issues From a social standpoint, evangelicalism came to be known for its efforts at influencing broad social and political issues, specifically manifested in lobbying on issues such as abortion, keeping pro-family beliefs in schools, fighting evolution and a host of other issues. While evangelicalism grew as a movement and its influence increased during much of the last century, the turn of the new millennium ushered with it a new concern about the movement’s health and future. B. R. Lindner Professor of Evangelical Theology at Northern Seminary in Illinois and the author of “The End of Evangelicalism?� David Fitch argues that the movement is at a crisis point. “Evangelicalism has hit a turning point already,� he said. “It’s not growing. Not only is it not growing, it’s shrinking. And where it’s not shrinking—let’s say in Dallas, Texas—it is getting defensive and is retrenching and is trying to hold the fort. That means we are no longer a missional people; we are no longer bringing the Gospel—the Good

News, the mission of what God sent His Son here and the Holy Spirit to accomplish. In essence, we quit being the church.â€? There are many opinions as to why evangelicalism is struggling at the moment. Some argue that it has become too intertwined with the culture it once tried to either avoid or convert. Others argue that it has become too exclusive and does not handle well those with differing or challenging views. Political activities One of the more widespread arguments is that evangelicalism became too committed and too corrupted by its political activities. While evangelicalism emerged as a defined movement in the 1940s, it wasn’t until the mid- to late-1970s that evangelicals began to become more involved in the political process. The election of Jimmy Carter was the first notable impact of evangelicals on the national political scene, followed closely by the election of Ronald Reagan, the emergence of the Moral Majority, the Christian Coalition and several national candidates who either described themselves as evangelicals or who paid homage to the growing movement. Fitch sees the emergence of evangelicals in the political world as an example of the movement’s sometimes schizophrenic activities. “The Christian nation kind of Jerry Falwell, Moral Majority development of the late 1970s was another episode in a history of episodes with evangelicalism in how it was seeking to engage culture after the 1920s and 1930s modernist-fundamentalist controversy,â€? he said. “It was schizophrenic in very similar ways to ‌ like the first time they withdrew [after the Scopes trial].â€? The overarching issue for evangelicals was how to engage culture: How do Christians interact with a culture that oftentimes is at odds with its core beliefs and values? Retreat from it, grudgingly co-exist with it, accommo-

date to it or try to convert it? Fitch continued: “The second response was, ‘No, culture is not bad. Culture is good, and we must take it over for Christ and that’s what our mandate is,’â€? he said. “In either case, we lost the reality that the church itself in Jesus Christ is a culture-creating social world that engages the world incarnationally, humbly, non-violently, vulnerably. Realizing that there are some things good in culture that can be recaptured and/or God is already working in, but there are some things that must be rejected ‌â€? Logical response Chris Armstrong, associate professor of Church History at Bethel Seminary in St. Paul and managing editor of “Christian History & Biography,â€? takes a bit of a different approach, arguing that evangelicals’ emergence into politics was a logical response for a segment of the population that was witnessing its values being attacked and disputed. “The more immediate reason why we engaged in politics,â€? he argued, “is the kind of new liberty and social experimentation and secularization in the 1960s and 1970s that leads up to the Falwells, Moral Majority campaign, which was again a sense that we’re losing ‌ that our children living in America are threatened in their very faith by the schools they go to, by the family dynamics they see around them and the attacks on the traditional family and so on ‌ â€? With this perceived reality, evangelicals reacted out of “genuine concern for their families and especially their kids,â€? Armstrong believes. Since the secular political system was where the battle was taking place that was where evangelicals needed to wage against it. Regardless of whether or not the past 30 years of political and cultural engagement are the main—or even a significant cause—of evangelicalism’s current struggles, these are definite-

ly perceived by many to be a major reason for the movement’s current malaise. While the past cannot be changed, the present and future of evangelicalism is now being shaped in the nation’s universities and seminaries. The questions these twenty somethings are asking are not that dissimilar to the ones asked by previous generations of evangelicals, but they include a significant nuance. “I have only been teaching in an evangelical seminary for six years,â€? Armstrong said. “Even in those six years, in particular my younger students are questioning an exclusive identification of the Gospel with a message of spiritual salvation and saying, ‘What about the social dimension? What about our responsibility to the poor and other social issues?’ There is a definite turn ‌ a willingness now to look at even [Walter] Rauschenbusch

and the Social Gospel writers and say, ‘Maybe there was some truth there that we missed.’â€? So the question is still how evangelicals should engage culture. “Everywhere I go, the church seems to be divided between the fifty somethings—Boomers who want to preserve the institution of the evangelical church and keep it going, so let’s try megachurch attractional practices— and then there’s all these twenty somethings who are going, ‘No, thank you’ but they really want to follow Jesus, they really want to engage the world, and they just need leadership,â€? Fitch said. “So there is this gap, there’s no question that evangelicalism is at a turning point ‌â€? Part two in “The Changing Face of Evangelicalismâ€? series will look at those who no longer identify themselves as evangelicals.

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Forget the masquerades, God created each of us in his image October is here, autumn is in the air and America breaks out the masks. It seems to me that we have been wearing more masquerade gear year-round (most of it in the form of “emotional masking”) and not just as the annual ghosts and goblins festival takes shape. When life gets more challenging, the more it we appear reluctant to be “real,” connecting with others in our daily lives. It’s easier to detach, retreat and hide out. After 35 years in San Diego, I have come to enjoy the change of seasons, even though visitors assume we always have the same season 365 days a year. After some time here it’s easier to see subtle shifts in surroundings, even colors in certain trees, as the air gets crisper. Other signs of seasonal changes are when most of Arizona returns home and fire season heats up. Sometimes the Chargers provide additional comfort or disaster, depending on the year. Then once it’s Halloween, a

blink of an eye takes us to Christmas and the year’s over. At least this month can help serve as: “Caution: Slow down! Make today count!” Considering the annual trick-or-treat event—what I have always referred to as Mark “legalized extortion night”—my attitude has shifted a little. Halloween season still reminds me most of our national obsession with asking for freebies… “or else.” I do think there should be some sort of age limit for door-to-door candy beggars. When 28-year-old “kids” show up ringing the doorbell late-night, it’s time to call security. Then there’s the creepier side of the holiday that gives too much glory to Satan’s world. But when limited to innocent fun with young kids (like my grandchildren) dressed

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up in cute costumes, as opposed to assorted horror movie zombies, I am a bit more comfortable with Halloween. That is as long as the little ones are under parental care and in safe zones within family control.

Geezers and Gumbys But back to the issue of masks and masquerades: Around town it seems the only new type of businesses springing up in today’s economy are the short-term, temporary costume stores. Really, how many Halloween shops does a metro area need? There are “super stores” all around, with masks and get-ups for any taste. More people seem to be getting into the act, finding new outfits and masks to fit in to the action. Even criminals are using more creative ways to conceal themselves, whether it’s an infamous “Geezer Bandit” knocking over regional banks or the ill-fated “Gumby” who attempted to rob a local convenience store, but gave up after fumbling around trying to find a weapon inside the oversized green costume. At least it was humorous and no one was hurt (except Baby Boom adults who actually remem-

ber who Gumby was on TV). There was still a lesson in the incident: Try as much as you like to cover up what’s real, but sooner or later truth and consequences settle in. Under the radar For one night each year, and in additional pre-Halloween parties, millions enjoy trying to transform into someone else for a few hours. Masks allow alter egos to flourish and identities to be hidden. But don’t we also do that year-round? Remember the words that George Benson sang in his famous song: Are we really happy here With this lonely game we play Looking for words to say? Searching, but not finding understanding anyway We’re lost in a masquerade I wonder if this also reflects our national attitude. After the past few years of shocks and meltdowns, nervousness and negativity, we often yearn to be someone … or somewhere ... else. It’s more comfortable to hide out and appear more politically sensitive. It’s easier to avoid more personal involvement in life if we’re under the radar. Think about how we disguise ourselves each day by putting on

false facades. It’s one thing to be optimistic and “put on a happy face” (since that does help improve mood), but it’s quite another to use masking to keep away from relationships and sharing at a deeper level. Instead it’s easier to detach from the needs of others and even try to hide from ourselves. Pursuing transparency Our nation has been more obsessed than ever about looks, beauty and Botox, surgical adjustments and just about anything else to create a different exterior. But no matter what’s happening on the outside, the core inside is what counts. And if the soul is out of whack, no amount of disguising or outside renovation matters. This Halloween season maybe it’s time to strip away the masks and embrace transparency in life, “warts and all.” The fact is that God created each of us as unique individuals, equipped for relationships and ministry each day. All of the costumes and cover-ups don’t change that one bit. Larson is a veteran Southern California radio/television personality and media consultant. He can be heard daily in San Diego on KCBQ 1170AM from 6 to 9 a.m., and on KPRZ 1210AM from 2 to 4 p.m. Email: mark@marklarson.com.

Defining and understanding the battle of presidential worldviews A classic battle of worldviews is shaping up for 2012. We know every election is important, but presidential elections provide a unique opportunity to decide which of two competing worldviews will drive the major moral decisions we’ll face as a nation. One worldview sees mankind as basically good, with government an obvious tool that extends and applies that nature with unlimited potential and incredible power for benefit to all. The second worldview, based upon God’s revealed truth, sees mankind’s intrinsic nature as fundamentally evil (Jeremiah 17:9), with unbridled government an abusive and powerful reflection and expansion of that nature. The concept of limited government implemented by our founders clearly assumed the biblical view was the correct one. Over time, and in particular during the last generation, the worldview driving politics at the national level believes in mankind’s “goodness” and places hope in the benevolence of a government assuming control of virtually every aspect of life. However, the Congressional House of Representatives 2010 election demonstrated the public was finally willing to push back against an obvious out-of-control government—at least one that can’t be trusted with the economy and our health care system. This sets up the next presidential election as nothing less than a massive showdown to determine which competing understanding of reality, and the role of government, should predominate in the years ahead. What’s at stake, is no less than deciding whether our government will: feed more government takeover of the economy or incentivize

free market expansion; increase stopped at all costs, by any means. individual and family dependence But when government is restrained on government or to its proper role of encourage personal punishing evil and comresponsibility; punmending what’s good ish wealth creation (Romans 13:1-5; 1 Peor incentivize its creter 2:14), it can result ation; ignore the nain blessings to the extional debt or show ercise of our individual fiscal responsibility; freedoms, an encourincrease or decrease agement to pursue our tax burdens; abolish salt and light mandate, or strengthen traand an openness to proditional marriage; claiming the gospel and Frank Kacer ration health care biblical truths to all of for the weak or comsociety. petitively improve the world’s finRealistically, if massive governest health care system; continue mental control begins to be disirrational dependence on foreign mantled next year, then moral energy or responsibly use our own values can once more be openly resources; unilaterally disarm or debated in the public realm, uncounter all threats domestic and bridled by government-imposed foreign; protect abortion at all costs hostility toward our values. or defend the sanctity of life; grant This is a battle worth fighting for. citizenship to lawbreakers or incen- In this struggle we shouldn’t evalutivize their departure; crush state’s ate potential candidates on just rights or restore and respect them; their policy positions, or a simple continue normalizing of repugnant claim to be a Christian, but on the sexual lifestyles or encouraging sex- worldview that they believe is true. ual morality. The worldview that wins the next Unwitting accomplices election, will determine these as Most people I’ve met, and unforwell as many other moral decisions tunately many Christians, believe for a long time. man is fundamentally good. This not only trivializes biblical truth, Government knows best but it accepts a relativistic postClearly, the current administra- modernism that denies the very tion embraces an ideology that need for the gospel. believes government is benevolent Is it any wonder many Christians and knows what’s best for the entire are befuddled how our governnation, independent of facts, rea- ment has become so anti-Christian? soning or historical evidence to the When so many Christians misuncontrary. In fact, history shows that derstand this battle, they become power, unrestrained by any biblical unwitting accomplices in growing values and morals, rapidly becomes the very government that reflects corrupt and the enemy of all that man’s sinful nature and wants to be we as Christians hold dear. man’s “savior.” It’s not surprising, therefore, that No, the political battle around any administration criticism is seen us is a shadow of the spiritual waras not just misguided—but danSee KACER, next page gerous—to its goals and must be

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Google: Some nonprofits are more equal than others For years, Google has made its office software and Gmail programs available to individuals for free and to qualifying nonprofits—including religious organizations—at a discount. Now, however, Christianity Today reports those days are Chuck over for some. Google has grouped several of its tools into a “Google for Nonprofits” program—and “schools, political think tanks, so-called proselytizing groups, churches, and organizations that take religion or sexual orientation into account in hiring,” are excluded from free or discounted access. Christianity Today says that one

reason for this “somenonprofits-are-moreequal-than-others” treatment of churches is due to a fear of offending potential customers. Haven’t we seen this kind of corporate cowardice before? You’ll no doubt recall how last year Apple Colson dropped the Manhattan Declaration’s iPhone app because some gay-rights activists wrongly complained that the Declaration’s support of traditional marriage was anti-gay. And earlier this summer, Howard Schultz, the CEO of Starbucks, withdrew as the keynote speaker from the Willow Creek Leadership Summit because of threats from,

yes, you guessed it, more gay-rights activists. Presumably, Google made its office tools available to nonprofits at a discount because nonprofits provide beneficial services to society—and visibly supporting charity is good public relations and good business. But is Google now saying that those societal benefits count for less than the easily offended sensibilities of a small minority of its potential customers? Remember, churches and religious organizations provide an incredible amount of needed services to their communities—and flourishing communities make for better business environments. Professor Ram Cnaan, from the University of Pennsylvania, estimates that the average urban congregation provides over $476,000 worth of social ser-

vices to its community every year. This includes nearly $95,000 of volunteer hours worked; $79,000 dollars in economic benefits for drugs and alcohol treatment; $22,500 worth of divorce prevention, plus other economic stimulus for crime prevention, and so on. Ironically as well much of it goes to helping people with AIDS. And in almost every case, such church aid is not contingent on the recipient’s beliefs. When you multiply that kind of help by the 300,000 or so churches that exist in the United States— some urban, others suburban and rural—you can see that churches are major social service providers. And many of those churches operate on a shoestring budget: The discounts they once received from Google and still receive from other

companies make a difference. Yes, churches, if they are about the business of the gospel, will attempt to win their friends and neighbors to faith in Christ. And, yes, they will defend their beliefs in the public square. But they aren’t asking for special treatment from Google or anyone else—just equal treatment. Christianity Today reports that Google is continuing to “evaluate” its new program. Let’s hope that Google takes a good, serious look at the great benefits of religious organizations to their communities and also recognizes the difference between tolerance and repression. © 2011 Prison Fellowship. Reprinted with permission. “BreakPoint with Chuck Colson” is a radio ministry of Prison Fellowship.

Proper role of government: Empowering people to catch up In my high school days, before sex and environmental education and the general dumbing down of the population, memorization of some Shakespeare was expected in Miss Kauffman’s 12th-grade English class. A favorite I still recall is this line spoken by Brutus in “Julius Caesar”: “There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries...” U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., repeatedly says in various ways it is too soon, or he isn’t ready, for higher office, such as vice president. He’s been in the Senate for a little more than seven months and has delivered only two major speeches—his maiden speech on the Senate floor and one in late August at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif. In the Reagan Library speech, Rubio laid out his philosophical foundation, something that must be at the heart of any policy. Defining the proper role of government ought to be the central issue in the coming presidential campaign. Indeed, it should occupy our thoughts between campaigns be-

The 9th Circuit kicked the doors down Praise the Lord for the information in your September 2011 issue concerning the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision in the SDSU nondiscrimination case. I believe the court’s decision to

KACER… Continued from last page fare struggling for the soul of our nation (Ephesians 6:12). We need to recognize this battle for what it is, and fight to restore to the public debate the need for understanding both the nature of unregenerate man, and the dangers of a government unbridled by biblical truth. If we don’t engage now, the window on our ability to influence this nation’s health will rapidly close, as will our freedoms to openly proclaim God’s truths. Kacer is executive director for the Christian Citizenship Council of San Diego. He can be reached at frankkacer@hotmail.com.

Conservatism is about… giving them the tools…to access all the hope, all the promise, all the opportunity that America offers. cause those of us who pay income tax are not getting a good return on our investment. Here’s Rubio: “We have the opportunity—within our lifetimes— to actually craft a proper role for government in our nation that will allow us to come closer than any Americans have ever come to our collective vision of a nation where both prosperity and compassion exist side by side.” That takes the “compassionate conservatism” of George W. Bush to a different level. To Rubio, prosperity is not the opposite of compassion. Rather, the two are—or should be—joined. Prosperity provides the means by which people can be compassionate to those truly

in need, such as the disabled and elderly. It is also the ticket out of dependency for people who can work but have been robbed of their dignity by addiction to a government check. Dignity leads to many other character qualities, which advance the true welfare of an individual, benefiting society. Someone with dignity, self-regard and respect for others is unlikely to take part in a flash mob attack. Rubio points to a path beyond the familiar “either-or” debate; beyond envy of the wealthy and multiple and ineffective programs to liberate the “poor.” This repetitive scenario has produced, said Rubio, “a government that not even the richest and most prosperous na-

reinforce the university’s nondiscrimination policy presents Christians with two positive benefits. First, it will wean collegiate clubs off of the government dole, and place them squarely where they ought to be: dependent upon God and the church. By doing that the university’s Christian club is able to prohibit members who do not truly love God. Secondly, the 9th Circuit has simultaneously kicked down the doors of the atheist, the LGBT and any other clubs who must allow Christians to join or risk losing their government funding. I suggest that mature Christian students have been given the “green light” to join such clubs and evangelize in them. Raymond Saenz Valley Center, Calif.

to think scientifically, where is the scientifically substantiated, empirically verified, replicatable-proof that “homosexual orientation” is real, other than the wishful thinking of self-deluded homosexuals and their minion-bedfellow heterosexual cohorts? If there is no proof for “homosexual orientation,” then it can’t be scientifically known. If it can’t be scientifically known, then it’s arbitrary and has no place in education! But because of the emotional irrationality of political correctness evil will be presented as good and good as evil (Isaiah 5:20). This tension will be recognized in the critical-thinking class as well. An unproven “homosexual orientation” has arbitrarily and illogically been placed in the category pertaining to race in the Education Code. The strategy is to bamboozle heterosexuals into referring to these people as “gay people,” “gay families,” “gay couples” and “gay community” to give the impression of a minority, which is faulty reasoning. Only a homosexualized-mind

The faulty thinking of SB48 By passing SB48 California public school students will be getting diverse signals regarding science, critical thinking and “homosexual orientation.” Thoughtful students will point out that since they are being taught

America offers. And our programs to help them should reflect that.” If this is not a speech that lays the foundation for a Rubio run for higher The Republican role office, it is a speech Rubio went further that ought to begin a than what might be major transition from expected of a RepubCal Thomas costly and ineffective lican, acknowledging his party is partly responsible for government programs to a renewed the growth of government: “I know empowerment of individuals. No one, perhaps not even Rubio, that it is popular in my party to blame the president, the current can know for certain whether he is president. But the truth is the only “ready” for higher office. President thing this president has done is ac- Obama has proven he wasn’t ready. celerate policies that were already Some leaders don’t know they can in place and were doomed to fail. lead until leadership is thrust upon All he is doing through his poli- them. The right philosophy is key cies is making the day of reckon- and the Reagan Library speech ing come faster, but it was coming proves that Rubio has the most important ingredient of any leader: nonetheless.” And then there is this, which vision. Read it, be inspired and shatters the left’s stereotype about then consider whether Rubio’s tide the right: “Conservatism is not is rising. To read the speech, visit about leaving people behind. Con- www.weeklystandard.com and type servatism is about empowering Rubio Reagan Library speech in people to catch up, to give them search box. the tools ... that make it possible for © 2011 Tribune Media Services them to access all the hope, all the promise, all the opportunity that Inc. tion on the face of the Earth can fund or afford to pay for. An extraordinary tragic accomplishment, if you can call it that.”

that has been bamboozled by the detestable doctrines and perverted practices of same-sex Sodom will think that this retrograde mindset is justified true belief! When GOD’S law is not in the schools they become like Sodom and Gomorrah (Isaiah 1:9; Romans 9:29). Norman Sturgeon Cypress, Calif. Truth and eternity Tragedy of tragedies: Truth arrived at by debates, public opinion polls, popularity of various edicts and teaching of different religious groups. “Not to worry; all religions end up in the same place,” produces a sense of security, proved false by the immutable Word of God. Spiritual truth will always disturb and irritate those who will not submit to any claim, disagreeing with “what I have always has been taught.” Truth can be attacked; it cannot be destroyed. The democratic “majority rules” will not suffice for mathematical or spiritual truth.”

While religions continue to be divisive, Christianity unites people the world over. Those comprising God’s family are those who have trusted in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ as payment in full for their sin. To despise and reject Christ’s claim to be the Messiah, the only Savior of the world, is to believe Satan’s lies, and assures eternal doom and darkness. To accuse Christ of trying to “cram His religion down our throats,” will not be an acceptable excuse. Receptivity is a divine command and a sober responsibility. “There is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” If we are void of scriptural understanding we ought to be greatly alarmed. “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. He who has the Son has life. These things are written that you may know you have eternal life.” Death is certain. Will we sadly reflect for eternity on what could have been? Richard Ellison Yucaipa, Calif.

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San Diego State Christian clubs to appeal discrimination case to U.S. Supreme Court Christian Examiner staff report SAN DIEGO — Attorneys representing several Christian clubs at San Diego State University will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review a ruling by a lower court that upheld the college’s nondiscrimination policy. The Christian clubs believe the policy, which allows all non-religious student groups to require that their leaders and voting members agree with the groups’ beliefs—but denies that same right to religious student groups—discriminates against religion. “The university should be a marketplace of ideas, not a place where the purveyors of political correctness pick and choose who will be allowed to exercise their First Amendment protected rights,� said ADF Senior Counsel David Cortman. “SDSU only requires religious clubs to operate with members and leaders who disagree with the clubs’ views and purpose. The university is not telling the Democratic club it must be led by a Republican, or the vegetarian club that it must be led

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adhere to a biblical code of conduct to maintain their Christian identities and expressions. Alpha Gamma Omega, a fraternity that is also a party in the lawsuit, requires the same of its officers. University officials denied the groups recognition and the many benefits that flow from recognition, based on their religious beliefs as expressed in their membership and leadership policies. “The 9th Circuit’s ruling poses a serious threat to religious liberty well beyond the university campus,� said ADF Legal Counsel Jeremy Tedesco. “It is an end run around decades of law establishing the right of religious groups to equally access government-created forums for free speech. If this right can be trumped by mandating compliance with a ‘nondiscrimination’ policy that requires groups to give up the ability to protect their identities, then religious liberty’s days are numbered. The court’s rationale could be extended to exclude religious organizations from all government-created forums, benefits and statuses, including tax exemptions.�

Judge blocks Texas law requiring sonograms before abortions By Lori Arnold

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by a meat-eater, but it is telling Christian groups that they must allow themselves to be led by atheists.� On Aug. 2, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided that the university’s nondiscrimination policy is constitutional because the Christian clubs were not able to prove the rules suppressed their viewpoints or restricted their expression. The ADF legal team maintains the appeals court got it wrong and that the high court answered a similar question last year in Christian Legal Society v. Wu (Martinez). In the previous decision, the court concluded that public universities may override a religious student group’s right to determine its leadership only if it denies that right to all student groups. SDSU’s policy only denies that right to religious student groups, which the Christian club’s attorneys say is unlawful discrimination based upon a group’s viewpoint. ADF is representing Alpha Delta Chi, a sorority at SDSU that requires its voting members and officers to profess their faith in Jesus Christ and

AUSTIN, Texas — A federal judge has blocked implementation of a new Texas law requiring sonograms for all women seeking abortions. U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks issued a preliminary injunction Aug. 30 prohibiting penalties against doctors who violate the law’s provisions, saying the law’s language was “unconstitutionally vague� and infringes upon the First Amendment rights of doctors. The law was to have been implemented Sept. 1. “Today’s ruling is a huge victory for women in Texas and a clear signal to the state legislature that it went too far when it passed this law,� Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, said in a statement after the ruling. The center filed a class-action lawsuit against the regulations on June 13 on behalf of Texas abortion

doctors and their patients. It is also fighting a similar bill in Oklahoma. “Politicians have no business telling doctors how to practice medicine or meddling in women’s private medical decisions,� she said. In his decision, Starks said the law exceeds the primary focus of the practice of medicine. “The act compels physicians to advance an ideological agenda with which they may not agree, regardless of any medical necessity, and irrespective of whether the pregnant women wish to listen,� Sparks wrote. As to the center’s charge that the bill was too vague, Sparks responded, “The court is inclined to agree with defendants’ characterization that “plaintiffs have chosen to throw everything at the wall and hope something sticks,� according to CNN. Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who signed the bill into law in May, vowed to appeal the decision.

“Every life lost to abortion is a tragedy, and today’s ruling is a great disappointment to all Texans who stand in defense of life,� he said. “This important sonogram legislation ensures that every Texas woman seeking an abortion has all the facts about the life she is carrying and understands the devastating impact of such a life-changing decision. I have full confidence in Attorney General Abbott’s efforts to appeal this decision as he defends the laws enacted by the Texas Legislature.� Under the terms of the law, a woman must have a sonogram within 24 hours of an abortion procedure and doctors are required to describe the physical attributes of the baby as shown by the sonogram, including its dimensions and the development of its limbs, organs and heartbeat. The law provided exceptions from the verbal descriptions requirements for women in cases of rape, incest or fetal abnormality.

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SD

October 2011 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • 9

Escondido council prayers prompt lawsuit threat from ACLU National Center for Law & Policy offers to defend the city By Lori Arnold ESCONDIDO — The National Center for Law & Policy has offered to represent the city of Escondido pro bono if the American Civil Liberties Union follows through with a threat to sue over sectarian prayers. The offer was made after the ACLU sent a demand letter to city officials over the summer saying the existing policy is unfairly promoting Christianity. In its June 28 letter, the San Diego ACLU alleged that Escondido’s “moment of reflection� violates the federal Establishment Clause and

STUDENTS‌ Continued from page 1 The siblings decided to organize the talent show to raise money to send Talking Bibles to illiterate and blind people in India. Fundraising is not new to the Eggers, who have frequently turned birthdays into money raisers for charity. Three years ago the family hosted a carnival for two of the younger boys with the proceeds benefiting street children in the Philippines. They approached other homeschooling families in their network and people from their church. Helping behind the scenes were their siblings, Joshua, 17, and Theresa, 14. Christianne said the task wasn’t too difficult and that her peers were eager to participate. “God was faithful because there were 400 seats in the room and we only filled 150 and yet we raised $2,500,â€? the teenager said. Rory Eggers said the level of talent among the youth was impressive. “It was so much easier to get the young people involved than getting people to the talent show,â€? she said, adding that many people dismissed the event thinking the quality of the talent might not rise to concert-level. “The kids really found excellent talent. They had been doing their

the state constitution’s No Preference and the Ban on Aid Religion Clause. “The government has no business endorsing any religion,� said David Blair-Loy, legal director of the San Diego ACLU. “Our Constitution protects freedom of conscience best by keeping government out of religion.� The ACLU said it began monitoring the prayers after receiving at least one complaint. It believes that any prayer specifically referencing Jesus, Lord or heavenly Father is solely associated with Christianity and in violation of the law. Under existing policy, the calendar for the moments of reflection is maintained by a volunteer from Emmanuel Faith Community and is open to spiritual leaders from any religion or denomination. Those

(music) thing for so long, (that) all they really had to do was show up. God’s hand was all over this.� In all, 30 young adults, ages 12 to 23, most homeschooled, participated in the planning and preparation for the talent show, held Sept. 10. “I was impressed by the level of skill of these young musicians,� Meek said. The students performed selections from Bach, Broadway musicals, contemporary Christian music, dance and martial arts. Instruments included the harp, cello, violin, bass violin, piano and voice. “The planning and execution of this project was a real world learning experience in which the students planned the event and music, organized the rehearsals and practice times, marketed the tickets to family, friends and church members at Grace Church of Rancho Bernardo and performed a wellplanned evening program,� he said. The event, he said, cost $190 but netted $2,500. In addition to help from the church, Christian Family Schools of Poway also assisted in the project, Eggers said. “What an amazing spiritual return on investment,� Meeks said. Based in Escondido, Talking Bibles is a mission organization that is dedicated to placing audio Scriptures with illiterate and blind people around the globe.

who present the meeting moments are asked to be inclusive and abstain from using any language affiliated with a specific denomination or religion. In addition to the ACLU, the issue also garnered the attention of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which sent an eight-page letter to the city on July 25. “It is our ‌ understanding that members of the public regularly attend council meetings and have necessary business before the council, and that they are coerced to join in the prayers when they are told by the speakers to rise or bow their heads in prayer,â€? read the letter drafted by Rebecca Markert, a staff attorney with the foundation. City Attorney Jeffery R. Epp, in his response to the ACLU’s demand letter, said that he was examining the language in the council’s meeting agendas in regard to the complaint “as well as several other possible steps that can be taken to assure that the city of Escondido remains within the constitutional parameters on this topic.â€?

The city’s response did not go far enough, according to Blair-Loy, who sent a more detailed letter explaining his demands. “The city must make clear that nonsectarian invocations are mandatory and inform interested persons that failure to comply with this rule will result in disqualification from eligibility to deliver a ‘moment of reflection’ at the City Council,� he said. “The mayor or other presiding officer must also remind the speaker at the meeting of the obligation to deliver a nonsectarian statement.� Dean Broyles, chief counsel for the National Center, formerly known as the Western Center for Law & Policy, said he is confident the ACLU’s demands are unfounded. Broyles sent city officials a detailed 10-page legal memorandum addressing the assertions of both groups while explaining the applicable legal principles and case law. “We have a well-established and constitutionally permitted practice in America of solemnizing public governmental gatherings with

prayer,� he said in a letter to supporters. “The U.S. Supreme Court has determined that such invocations are perfectly legal. The First Amendment actually protects religion and religious practices—even in public. Government may certainly acknowledge and accommodate religion without violating the law. The essential right protected is freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. Broyles went on to call the ACLU’s legal interpretation of the matter “radical� and a “perversion of the First Amendment.� “We must not allow the ACLU or the Freedom from Religion Foundation to succeed in their dark campaign to remove religious expression from our national public life. If the freedom of speech and the free exercise of religion mean anything, they require that individual citizens offering public prayers must be free to pray according to the dictates of their conscience and must not be censored or coerced to only pray words approved by the ACLU or the government.�

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SOMALIA‌ Continued from page 1 sanitation practices. “They are a people who live day to day under oppression,â€? Eller said. “That is tragic enough without the effects of a drought placed upon them. It’s not just that things are a little worse; this is a tragedy at the heart of the issue. Their children are dying.â€? Eller worries that people will grow tired of hearing about Somalia because it has been in desperate need for so many years. “This situation is different,â€? he said. “Before, the people were always able to pull together a little bit to eat. Their normal lives were just above the survival line, but now they have dropped below it. That demands a response from all of us.â€? With no infrastructure of communication, it is challenging to tell people where to go for supplies, food and water. Though starving, they put everything on their backs and leave their homes behind, not sure where to go, according to Eller. More than 1,300 people cross the border into Kenya each day, where an established

refugee camp is already at 300 percent of its capacity. World Concern is addressing the famine in several specific ways. It is bringing water, emergency food and survival supplies to southern Somalia, which has been inaccessible until recently because of high security risks. The organization is also extending its reach to northern Somalia and Kenya, with the primary goal of delivering water to families. “The situation has been building for years,� Eller said, explaining that the recent announcement by the United Nations brings the need into sharper focus and is an appeal for governments around the world to increase their response. “It is the highest need in the world today,� Eller said. “It is not a short-term problem like a hurricane or earthquake. This is the worst drought the region has seen in more than 60 years.� The United Nations is gathering relief organizations, including World Concern, to coordinate efforts to help the people of Somalia. To find out how you can help, visit www.worldconcern.org/crisis or call (866) 530-5433.

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Study: Abortion tied to depression, suicide By Michael Foust BP News Service LONDON — Women who have undergone an abortion have an 81 percent higher risk for mental health problems and are more likely to attempt suicide, abuse alcohol and suffer depression, according to a study in a mainstream British journal that is getting considerable attention from both sides of the abortion debate. The meta-analysis—meaning it reviewed numerous studies of related research—in the latest edition of the British Journal of Psychiatry examined 22 studies from 1995 to 2009 involving 877,000 women, including 163,000 who had experienced an abortion. The paper’s author, Priscilla K. Coleman of Bowling Green State University, said there actually are “hundreds of studies� showing a link between abortion and serious mental health risks, and that three recent studies that reached a very different conclusion had major flaws. One of those studies by an American Psychological Association task force received significant media attention and concluded there were no risks.

But Coleman said her analysis shows that abortion “is associated with moderate to highly increased risks of psychological problems.� “There are in fact some real risks associated with abortion that should be shared with women as they are counseled prior to an abortion decision,� Coleman writes in her paper before chiding the research community for not conducting unbiased research. “... The responsibility therefore rests initially within the research community to set aside personal ideological commitments, objectively examine all high-quality published data, and conduct analyses of the literature that are based on state-of-the-art data analysis procedures....� The issue of abortion and mental health problems, she wrote, too often is “shrouded in political controversy� and “has not received the scholarly attention it deserves.� The fact that the study was published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, one of the world’s leading psychiatric journals, is important, those who monitor the abortion debate say. “Its appearance in a top psychiatry journal indicates that it was

carefully critiqued and evaluated by respected public-health scholars,� Michael J. New, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, wrote at NationalReview.com. “... Hopefully, the prestige of the journal, the volume of studies included, and the consistency of the findings will encourage the mainstream media to give a second look to this important issue.� Coleman’s study “offers the largest available body of evidence on the psychological impact of abortion,� New said. Jeanne Monahan, director of the Family Research Council’s Center for Human Dignity, said the study “reveals the indisputable truth that abortion is bad for women’s mental health.� FRC is a pro-life group. “With this information, doctors now have a valid and unbiased synthesis of the current research available on the relationship between abortion and women’s mental health,� Monahan said in a statement. “Because it is a meta-analysis, the research is much more thorough and reliable than any other single study or review to date.�

Julian group hires law firm over removal of crosses JULIAN — Local group Save Our Crosses! is working to restore three crosses at Inspiration Point and has retained the services of The National Center for Law & Policy. The group is challenging a decision by the California Department of Transportation, which removed the crosses Aug. 23 from property it owns south of Julian. “We are very pleased to announce that the crosses have been safely returned to where they belong—the community of Julian,� said Dean Broyles, president and chief counsel for the legal center. “It is our understanding that at least one of the crosses was established as a war memorial in 1956. For more than the past five decades, the community and passers-by have enjoyed seeing the crosses, and many community members, including my wife, have celebrated Easter sunrise services at Inspiration Point over the years.� Dorinda Smith of Save Our Crosses! helped spearhead a grassroots effort to save the crosses from being removed

after the community was notified the memorials were illegally encroached on public land. But the community was caught by surprise when Caltrans removed the crosses early one morning before the sun came up. The group had hoped to get permits to allow the crosses to remain. “It is wonderful to have experienced attorneys counseling us,� Smith said. Broyles, whose organization was previously known as the Western Center for Law & Policy, chided Caltrans for listening to the complaints of just a few people while ignoring the “greater weight of voices in the community.� “The state of California is not legally required to treat historically significant public religious symbols like cancer or toxic waste—as something to be eradicated,� he said. “In fact, the government may acknowledge and accommodate religion without offending the Constitution. No state religion is “established� by simply permitting religious symbols on government land.�

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October 2011 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • 11

Reuben Morgan and Hillsong Live expand their reach features the judging panel of Ben Folds, Sara Bareilles and Boyz II Men’s Shawn Stockman and brings together a cappella groups from around the nation, who compete each week for the votes of the viewers. Lampa will hit the road later this fall with Group 1 Crew, Shonlock and Rapture Ruckus for the Outta Space Love Tour. For more information, visit www. rachaellampa.com.

By Lori Arnold Australia’s Hillsong Live, in the midst of a European tour, released its latest album, “God Is Able� in July. Garnering wide acclaim, the album climbed to No. 1 on multiple retail sales charts. Worship leader Reuben Morgan said the title song hit close to home this year as his native homeland was rocked with cyclones and floods. “We were continually reminded just how true those words are,� he said. “God is able: able to save, able to heal, able to rescue from the fiercest storms and highest floods. There are so many times when you feel as though you are out of your depth—in my case it happens every time I get up to lead worship or speak—and there’s something revolutionary about being able to say or sing “our God is able, In His name we overcome, for the Lord our God is able.� “You can’t celebrate God’s ability without realizing quite how weak we really are; you can’t say God is able without also remembering that we are not. And here’s the really crazy thing about acknowledging our weakness: it’s one of the most comforting and liberating things around.� Transparent Productions has announced that Hillsong Live will appear in Los Angeles at the Nokia Theatre on December 5. For more information, visit live. hillsong.com. For details on their LA performance, visit www.transparentproductions.com. Reuben Morgan single recorded, released by Kimber Rising Reuben Morgan’s writing prowess may also prove liberating for Kimber Rising, a Pop/R&B trio featuring sisters Amanda and Brianna Wilcox and Danielle Cruz. The three-year-old group will spend the fall promoting the radio play of their new single, “Forever Reign,� penned by Morgan and awardwinning songwriter and producer Jason Ingram. It will be released as a digital offering in October. The group, which just signed with Save the City Records, has performed more than 300 concerts

Hillsong Live worship leader Reuben Morgan said Australia’s recent natural disasters helped him to better see that “God Is Able.�

and toured with the likes of artists such as Building 429, Todd Agnew and 33Miles, as well as Mandisa, Natalie Grant, LeCrae and David Crowder Band. Derek Hoiem, president of the label, said the trio exemplifies the type of artists they strive to support. “They are excellent in their craft, they’ve paid a fair amount of indie dues, and they just flat out love God,� he said. “They show their passion for sharing the gospel not only with their voices but with their lives.� For more information, visit www. kimberrising.com. Lampa goes a cappella to compete on ‘The Sing-Off’ Dove Award-winning recording artist Rachel Lampa was set to take to the small screen Sept. 19 as part of the a cappella group The Collective for season three of the fall NBC series “The Sing-Off.� Lampa, whose new album All We Need was due in stores on Sept. 27, is part of a group of Nashville vocalists formed specifically for the series by Jeremy Lister of season two runner-up Street Corner Symphony. Hosted by Nick Lachey, the show

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Groves gives fans early release to 10th record Sara Groves 10th record, Invisible Empires, is set to officially release on Oct. 18 but is offering a pre-release special, including a T-shirt and bonus songs, on her website. In a note on her website, Groves said the album was heavily influenced by Chapter 9 of Eugene Peterson’s “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction,� a book she said she reads annually. “Structures become more important than the people who live in them,� he writes. “Machines become more important than the people who use them. We care more for our possessions with which we hope to make our way in the world than with our thoughts and dreams which tell us who we are in the world.� She goes on, citing Psalm 127, “Invisible Empires is looking at two skylines: one that is frenetic and man-made, and one that is eternal and not built in vain.� For more information, visit her site at www.saragroves.com.

Dove Award winner Rachel Lampa is showcasing her voice as part of the a cappella group The Collective on the NBC show “The Sing Off.�

Jeremy Camp welcomes new baby, album and book There’s apparently no such thing as the dog days of summer for Grammy-nominated artist Jeremy Camp, whose calendar is filled with a variety of new things, including a son with wife, Adrienne. Egan Thomas Camp arrived early in the morning Aug. 17 and is the first brother for big sisters Bella, 6, and Arie, 5. Egan made his entrance just as his famous daddy’s radio single “The Way� was No. 1 at AC Monitored—his 24th career top hit. Jeremy Camp was also scheduled to begin his fall headlining

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Rebuilding the foundation Demolishing the pillars of evolution and reinforcing the biblical basis for origins 7HAT ABOUT THE DINOSAURS Did T-rex eat plants? How did all those animals get on the Ark? 7ERE DINOSAURS ON THE !RK How did the animals get to the Ark? Have we found the Ark? 7HAT ABOUT LIGHT FROM DISTANT STARS If God created the world, who created God? Get answers for these questions and many more‌

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tour “We Cry Out� at the end of September just as his book “I Still Believe: Discovering Hope and Healing in the Midst of Life’s Deepest Valleys� was due for release. The chronicle reflects his journey of losing his first wife, Melissa, to cancer just months after marrying, and how he has grown in his relationship with God through the past 10 years. The full-circle account of Camp’s story explores how his story has impacted his music. On Sept. 10 he was one of the featured artists at the Harvest Crusade at Dodger Stadium. Visit www.jeremycamp.com/tour.

s &INDING THE FOUNDATION %VOLUTION ATTACKS creation, and why you should care s $ESIGN VS #HANCE $EFEATING THE hILLUSION OF designâ€? argument s #REATED FULLY FUNCTIONAL 7HY %VOLUTION CANNOT explain design through gradual changes s 'ENESIS AND 3CIENCE SUPPORT PROGRAMMED l LLING not natural selection s .OT ENOUGH TIME 4HE GEOLOGIC REFUTATION OF evolution and of millions of years s !RE ANCESTOR DESCENDENT RELATIONSHIPS RECORDED by fossils? Separating fact from ďŹ ction s 7HY ARE CREATURES SO SIMILAR $EFENDING 'ENESIS FROM THE EVOLUTIONARY ATTACK OF hHOMOLOGYv s $INOSAURS DISTANT STARLIGHT AND OTHER SUPPOSED ‘discrepancies’ between the Bible and nature

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Rock Church 2277 Rosecrans St., San Diego This seminar will focus on the scientific evidence for a Creator in order to teach believers how to defend their faith. Presented by Vox Veritas, the Apologetics ministry of the Rock Church

PRESENTERS Dr. Randy Guliuzza Dr. Guliuzza is a captivating speaker who presents welldocumented and often humorous scientiďŹ c and biblical talks to audiences of all ages. Dr. Guliuzza has a B.S. in Engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, a B.A. in theology from Moody Bible Institute, an M.D. from the University of Minnesota, and a Masters in Public Health from Harvard University.

Dr. Nathaniel Jeanson Dr. Jeanson specializes in Biology and Stem Cells. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard Medical School. He earned his B.S. in Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics. Dr. Jeanson’s research at ICR involves the investigation of molecular mechanisms of biological change from a young-earth perspective.

For information, contact Ronald Newcomb at (619) 501-1800 or email newcomb1@cox.net.

12 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • October 2011 SD

www.christianexaminer.com

Potter’s Field brings unique ministry performance to SoCal Christian Examiner staff report FALLBROOK — For centuries, Christian hymns have exalted the purity of the Christian life and likened the cleansing of sins to the whiteness of snow. Even so, Michael Rozell, a Christian since 1987, can’t quite seem to get out of the muck. In fact, he relishes it. Nearly one-third of the year he finds himself up to his elbows in miry clay. It covers his face, jeans and Tshirt. Nearby, his wife, Pam, diligently watches as she sings original songs capturing the hope of Christ through the imagery of the Potter and the clay. The Montana couple created the Potter’s Field Ministry in 1992 after appearing at a women’s retreat in Florida. The performance blended their natural talents—his passion for pottery, which he developed at age 14, and her talent for singing and songwriting. The unique team effort has traveled across the country, leading people to Christ and bringing

healing to wounded hearts. Southern Californians will get numerous opportunities to see their ministry in person in October and November as the couple tours the Southland. The national ministry has enabled Michael Rozell to share his journey from brokenness to wholeness in an effort to inspire others. A onetime Wall Street marketing director, he survived the high-stress position through a variety of addictions that he said “gripped and enslaved his life.� But two days after his marriage to Pam, he accepted Christ while visiting Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa at the invitation of a friend. Leaning on the Lord, Rozell, now an ordained pastor, turned his back on his addictions and left his sales career to follow the Lord. Pam Rozell, a former Miss Georgia and a contestant in the Miss America Pageant, shares about her success in the music industry, having been a featured soloist at the White House,

Former Pianist for Legacy Five Nominated for Musician of the Year 2011, Tim Parton is an accomplished pianist and vocalist.

West Coast Solo Tour Special presentation

Sunday, October 16th 4:00 p.m. (doors open at 3:00 p.m.)

Faith Chapel 9400 Campo Road Spring Valley 619-461-7451 www.fchapel.org Suggested donation for love offering $10 per person or $25 per family

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a Broadway cast member in “42nd Street� and an original cast member of the Los Angeles Company at the Shubert Theatre. She also had a solo act as a headline entertainer on luxury liners, traveling the world aboard seven different cruise lines. “But no accomplishments could fill the void in her heart,� her bio says. “It wasn’t until she fully surrendered to Jesus that she found a true purpose and fulfillment in life. What Pam was looking for in performance was a substitute for the fullness of life that Christ promised in His Word.� Those who attend their presentations will learn about a new aspect of their ministry, Potter’s Field Kids, which ministers to children in Central America, Southeast Asia and Africa through an orphanage, after school and literacy programs, and other education and recreation projects. The Rozells, sensing another call of the Lord, also established the Mis-

Pam Rozell sings original music about the Potter and the clay while her husband, Michael Rozell, molds pottery. The couple, founders of the Potter’s Field Ministry, are touring Southern California.

sions Training School at Potter’s Field Ranch to train missionaries to fulfill the Great Commission. “He has truly fashioned a ministry that is doing its part to spread the gospel of Christ all over the world, whether it be through the touring ministry or by taking care of God’s children,� their website says. The couple will bring their ministry to Calvary Chapel Fallbrook at 7 p.m. Oct. 16. Childcare will be available, and a dessert fellowship will follow the performance. The church

is located at 488 Industrial Way. For more information, call (760) 7289138. Calvary Chapel Ramona will host the couple at 7 p.m. Oct. 27. For more information on that performance, call (760) 789-6031. The final San Diego County presentation will be Oct. 30 at Calvary Chapel Escondido. For more information, call (760) 489-6255. To see more Southern California tour stops, visit www.pottersfield.org.

Apologetics conference to focus on biblical science By Lori Arnold POINT LOMA — The Institute for Creation Research will present a free daylong apologetics seminar looking at the scientific support for creation from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Rock Church. “It’s all scientific evidence that supports the biblical narrative,� said Ronald Newcomb, who directs Vox Veritas, the apologetics ministry at Rock Church. “This is the first of what hopefully will be a slow series of major apologetics events for San Diego.� Vox Veritas means speak truth or the voice of truth. Newcomb said he anticipates the events will be held every six months or so and future presenters could include the Discovery Institute, Biola University and Veritas Evangelical Seminary. “No one is doing anything like this in San Diego,� Newcomb said. “Our vision is for Christians being trained in winning arguments

for defending the biblical view.� The title for the October event is “Rebuilding the foundation: Demolishing the pillars of evolution and reinforcing the biblical basis for origins.� Although the focus is on science, Newcomb stressed that it is developed for a general audience and is designed to draw people who would not normally attend church. “This is a thinking conference,� he said. “It’s not praise and worship. We can do that tomorrow in church. We are defending the Bible as it’s written to the common man.� Speakers for the event will be Dr. Randy Guliuzza, who often weaves humorous scientific information into his biblical talks making them suitable to audiences of all ages, and Dr. Nathaniel Jeanson, who specializes in biology and stem cells. His research at ICR involves the investigation of molecular mechanisms of biological change from a youngearth perspective. The sessions will explore such

fundamental questions as “Finding the foundation: Evolution attacks creation, and why you should care,� “Design vs. Chance: Defeating the ‘illusion of design’ argument,� “Not enough time: The geologic refutation of evolution and of millions of years,� “Dinosaurs, distant starlight, and other supposed ‘discrepancies’ between the Bible and nature,� and “Created fully functional: Why Evolution cannot explain design through gradual changes� In addition, the seminar will consider more specific topics such as “What about the dinosaurs?� “Did T-rex eat plants?� “How did all those animals get on the Ark?� “Were dinosaurs on the Ark?� “How did the animals get to the Ark?� “Have we found the Ark?� “What about light from distant stars?� and “If God created the world, who created God?� The church is located at 2277 Rosecrans St. For more information, visit www. voxveritas.info.

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October 2011 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • 13

Christmas Tabernacle event to bring back true focus of holiday By Lori Arnold POINT LOMA — When it comes to December, San Diego County has boasted a long list of impressive festive celebrations: Pacific Beach Holiday Parade, Del Mar’s Holiday of Lights, San Diego Bay Parade of Lights, Chula Vista Starlight Parade, Ocean Beach Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting, Encinitas Holiday Parade and the Old Town Holiday in the Park. Jamie Sutton, a local businessman and former tourism publisher, wants to know what happened to Christmas. The granddaddy of all San Diego Christmas events was Balboa Park’s Christmas on the Prado, but a decade ago, after a 23-year run, organizers changed the name to December Nights to become more inclusive. “We want to bring Christmas back to San Diego and Christ back to Christmas,” said Sutton, the founder of A Christmas Tabernacle, a three-day festival that will blend the spiritual traditions of Christ’s birth with the more secular observances associated with the holiday. “I wanted to do something with Christmas,” Sutton said. “Now, everything is holiday, holiday, holiday and none of it has anything to do with Christmas because it’s not P.C. Christmas was being taken from Christmas.” Looking for another business opportunity after shutting down his publishing company last year, Sutton decided it was time to follow his longtime dream. “When you are an entrepreneur you have lots of thoughts and ideas and are too busy to act on them,” he said.

For the past year, he’s been acting on that dream—a lot. The family-friendly event is planned for Dec. 16 to 18 at Liberty Station, with as many as 35,000 projected to attend over the course of long weekend. Fun for the family The mammoth festival will be set up on a 350,000-square-foot venue near the center of the Point Loma multi-use development and will feature a wide range of activities and entertainment for all ages. “There are several seasonal celebrations in San Diego that have proven to be very popular, but this festival is meant to celebrate the true meaning and spirit of Christmas,” Sutton said. “It will be more inclusive, featuring more activities that will provide hours of fun-filled moments for all attendees and all in one place.” Among the highlights will be a specialty goods marketplace featuring more than 100 local businesses and artisans, a food court, a living nativity, interactive workshops, Santa’s Village, themed Christmas trees, and a fun zone complete with a real snow play area, games and attractions. Concerts and performances will highlight local artists. Santa’s Workshop will offer an interactive experience where families can buy a kit, make the items with their own hands and turn them in to be donated as Christmas gifts to needy families throughout San Diego. “We wanted it to be about the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Christ, the love of Christ, but at the same time we wanted to bring in the secular community and

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businesses,” Sutton said. “While they are there we will expose them to the true meaning of Christmas.” Strong early response Sutton said he’s been pleased with the response of local businesses and the media. “We were expecting the worst and hoping for the best,” he said. “We really haven’t had any problems.” The title sponsor of A Christmas Tabernacle is City Lights, a yearround Christmas and collectibles emporium, located in Bay Park. City Lights will provide all of the lighting and décor for the themed Christmas tree display as well as for other trees and structures on the grounds. It is the largest sponsorship in the history of City Lights, its co-owner Brian Young said. In addition Sutton has reached in-kind partnership with Pinery Christmas Trees, for more than 100 six- to eight-foot Christmas trees, which will each be individually decorated with a theme. Other event sponsors include

What: A Christmas Tabernacle When: December 16-18 Where: Liberty Station NTC Promenade, Point Loma Features: Specialty-goods vendors, holiday foods, Christmas concerts and dramatic performances, Living Nativity, interactive workshops, Santa’s Village, themed Christmas trees, and a fun zone complete with real snow, games and attractions Cost: $12-$18 — Information — (619) 754-9508 AChristmasTabernacle.com the Christian Examiner, KPRZ 1210 AM, Just MY Ticket, 105.7 The Walrus, Ace Hardware, Sign It, NTC Promenade, 101 Things to Do San Diego, Pacific Event Productions, von Dyl Designs, Kids Included Together, Wyndham Garden Ho-

tel, Ares Travel, Splash Animal, In to Ink Fine Printing, Be Creative, 88.9 KSDW, Ecke Ranch, Moonwolf Media Web Design, Welk Resorts, XEWT Channel 12 and San Diego Family. Additional sponsorships, including main venues such as the main stage, living nativity and Santa’s Village, are still being sought. “The entire event is a wonderful opportunity for businesses to be involved in,” Sutton said. “By sponsoring or helping as a promotional partner, businesses are showing their community involvement and support, being exposed to the community and helping to create a new San Diego tradition.” Event beneficiaries A major thrust of the festival will be its philanthropic outreach, targeting the Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, Rady Children’s Hospital and the USO. Those four organizations will receive proceeds from special nonprofit ticket packages that will be made available as fund-raisers to schools and other groups.

14 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • October 2011 SD

Have your event listed FREE! Send us your Christian activity/event for next month, and we’ll list it in THE CALENDAR at no charge. The deadline is the 15th of the prior month. Send to the Christian Examiner, P.O. Box 2606, El Cajon, CA 92021. Or fax to (619) 668-1115. Or e-mail to calendar@christianexaminer.com. We regret we cannot list Sunday morning services.

SEP 23-25 • FRI-SUN

SEP 30 • FRIDAY (cont.)

1st Annual Prayer Conference, with Rev. Dorisalene Hughes, Apostle Chris Ward & Prophetess Gwen Matthews. Bethel Baptist Church, 1962 N Euclid Ave., San Diego • (619) 266-2411

nie Haase & Signature Sound. 7:30pm, Hillside Community Church, 5354 Haven Ave., Alta Loma • trinitycommunications. org, 1-800-965-9324

SEP 24 • SATURDAY San Diego Christian Writers Guild Fall Writers Conference. 7:30am-4:30pm, Maranatha Church, Rancho Bernardo, 10752 Coastwood Rd., San Diego, $195 • (760) 294-3269 Museum Day. 9am5pm, Creation & Earth Histor y Museum, 10946 Woodside Ave., Santee, free • (619) 599-110 Casting Crowns, with Sanctus Real & The Afters. Crossroads Christian Church, Corona • transparentproductions.com

SEP 25 • SUNDAY Country Glory, with Chris & Jan Harris. Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church, 17010 Pomerado Rd., San Diego, free • (858) 487-0811 x288 Messianic Concert. 6pm, 5714 El Cajon Blvd., El Cajon • (858) 366-2088 Amy Grant & Michael W Smith, ‘2 Friends Tour.’ The Greek Theatre, Los Angeles • transparentproductions.com

SEP 27 • TUESDAY Casting Crowns, with Sanctus Real, The Afters & Lindsay McCaul. Gibson Theater, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City • transparentproductions.com

SEP 28-NOV 6 40 Days for Life campaign for prayer & fasting. 6am-8pm, 120 Craven Rd., San Marcos • (760) 298-7851

SEP 29 • THURSDAY 6th Annual Pastors Appreciation Luncheon, with Bob Lepine. 11:30am-2:30pm, Four Points Sheraton, 8110 Aero Dr., San Diego • kprz.com, (858) 535-1210

SEP 30 • FRIDAY Jesus: Man, Myth or Lord, with Sean McDowell. 6:30-8:30pm, Newbreak Church, 10791 Tierrasanta Blvd., San Diego, free • newbreak.org The Cathedrals-Influenced Tour, with Er-

OCT 1 • SATURDAY David Barton is keynote speaker for Justice 2011, a fundraising gala for Advocates for Faith and Freedom, with comedian Mike Williams, emcee. 5-9pm, Newport Beach Marriott Hotel and Spa, 900 Newport Center Dr., Newport Beach • faith-freedom.com, (951) 304-7583 The Cathedrals-Influenced Tour, with Ernie Haase & Signature Sound. 6pm, Calvary Church, 1010 N. Tustin Ave., Santa Ana • trinitycommunications.org, 1-800-965-9324

OCT 2 • SUNDAY San Diego Life Chain. 2-3:30pm, Balboa Ave., between Genesee Ave. & I805 San Diego • (619) 788-3813

OCT 5 • WDNESDAY My Therapist ‘Sez’…”, an interactive panel of Christian therapists moderated by Dr. Don Welch on “Developmental Stages: What’s Healthy; What’s Not” with Victoria Kim presenting, Dr. Marcial Felan, Gary Cundiff & Cathy Gaetke. 6:458pm, Skyline Church, 11330 Campo Rd., La Mesa • (619) 660-5000

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OCT 7 • FRIDAY

OCT 8 • SATURDAY (cont.)

OCT 21 • FRIDAY (cont.)

The Angels Foster Family Network Luncheon 2011. 11am-1:30pm, Sheraton Hotel & Marina, San Diego, $65 • ingo@ angelsfoster.org

Planting Hope Gala for Plant with a Purpose, with host Bill Menish. 6pm, Paradise Point Resort, Mission Bay • kate@ plantwithapurpose.org, 1-800-633-5319

31300 Rancho Community Way, Temecula, $15-20 • (951) 302-7597

Faith & Work Life Gala Dinner, featuring Bob Doll of BlackRock Equities, 5:30pm, Big Canyon Country Club, Newport Beach • faithandworklife. org, (714) 272-7865

David Crowder Band, “The 7 Tour,” with Gungor, Chris August & John Mark McMillan. 6pm, Palladium, Hollywood • transparentproductions.com

Fall Festival at PLNU. 10am-2:30pm, Point Loma Nazarene University, Point Loma, free • pointloma.edu/fallfestival

Comedy Night “Fun” Raiser, with Cory Clarke, John Hill & Taylor Tomlinson. 7-9pm, Newbreak Church, 10791 Tierrasanta Blvd., San Diego, $15-20 • newbreak.org, (858) 576-0007 David Crowder Band, “The 7 Tour,” with Gungor, Chris August & John Mark McMillan. 7pm, House of Blues, 1055 5th Ave., San Diego • transparentproductions.com

OCT 7-NOV 20 “Servant of Two Masters.” Lamb’s Players Theatre, 1142 Orange Ave., Coronado • lambsplayers.org, (619) 437-6000

OCT 8 • SATURDAY Faith & Work Life 4 th annual conference, 7:30am3:30pm, Concordia University, Irvine. $25 • faithandworklife.org, (714) 272-7865 We Love Orphans Benefit, with Stephen Ybarra, Joshua Spitsbergen & David Necaise. 8am-3pm, 10180 Willowcreek Rd., San Diego. Sponsored by K-Praise 1210am KPRZ • abidingplace.org, weloveorphans.org

OCT 6 • THURSDAY

WHIP, Warring Handmaiden’s In Pursuit of building God’s Kingdom, God’s Total Handmaiden Conference. 9am-12:45pm, Grace Covenant Christian Church, 2885 Clay Ave., San Diego • (619) 531-0901

Family Connections Christian Adoption Information Session. 6-8pm, 291 S El Camino Real, Ste 202, Oceanside, free • fcadoptions.org, (760) 966-0531

San Diego Women’s Connection. 11:30am-1:30pm, Mission Valley Resort, 875 Hotel Circle S, San Diego, $22 • (619) 276-6972

MORE EVENTS online now at

OCT 9 • SUNDAY Prayer for the peace of Jerusalem & how to share the Messiah with the Jewish People class. 6pm, 5714 El Cajon Blvd., El Cajon • (858) 366-2088

OCT 10 • MONDAY El Cajon Aglow meeting. 6:30pm, First Lutheran Church, Tedrahan Hall, 867 S Lincoln, El Cajon • (619) 440-2508

OCT 12-23 OMFest, The 10th Annual Oceanside Music Festival, with Various times & locations, $12-30 • ocaf.info/OMF

OCT 13 • THURSDAY East County Pregnancy Clinic Fall Fundraising Banquet, with Mark Larson & Jennifer O’Neill. 6:30pm • ecpcc.org, (619) 442-4357

OCT 13-15 • THU-SAT Conflict Coaching & Mediation Training. Emmanuel Faith Chapel, 639 E Felicita Ave., Escondido. Sponsored by Peacemaker Ministries • peacemaker.net, (760) 781-2108

Virtuous Flowers Tea. 2pm, Grace Covenant Christian Church of the Harvest, 2885 Clay Ave., San Diego, free • (619) 531-0901

OCT 23 • SUNDAY Support group for former Jehovah’s Witnesses. 12-2pm, La Mesa Church of Christ, 5150 Jackson Dr., La Mesa (619) 465-5150

OCT 26 • WEDNESDAY The Potter’s Field Ministry. 7pm, Calvary Chapel Fallbrook, 488 Industrial Way, Fallbrook • (760) 728-9138

OCT 29 • SATURDAY “Rebuilding the Foundations: Demolishing Evolution, Reinforcing the Biblical Basis for Origins,” a one-day apologetics seminar featuring speakers from the Institute for Creation Research, 8am-5pm, Rock Church, San Diego. Free • (619) 501-1800

OCT 30 • SUNDAY Messianic Concert. 6pm, 5714 El Cajon Blvd., El Cajon • (858) 366-2088 ECS Annual Meeting, with Carol LeBeau. 5-7pm, All Souls’ Episcopal Church, 1475 Catalina Blvd., San Diego • (619) 228-2800

OCT 14-15 • FRI-SAT

OCT 31 • MONDAY

Art of Marriage Seminar. Fri 79:30pm & Sat 9am-4pm, New Song Church, 3985 Mission Ave., Oceanside, $50/couple • (760) 390-4414

Light the Night, a fun alternative to trickor-treating. 5:30-8:30pm, Calvary Church Santa Ana, 1010 N Tustin Ave., Santa Ana, free • (714) 973-4800

OCT 16 • SUNDAY

NOV 2 • WEDNESDAY

Hands of the Potter, live potter’s wheel demonstration bringing life to the gospel. 9am, Calvary Chapel Lemon Grove, 8075 Broadway, Lemon Grove • (619) 667-3804

My Therapist ‘Sez’…”, an interactive panel of Christian therapists moderated by Dr. Don Welch on “Dealing with the Holiday-Problem-Family-Member” with Dr. Marcial Felan presenting, Cathy Gaetke, Ryan Buchmann & Yolanda Gorick 6:458pm, Skyline Church, 11330 Campo Rd., La Mesa • (619) 660-5000

Pianist Tim Parton, formerly of Legacy Five, in concert, 4pm, Faith Chapel, 9400 Campo Rd., Spring Valley • (619) 442-5941

OCT 17 • SUNDAY • Future events for San Diego County not listed in this issue. • Events for Orange County, LA County and the Inland Empire • 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.

OCT 22 • SATURDAY

“A New View,” Girl’s Night Out Dessert Event presented by Women of Purpose, with Mariah Lange, Kimberly Scott, Mary James & more. 7-9pm, Grace Church San Diego, 2716 Madison Ave., San Diego • womenofpurpose.org

OCT 18 • MONDAY “A Day at the Fair,” San Marcos-Vista Christian Women’s Club luncheon. 11:30am, Lake San Marcos Country Club, 1750 San Pablo Dr., San Marcos, $16 • (760) 432-0772, (760) 744-3744

OCT 19 • WEDNESDAY South Bay Christian Women’s Connection Luncheon. 11:30am-1pm, Chula Vista Golf Course Restaurant, 4475 Bonita Rd., Bonita, $15 • (619) 422-1628

OCT 20 • THURSDAY Men With a Purpose, with Bill Kennedy. 12-1:30pm, Doubletree by Hilton, 1515 Hotel Circle, San Diego, $20 • (619) 222-3688

OCT 21 • FRIDAY Sidewalk Prophets, concer t benefiting Rancho Damacitas Childr en’s Home. 7:30pm, Rancho Community Church,

NOV 3 • THURSDAY Family Connections Christian Adoption Information Session. 6-8pm, 291 S El Camino Real, Ste 202, Oceanside, free • fcadoptions.org, (760) 966-0531 Steven Curtis Chapman, in concert. 8pm, California Theatre of the Performing Arts, 562 W Fourth St., San Bernardino, $19-63.50 • ticketmaster.com

NOV 4 • FRIDAY Marriage Enrichment Dinner/Seminar with Senyo Adjibolosoo. 5:30-8:30pm, Phil’s BBQ, 3750 Sports Arena Blvd., San Diego, $30/each • (858) 692-6048, transcendingexcellence.com

NOV 7 • MONDAY Girls’ Nite & Day Out, with Jen & Linda Barrick. 11am or 6pm, Shadow Mountain Community Church, 2100 Greenfield Dr., El Cajon, $20/person • shadowmountain.org/women

NOV 17 • THURSDAY Men With a Purpose, with Kirt Edwards. 12-1:30pm, Doubletree by Hilton, 1515 Hotel Circle, San Diego, $20 • (619) 222-3688

NOV 20 • SUNDAY Legacy Five in concert, 6pm, El Cajon Wesleyan Church, 1500 E. Lexington Ave., El Cajon. Love offering • (619) 440-4452

DEC 16-18 • FRI-SUN WE TEACH SKIN CARE Mary Kay has a proven effective skin care program for you. All basic skin care products are noncomedogenic and clinically tested for skin irritancy and allergy.

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“A Christmas Tabernacle.” NTC Liberty Station, Point Loma, $12-18 • achristmastabernacle.com

DEC 27-30 • TUE-FRI San Diego Christian Film Festival. The La Jolla Marriott • sdcff2011.com

FEB 18-25 Sandi Patty & Friends Cruise, with Natalie Grant, Mark Shultz, Wayne Watson & more. Eastern Caribbean • 1-800-2884778, cruisewithsandipatty.com

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as staff and supporters celebrate God’s ongoing faithfulness to the ministry’s mission to protect faith, family and freedom. Tickets are $50 per person or $450 for tables of 10. Event sponsorships are also available. Dress is business casual. Reservations are requested by Oct. 14. For more information, send an email to dcarter@wclplaw.org or call (760) 747-4529.

Kennedy to speak on God’s grace in lengthy prison experience SAN DIEGO — William “Bill” Kennedy, former businessman and publisher of the Conservative Digest, will be sharing at two local events in October about his testimony of God’s grace in his life during 17 years of incarceration. Kennedy and a number of former co-workers were indicted in San Diego in the early ‘90s on federal charges stemming from a securities business that had gone bankrupt. After a lengthy and sometimes controversial trial in Denver, Colo., Kennedy was the only one convicted. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison, of which he served 17 before being eligible for parole. Kennedy says it was his faith in God that sustained him and his family during his incarceration and that it was his goal to be used by God to minister to others. Kennedy will speak at the monthly Men with a Purpose luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 20. The 12:00-1:30 p.m. meeting will be held at the Doubletree by Hilton, 1515 Hotel Circle Sl., San Diego. The cost of the luncheon is $20. Prior to that on Sunday, Oct. 16, Kennedy will share his testimony at the 9:00 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. services at the First Church of the Nazarene on the campus of Point Loma Nazarene University, 3901 Lomaland Drive, San Diego. For information on these meetings or luncheon tickets, contact Dwight Johnson at (619) 222-3688.

October brings annual lowrider festival SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Lowrider Gospel Fest, a collaboration of lowrider car clubs, local government agencies, churches, schools and other nonprofits, will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 22 at Cherokee Point Park. The free event will include food, entertainment and a display of show cars. The event is designed as an outreach, giving young people an alternative to the gang lifestyle. Donations of food and clothes will also be distributed during the festival. The park is located at 3735 38th St.

October 2011 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • 15

Summit on Schools seeks churches to adopt public schools Hundreds of people are expected to turn out Oct. 22 for the annual San Diego Lowrider Gospel Fest, which will also include a food and clothing distribution.

For more information, visit www. thesandiegolowridergospelfest. com.

Marriage enrichment dinner and seminar SAN DIEGO — Transcending Excellence will host a Marriage Enrichment Dinner and Seminar from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 4 at Phil’s BBQ. The seminar is sponsored by Senyo Adjibolosoom, a full-time professor of Economics at the Fermanian School of Business at Point Loma Nazarene University. He also conducts premarital counseling. Among his writings is the article “A Human Factor Perspective on Spousal Violence: Causes and Solutions.” According to the ministry website, the seminar will offer concepts on how to learn to grow daily and to simultaneously express to each other unconditional love, grace, compassion and forgiveness. The fee for the seminar is $30. The restaurant is located at 3750 Sports Arena Blvd. For more information, visit www.transcendingexcellence.com or call (858) 692-6048.

Barbecue to benefit religious liberty law firm MURRIETA — The National Center for Law & Policy will hold its annual benefit dinner from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 29 at the headquarters of its ministry partner, Far Reaching Ministries. The Celebrate Freedom Gourmet American Barbeque will fea-

ture a keynote address by Wes Bentley, president of Far Reaching Ministries, an international missions organization. Dean Broyles, president and chief counsel of the National Center for Law & Policy, which he founded several years ago as the Western Center for Law & Policy, will share stories of faith and hope

POINT LOMA — The third annual Summit on Schools, targeting junior and senior high ministries, will be held from 8 a.m. to noon Oct. 15 at Point Loma Nazarene University. Sponsoring organizations include Urban Youth Collaborative, National Network of Youth Ministries and San Diego Mission Team. The goal of the cooperative is to have junior and high schools within the county adopted by at least one church.

Free lunch will be provided. For more information, visit www. adoptschoolssd.org or call (619) 549-4953.

We Love Orphans benefit planned SAN DIEGO — Abiding Place Ministries will host a sale, concert, art show and raffle to benefit We Love Orphans from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 8. The raffle will begin at 1:30 p.m. The event will feature live music by Stephen Ybarra, Joshua Spitsbergen and David Necaise. Food will be provided from Black Jack BBQ. The San Diego ministry works to establish training facilities that supply cutting-edge technologies and research in aquaponics, aquaculture and animal husbandry and prepares workers to implement these technologies at orphanages throughout the world. The church is located at 10180 Willowcreek Road. For more information, visit www. abidingplace.org.

Bethel Seminary San Diego

Distinguished Lecturer Series November 3-4, 2011 Dr. Susan Power Bratton Dr. Susan Power Bratton, Professor of Environmental Studies, Baylor University, Waco, TX, is author of four books on religion and environmental values: Six Billion and More: Human Population Regulation and Christian Ethics; Christianity Wilderness and Wildlife: The Original Desert Solitaire; Environmental Values and Christian Art; and a volume in press, The Spirit of the Appalachian Trail. Dr. Bratton received an A.B. in biology from Barnard College, Columbia University, a Ph.D. in plant ecology from Cornell University, an M.A. in theology from Fuller Seminary, a graduate certificate in environmental ethics from the University of Georgia, and a Ph.D. in interdisciplinary arts and humanities from the University of Texas at Dallas. She has worked for the U.S. National Park Service as director of a field laboratory in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and as coordinator of a research cooperative at the Institute of Ecology, University of Georgia. She has served for ten years as Chair of Environmental Science at Baylor University. In addition to publishing numerous scientific articles on subjects ranging from fire management in parks, to the impacts of wild hogs, to restoration of disturbed high mountain floras, she has been active in the fields of environmental ethics and religion and ecology. Her research addresses such issues as Christian relationship to the land, Christian responses to pollution, and Christian approaches to population issues. Recently, Prof. Bratton has published or submitted articles and book chapters on religion and American environmentalism, the ethics of commercial fishing, megachurches and green space, and biodiversity in Christian art.

Thursday, Nov. 3, 7:00 - 9:00 pm (Public Lecture and Q&A)

God and the Waters: Theology and Stewardship

Friday, Nov. 4, 12:00 - 2:00 pm Luncheon ($15 for pastors, laypersons; $10 students, alumni)

Walking (and Hiking) with the Lord: A Spirituality of Outdoor Recreation Friday, Nov. 4, 7:00 - 9:00 pm (Public Lecture and Q&A)

Christian Environmentalism 101: Come to the San Bernardino Mountains

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16 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • October 2011 SD

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PLNU hosts annual Creation Care Week

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POINT LOMA — Point Loma Nazarene University celebrated its annual Creation Care Week Sept. 12 to 17. Sponsored by Waste Management Inc., the week included a sustainability fair, Farmer’s Market Top Chef Cook-Off and a beach clean-up at the border in partnership with I Love a Clean San Diego. The university also offered a variety of networking opportunities with sustainability professionals and hosted a presentation by Jim Ball, author of Global Warming and Risen Lord and executive vice president for policy at the Evangelical Environmental Network. Over the past few years, the university has generated numerous sustainability projects including the installation of solar panels, composting food waste, a comprehensive recycling and donation program, and water-saving measures such as a tray-less cafeteria, dualflush toilets, waterless urinals and water-saving showerheads. In addition, the students also voted to create a “Green Fund,” to which they contribute each year, and students also operate a community garden on campus. Their work has earned PLNU numerous recycling awards since 2004. The university also won a San Diego Excellence in Energy Award for a Non-Profit in 2009 and the San Diego Architectural Foundation’s Orchid Award for Sustainable Design in 2008. Sierra Magazine named PLNU one of America’s 100 greenest schools in both 2010 and 2011.

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OCEANSIDE — OMFest, the 10th annual Oceanside Music Festival, will include an Oct. 21 World Rhythms concert at New Song Community Church. The concert, which starts at 7 p.m., will boast an international flavor with MiraCosta College’s Frequency Vocal Jazz Ensemble and Celtic music of Raggle Taggle complemented onstage with dancing from San Diego County’s finest schools of Irish dance. Tickets are $15. At 2 p.m. Oct. 23, the festival will present Global Spirit, a concert of medieval and liturgical music covering Gregorian chant through contemporary praise, at St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Church. The concert will include the Goliards, showcasing the musical treasures of Europe’s medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods—as performed on period instruments and in accordance with historical practice—as well as Tri City Christian School Praise Singers and Through the Storm, a local gospel favorite. Admission to this concert is on a free-will-offering basis. The goal of the festival is to raise money for performing arts scholar-

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Two students showcase their skill during the Farmer’s Market Top Chef Cook-Off, one of a series of events as part of Point Loma Nazarene University’s annual Creation Care Week.

ships for local high school seniors. The main fundraising event will be the festival kick-off gala, set for 6 p.m. Oct. 12. It will preview performances of the concert series, which includes a total of six performances. Tickets are $30. For more information, call www. ocaf.info/omf.

North County 40 Days campaign SAN MARCOS — The 40 Days for Life prayer campaign will conduct vigils outside the office of a local practitioner between Sept. 28 and Nov. 6. As part of the national effort, pro-lifers will conduct peaceful prayer vigils in hopes of stopping women from seeking abortions. Honey Burke, one of the organizers, said the gatherings accomplish several vital things that praying at home cannot, including bringing a focused reality of abortion in an effort to pray more fervently, bringing awareness to the issue for passers-by and bringing unity among various churches. “Taking a stand in front of a clinic makes a statement to the clinic workers as well as to the patients that abortion is a wrong ‘choice,’” she added. “Praying in front of a clinic may be the only act of love and honor that is ever paid to the lives of the children whose mothers are entering for an abortion.” The clinic address is 120 Craven Road. For more information on the North County effort, call Gene Villinski at (760) 298-7851.

Session to focus on adoptions OCEANSIDE — Family Connections Christian Adoptions will host a free informational sessions Oct. 6 at its office in Oceanside. The session will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. April 8. The nonprofit corporation has been operating in the region for 28 years. The sessions will be held at 22191 El Camino Real, Suite 202. Additional sessions are planned for Nov. 3 and Dec. 21. For more information or to receive a free information pack, call (760) 966-0531, send an email to lisareaves@fcadoptions.org or visit www.fcadoptions.org.

LeBeau to headline ECS reception POINT LOMA — All Souls’ Episcopal Church will host a reception

and year in review for Episcopal Community Services, the primary provider of social services for the local diocese. The Oct. 30 event runs from 5 to 7 p.m., with a 6 p.m. reception. Founded in 1927, its programs include Head Start, Early Head Start, Julian’s Program for Women & Children, Friend to Friend Program, Safe Haven Transitional Housing and Para Las Familias. Former Channel 10 news anchor Carol LeBeau will be the guest speaker. In her retirement, LeBeau remains active as a motivational speaker specializing in women’s events and health conferences. The church is located at 1475 Catalina Blvd. For more information, visit www. ecscalifornia.org and click on the events link.

Seminar tackles conflict coaching and mediation ESCONDIDO — Emmanuel Faith Church will host a seminar on Conflict Coaching and Mediation Training from Oct. 13 to 15. The training, sponsored by Peacemaker Ministries, is designed to show participants how to deal with conflict at its onset to prevent it from escalating into a larger issue of damaged relationships and broken trust, organizers said. The training will help coaches apply biblical principles of peacemaking in dealing with conflict with others. The cost for the Conflict Coaching course is $144, while admission to both the Conflict Coaching and Mediation training is $590. Lunch and snacks will be provided. For more information, contact Cherryl Early at (760) 781-2108 or via email at cearly@efcc.org. To learn more about the sponsoring organization, visit www. peacemaker.net or call (406) 256-1583, ext. 123.

Life Chain planned along Balboa Avenue CLAIREMONT — The annual San Diego Life Chain event will be held from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 2 along Balboa Avenue, between Genesee and Interstate 805. The focus of the event is to raise prayers on behalf of unborn children who cannot pray. Prayers will also be directed toward the nation and for mothers who suffer side effects from abortion procedures. Signs will be provided. For more information, send an email to sdlifechain@gmail.com or call (619) 788-3813.

Marriage seminar at New Song OCEANSIDE — New Song Church will host the Art of Marriage Seminar on Oct. 14 and 15. The session will include a video program from FamilyLife that weaves together engaging stories, testimonies, interviews, and humorous vignettes to help couples experience God’s design for marriage. It features some of the most respected and influential pastors and experts on marriage and family. The sessions will be held from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, The $50 fee per couple includes materials, lunch and snacks. Registration is requested by Oct. 9 and can be made by sending an email to endezvous@ NewSongChurch.com The church is located at 3985 Mission Ave., Oceanside. For more information, call 760-390-4414.

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October 2011 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • 17

ACCOUNTING

ENTERTAINMENT

HOUSING FOR RENT

MUSIC/MUSICIANS

SERVICES

Accounting Services (PSA, Inc.) Save $$$ on your personal/business taxes, expenses and much more! Visit www.StopBurningMoney.com to learn more about how we can help. (619) 464-1015.

Educational Monkey Visits offered by licensed primate exhibitor: Enjoy a personal visit with Bhutimonkey and her friends! (Up to four people may visit at one time - visits last 15 minutes!) Interesting and affordable! (Receive a discount with this ad!) Contact CeeCee@monkeymatters.com for details.

Furnished remodeled master bedroom. $700 in gated golf course community, with pool, in beautiful San Pasqual (760) 715-2564.

Piano, voice, and organ lessons in Santee and San Diego! John Howard M.A., instructor. Call (619) 277-4813.

Electronic Repair. TVs, microwaves, etc. Honest work at low rates. Dick, (619) 448-4755.

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Musicians Wanted: Old School-Music With A Message. (Think Keith Green, Steve Camp, Rich Mullins) But Original Music. Call Brian (760) 815-5071

ANNOUNCEMENTS 40� Letter/Number Mylar balloons ($5.99 ea + s/h), 100 pcs of 12� custom imprinted latex balloons at $130.00 (10 days delay), Custom Imprinted cups, napkins, plates and aprons, Advertising Specialties, award pins and trophies, Pittsburghese T-Shirts and Mugs. A Cup of Ideas, Inc, www.acupofideas.com, www.acupofideas.net, (412) 264-4410.

HELP WANTED

Be prepared! – We offer quality, economical disaster and emergency supplies for your home, business, and car. Use code ‘CE2011’ for 10% off! DisasterSupplyCatalog.com – please spread the word.

Social Services. Promising Futures, ser ving DD population in East County, seeking reliable, dedicated individuals to fill the following full time and part time positions. Raises/bonuses for exceptional work. Residential program: Program Manager, Program Instructor. Overtime opportunities available. Salary start from $8-$10/hour. Center for Independent Achievement Day Program: Instructor/Job Coach, $8.50-$9.50/hour. Phone (619) 592-4850, fax (619) 592-4878 or email resume to pficareer@yahoo.com.

BOOKS

HOUSING FOR RENT

Free Bible Study by mail, postage paid! (760) 598-8968. Nondenominational.

San Diego First Assembly Senior Apartments (55+). Enjoy a great location. 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 650 sq. ft. Water included. Please Call (858) 583-1532

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Work from home. Put your faith first. Family second with an opportunity to earn a great income. (952) 474-4682. Buscando Bilinque Earn unlimited residual income part-time from home at info www.abminfo.com. Referral #7125, Jerry, G. (619) 634-1105

Only 6-units in our El Cajon Apartment Complex located on Naranca Ave. Family setting and Family owned/operated since 1971. 2 spacious bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms with 2 walk-in-closets. Free water, sewer and trash. Small pets welcome. Picnic area. Certified Crime Free Property. Upstairs unit available. $1,055/month. Call Susan (619) 444-4507.

Christian Value Company seeks work at home candidates, Green Technology Products. www. myrealwealthsystem.com/larrylfink $3,000 Extra, are you interested? Serious people only! View the website and leave your contact information. www.freegas2011.com

CAREGIVER Light caregiver service. Mature responsible adult male with excellent references. Pay from 8 to 10 an hour. (858) 277-2474

DISC JOCKEYS Getting Married? Party? Fundraiser?

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Dynamic Children’s Pastor with proven track record needed for large evangelical church in East San Diego. Spanish speaking, helpful. If interested in this full-time position, please email resume & cover letter to mfalduti@SkylineChurch.org.

Low cost, top quality. Guaranteed. New, recover, repair. Dennis Cook Roofing. Lic. # 545185. Call (619) 443-1300.

MINISTRY SERVICES Nonprofit Incorporation Tax –exempt 501c3 IRS status. Missions, ministries, churches. www. christian501c3.com.

MUSIC/MUSICIANS Guitar Lessons. Veteran worship leader and guitarist Scott Coyle is now accepting guitar students through College Avenue School of The Arts. All levels welcome. Call (619) 287-4747 x218 for more information and availability.

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REAL ESTATE

SINGLES Christian singles activities for Southern California — dinner-dances, Singles Safari, cruises, New Year’s Eve dance, fun activities. Call (714) 622-4002 or visit ChristianSinglesFunEvents.com.

TRAVEL

Dils Roofing & Repairs. Free estimates. License #639961. 1-800-501-7663.

Lowest Possible Fares on airline tickets. Deal with a Christian Travel Agency. Dick, (619) 448-4755.

ROOMS FOR RENT

VACATION/RETREAT RENTALS

Vista: Female roommate to share large, quiet home. Large bedroom, private bathroom, basic utilities included. Private entrance, kitchen and laundry privileges, pool. Must be non-smoking and neat. $575 per month plus $575 deposit. Call Karen at work: (760) 727-6139.

Lake Arrowhead Vacation Homes—Great for families, retreats, reunions. (562) 427-9810.

San Diego rooms for rent. $450 each. Share bathroom, kitchen. Call, leave message, Evelyn (619) 460-8516.

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Prudential CA Realty. For all your real estate needs call Mark Geraci (619) 300-1733.

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Mount Miguel Covenant Village is a Christian Retirement Community just a few miles east of San Diego, Calif. Our community consists of eleven residential apartment buildings, a 48-unit assisted living facility and our skilled nursing center. Our 28 acre park-like setting has been applauded for its beauty and is enjoyed by residents and employees alike. We are an accredited continuing care retirement community, and are part of Covenant Retirement Communities (CRC), a not-forproďŹ t corporation, dedicated to the service of others.

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When someone you love is gay. Christian ministry to families needing help coping with homosexuality. Group meeting. First Tuesday of every month, 7-9pm. Fireside Room, Education Building, San Diego First Assembly of God, 8404 Phyllis Place. (619) 426-9300.

Expert Proofreading and Editing. Get it right before your readers see it! Dick, (619) 448-4755.

â– CertiďŹ ed Nurses Asst (PT) If you enjoy working with seniors, we want you to be a part of our missionoriented team! Persons with an active Christian faith are encouraged to apply. To apply for these positions, or to inquire about other open positions, please e-mail resume w/salary history to jobs.MountMiguel.CV@covenantretirement. org, or fax to (619) 931-1237, or apply in person at 325 Kempton St., Spring Valley, CA 91977. EOE.

EDUCATION Bankruptcy or Immigration Paralegal. Training, certificate & placement. $395 (626) 552-2885.

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18 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • October 2011 SD

Senior citizens cohabiting more often WASHINGTON (WNS) — According to the U.S. Census Bureau, people over age 65 are choosing to live together without marriage more often these days—575,000 of them in 2010, compared to 193,000 in 2000. The reasons aren’t entirely clear, but researchers say anecdotal evidence suggests they may be financial. “What people say is that older adults don’t want to commingle funds so whatever was going to their kids will still go to their kids,� said Linda Waite, a University of Chicago sociology professor who has published a study on seniors and sex in the Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences.

Student group launches new pro-life initiative NEW YORK (WNS) — According to the Guttmacher Institute, 46 percent of abortions nationwide are performed on women in college.

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So Students for Life in early September launched a new program to help pregnant coeds give birth to their babies—and stay in school. The Pregnant on Campus Initiative is giving students tools to make their campuses more welcoming to pregnant girls and new mothers, such as lactation stations, diaperchanging decks and affordable oncampus housing.

Hunter seeks conscience protections post DADT WASHINGTON — Just days before the U.S. military was expected to repeal the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, a Republican from El Cajon, Calif., was preparing to introduce new legislation offering conscience protections for personnel whose beliefs differ from the new policy. Hunter said his office was already fielding complaints from active duty service members. “It is a legitimate concern,� Hunt-

er’s office explained, especially as the Pentagon works on “disciplinary policies for people who don’t agree with this decision. Under Hunter’s bill, the troops have to abide by the repeal—but they don’t have to like it. “The military always falls in line,� a spokesman for the Congressman’s office said, “but that doesn’t mean that the men and women who serve in its ranks should suddenly be forced to personally accept (homosexuality).� According to the Family Research Council, Hunter’s bill would ensure that “members of the Armed Forces are not pressured to approve of another person’s sexual conduct if that sexual conduct is contrary to the personal principles of that member.�

The States vs. Planned Parenthood PRESCOTT, Ariz. (WNS) — Instead of complying with new state laws that place restrictions on abortions, Planned Parenthood has de-

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cided to stop offering abortion services in three Arizona cities. As of Aug. 19, women could no longer seek abortions through Planned Parenthood in Prescott Valley, Flagstaff and Yuma. Planned Parenthood’s decision came a week after an Arizona state appeals court allowed key parts of a 2009 state law restricting abortions to take effect. The pro-life measures require women to see a doctor in person the day before an abortion to learn about risks and alternatives. Plus, healthcare workers are permitted to refuse to participate in abortions for moral or religious reasons. Bryan Howard, president of Planned Parenthood of Arizona, said the group likely would appeal the ruling to the Arizona Supreme Court.

Christian group criticized for ousting gay member CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WNS) — Psalm 100, a Christian a cappella group at the University of North Carolina, struck a few dissonant chords around the Chapel Hill campus as school started when its members voted to expel a fellow singer because of his views on homosexuality. The decision to remove openly gay student Will Thomason sparked a backlash against the group and prompted school officials to launch an anti-discrimination investigation. Blake Templeton, general director of the group, said the decision was tough, especially because so many people thought it was done out of hatred. “That’s so far from the truth,� he said. “I want the power of God’s love to be so, so clear.� Templeton stressed that the group made its decision out of love for Thomason, not hate. However, Psalm 100, whose mission is “to spread the joy of the Lord through song,� operates under a constitution based on biblical standards, and the group concluded that Thomason’s views on the group’s constitution did not match up with its standards.

Missouri school district sued for protecting students from porn JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Alliance Defense Fund and Missouri Family Policy Council filed a friend-of-the-court brief Sept. 9 in defense of the Camdenton R-III School District after it was sued by American Civil Liberties Union attorneys on behalf of several homosexual activist groups and a student. The ACLU filed suit as part of its joint national effort with Yale Law School to coerce school districts into allowing students access to homosexual activist web-

sites by ending the use of Web filters that also block highly sexually explicit material. The alliance sent school officials a letter in August urging them not to succumb to the ACLU’s demands, which it said would expose children to pornography under the guise of a concern about censorship and bullying. “No school district should be bullied into exposing children to sexually graphic material,� said ADF Senior Counsel David Cortman. “It’s reprehensible that the ACLU and Yale Law School are more concerned about forwarding an agenda that exposes children to harm than they are about protecting those children. Those who claim to oppose bullying should not be bullies themselves. Removing porn filters does nothing to end bullying.� The ACLU threatened Camdenton and numerous other school districts as part of the ACLU’s “Don’t Filter Me� campaign, a joint endeavor with Yale Law School that demands the deactivation of various Web filters that block sexually explicit content at public schools. When Camdenton instead chose to continue protecting students, the ACLU filed suit.

Settlement reached over Intelligent Design film screening LOS ANGELES, Calif. (WNS) — The American Freedom Alliance has settled a lawsuit over the cancellation of a 2009 screening of a documentary on intelligent design, “Darwin’s Dilemma: The Mystery of the Cambrian Fossil Record,� at the California Science Center IMAX theater. Despite the settlement, the alliance says it won’t show the film even though they have been invited back. Instead, the organization will move on after taking the $110,000 to be provided by the center’s foundation and its insurer under the settlement. Attorney William J. Becker Jr., who represented the alliance in the case, said the AFA considers the “invitation an apology, a vindication of intelligent design, and the right of people to discuss it in a public forum.� Becker added that the AFA declined the CSC’s post-litigation invitation because it came too late. To mitigate their damages following the initial cancellation, the AFA screened the movie at another venue, albeit one that did not have IMAX capabilities. The movie is owned and produced by Illustra Media, who provided it to AFA for the screening. The La Mirada-based production company recently screened its latest ID film, “Metamorphosis: The Beauty and Design of Butterflies.�

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October 2011 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • 19

230 tons of debris removed from Canaanite water system By Gary D. Myers BP News Service GEZER, Israel — An archeological team from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary has uncovered a natural cave at the end of a Canaanite water system in Israel, shedding light on an Old Testament culture. The Gezer Water System Expedition, about 20 miles west of Jerusalem, is a joint project of the seminary and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. Dan Warner, associate professor of Old Testament and archaeology at the school, and Tsvika Tsuk of the authority are directing the excavation of the ancient Tel Gezer water system, which dates as early as 1800 B.C. “The research at Gezer is important … because of our commitment to understand the Bible within its historical context,” Warner said. “Any information we can gain to give better insights into the cultures of the biblical world helps us interpret the Bible. “Most think of the Canaanites as an old, rustic culture—not so. Digging the water system took great technical and hydraulic skill. This was a very advanced and sophisticated culture that had pronounced impact in biblical times.” It is believed the Canaanites cut the massive tunnel around the time of Abraham using flint tools. Measuring nearly 13 feet wide by 24 feet high at the opening and stretching 150 feet into the ground at a 38-degree slope, the Gezer tunnel is the largest ancient water system ever unearthed. Late in the final week of the 2011 dig, the seminary team found the

natural cave at the end of the massive rock-hewn water system—the prime objective of this season’s dig. It is believed that the system’s original water source is located in or near the opening of the cave. Creating a buzz The excavation, which removed 230 tons of dirt this summer, created quite a stir within the Israeli archaeological community. Numerous archaeological dignitaries made their way to Gezer to tour the site this year. Ronny Reich and Eli Shukron, two archaeologists who wrote an influential article on the subject in 2003, were among the guests. Sam Wolff and others from the Israel Antiquities Authority also visited the site. The seminary team encompassed the work of 33 people at different times during the summer. The buzz has continued in the United States. In October, Warner will present his research at the Oklahoma Water Research Symposium and Governor’s Water Conference, and in November, he will give lectures at the Near Eastern Archaeological Society and American Schools of Oriental Research meetings in San Francisco. The water system and the cave were discovered more than a century ago by Irish archaeologist R.A.S. Macalister during his excavation at Gezer from 1906-08. French archaeologist Pére L.H. Vincent visited the water system and the cave during Macalister’s excavation. Neither archaeologist fully excavated the cave, and they offered conflicting descriptions of the cave and water system. Seeking answers During next summer’s dig, scheduled for May 27 to June 15, the New Orleans team will focus

PHOTO BY ART BEAULIEU

Members of the excavation team dig dirt and debris from the ancient Gezer water system, 20 miles west of Jerusalem. New Orleans Seminary is leading the exploration of the massive rock-hewn tunnel.

on excavating the cave in hopes of answering several lingering questions about the water system. First and foremost, the team will try to discover how the Canaanites knew about the water source. Warner believes the Canaanites found the water source through an opening in the cave located outside the city walls. He speculates that the tunnel was cut to provide the city with a safe water source during times of siege. “The tunnel is cut perfectly straight, and it’s very artistic,” Warner said. “You don’t cut something like that blindly.

You have to know water is down there. You just aren’t going to spend all that time and energy.” Another question involves the date of the tunnel’s construction. Macalister, Tsuk, Warner and other archaeologists have proposed an early date for the system—during the Middle Bronze Age, pegged at between 1800 and 1500 B.C.— making the Gezer tunnel one of the oldest rock-hewn water systems ever discovered. Other scholars, including noted archaeologist William Dever, do not believe the system is that old.

He has proposed a Late Bronze Age or Iron Age date for the tunnel. Warner remains hopeful that evidence can be found to settle the long-running debate over the date. “We might get a better perspective (on the date) inside the cave,” Warner said. “There might be carvings on the wall or some type of inscription. There could be pottery remains, and if we find consistent pottery remains from the Middle and Late Bronze Age, that at least gives us a pretty good idea that it dates from the start of the Middle Bronze Age.”

20 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • October 2011 SD

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