Issue #1 | Summer 2016

HISENDLESSLOVE.COM

ISSUE NO. 1 SUMMER 2016

HIS ENDLESS LOVE MAGAZINE

FINDING JOY IN LESS Why minimalism isn't just a fad, it's biblical.

FITNESS FOR THE GLORY OF THE LORD He has blessed us with magnificent bodies and it's our job to keep healthy.

10 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MODESTY Are we giving our girls bad advice when it comes to modesty? Find out what's biblical & what lies are harming our daughters.

HIS ENDLESS LOVE MAGAZINE

EDITOR Samantha Sali CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Amy Klinkhammer Kelsie Kleinmeyer Audrey White Amanda Leite Helen Kerr Sherrie Anne Brittany Parker COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Milada Vigerova ADVERTISING & MEDIA INQURIES admin@hisendlesslove.com EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS hisendlesslove.com/contact

(c) 2016 His Endless Love His Endless Love Magazine is owned and published by His Endless Love. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written consent of His Endless Love.

CONTENTS FASHION

Finding Joy in Less

Page 6

RELATIONSHIPS

5 Boundaries to Protect Your Marriage

Page 11

FOOD

Gnocchi Mac & Cheese

Page 13

HEALTH

Fitness For the Glory of the Lord

Page 14

Working Through the Pain

Page 16

SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Less About Me, More About God

Page 17

CULTURE

10 Things You Need to Know About Modesty Page 21 ADVICE

4 Tips for Following God's Plan Adam I, Meet Adam II

Page 25 Page 27

EDITOR'S NOTE Being able to work with fantastic, God-fearing writers every day is a dream come true. From experience & chatting with these ladies, I've noticed two huge struggles that we, Christian writers, face.

1. Getting our name out there and 2. Financially supporting our families Hard work doesn't even begin to describe what most of us go through on a daily basis. After battling hours of writer's block, we spend most of hour time pouring our hearts out in, what we believe, will be our best writing yet. When that's finished, we sit in front of the computer and submit our work to practically any website, blog, magazine, newsletter, we can think of. Hundreds of emails sent, carpal tunnel creeping around the corner, and nothing to show for our effort. If we get any replies back, they are usually an automated response telling us that they don't find our work will fit with the theme of the site, or they aren't looking to publish freelancers, or we won't drive enough traffic to the article.

The only place where we usually are able to share our work is on shady websites that require your credit card, blogs that only have a few followers, or our own personal blogs.

So this magazine is dedicated to all of the Christian writers who are doing their best to make a name for themselves. I would love to take a look at your work sometime & publish it in an upcoming issue...even if we continue to create them for free.

xoxo

Samantha

FINDING

JOY IN LESS

HELM | FASHION In the spring of 2014, my husband and I found the perfect one bedroom apartment. We were to be married at the beginning of that summer, we had never lived with each other, and it was just the two of us.

After we got married, & we moved in, we had a hard time filling up the new space. Our new home felt huge & empty.

It was only contained a new queen size bed, a desk, two bookshelves, one small dresser, and two folding dorm chairs. It looked more like a bachelor pad than a newlywed home.

Of course, in a matter of months, our one bedroom apartment started to fill up.

Towards the end of the year, the apartment started to feel like home.

Our home.

But before we knew it, we had too much stuff. My husband brought boxes from his childhood home (hello boxes of legos, action figures, and bouncy balls…). I slowly collected my things that I had stored at my own childhood home – clothes I hadn’t worn in years, books, a Jack Sparrow bedroom lamp (not kidding), etc. Together, we kept buying board games to entertain ourselves and the friends we invite over. And of course, friends and family continued to give us things for our apartment (which we were and still are thankful for).

Now, when we look around our apartment, we feel as uncomfortable as when we first moved in. Instead of an empty room, we have boxes and tin popcorn bins against the walls. The closet no longer holds our clothes – but more boxes and memorabilia from our childhood. The desk in our bedroom has no purpose other than to hold more things – things that are stored on AND under it. There is no more shelf space for books or DVD’s and no space to move another shelf in.

Our garage is filled too. Empty boxes saved for when we eventually move out.

Boxes that need to be donated. And boxes that we are storing for other people. It’s a sight most people understand. And a feeling I’m sure most of us have felt.

My husband and I are now aching to move – we want to start a family, adopt a dog, and we want more space. If we didn’t have student loans to pay off, we would sell most of it, store the rest, and become missionaries.

But why are we hesitant to get rid of our material things when the future does not point to mission work – but life in a suburban setting? What is the purpose of keeping ALL of our childhood toys and stuffed animals? Boxes that could be better served to a family who is currently moving. Extra dishes and furniture that could be donated to someone in need. A shirt that hasn’t been worn in years, but kept “just in case”.

I realized something that has been bugging me for months – one of the biggest reasons why I feel like a stranger in my own home.

We Christians tend to live our lives pretty much like everyone else. We consume as much as our neighbors. We divorce as much as those outside the church. We rely on violence to solve our problems and to get our children to behave. We strive for money, power and prestige, as if we didn’t have a higher calling. We favor family and friends over strangers. But God calls us to live differently from the rest of the world.

So my husband and I are slowly pursuing a minimalist lifestyle.

Anything that does not bring meaning, purpose, fulfillment, or lasting joy into our life will be donated or sold. There is more joy in owning less – a thought hard to grasp in this consuming society. But minimalism is not our main goal.

Our main goal lies in what we choose to pursue with our life, in place of material possessions.

A few other things we are slowly working on…

HELM | FASHION We want to try to buy used clothes instead of new. Not only is it cheaper, clothing is usually replaced. A torn shirt thrown in the garbage, a pair of jeans that are too tight…why spend $20 on a piece of clothing that you’ll only wear for a year or so?

We want to rely less on companies that make their products in sweatshops and rely more on do­good companies. I feel so guilty when I splurge on an item that I know was not made by a company with good ethics. Here in America, we all agree that slavery is and was wrong – and yet we have no problem purchasing an item made by a slave in another country.

We want to try to treat the Earth as best as we can. God created it for us. He gave us the job of caring for each other, the animals, and the Earth. Recycling shouldn’t be such an inconvenience.

We hope to slowly wean our body off harsh chemicals that we use so frequently and to incorporate a more healthy, alternative lifestyle. You don’t really think about how horrible certain chemicals are until you do the research – or find out that your infertility could be blamed on household cleaners and shampoo.

HELM | FASHION

We have been taught to live like Jesus. Live like Him in the way He loves others, the way He helps those in need, and how He spreads the Word. But how many of us live the minimal lifestyle that Jesus lived? How many of us ignore the scripture that says to sell our worldly possessions and follow Him?

Will you join this challenge?

Do you feel led to start this chapter in your life?

Are you ready to let go of material things and focus on Jesus?

“Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

-Matt. 19:21

HELM | RELATIONSHIPS

5 Boundaries to Protect Your Marriage 1.) Don’t be alone with a member of the opposite sex that isn’t family. This is the hardest one for some, but it’s so important. We make every effort to ensure that I’m not alone with another guy and Aaron isn’t alone with another girl. Again, it’s not that we don’t trust each other; it’s just that we value our marriage enough to avoid the situation completely. If this isn’t possible because of work, or a special circumstance, we let each other know and have open communication about it. If either of us feels uncomfortable with it, we leave the situation. We also don’t have any opposite sex friendships with people that aren’t friends with us both. Why would I need a best guy friend when I already have one, one who put a ring on my finger?

2.) Don’t keep things from each other. Stay involved and in the loop. Honesty and communication are so important in marriage, even when it’s hard or upsetting. Not only do we make sure that we’re talking throughout the day, but we share stories about our interactions and what we did during the day. This helps us both be honest, open, and accountable. If text messages or emails need to be sent between members of the opposite sex, our phones are open books and there are no secrets.

3.) Talk about your spouse often around others. This is said to be some of the best adultery repellent you could ever have. Let others know how much you care about your spouse. Share compliments and positive stories about them. Let others see how much you are committed, and never talk bad about your spouse in front of someone else. Make sure you’re not discussing things with someone else that you haven’t discussed as a couple.

4.) Keep your eyes on and for each other. Let’s face it; today’s world is full of visual distraction and temptation, especially for men. We must make a conscious effort to protect ourselves by making strategic choices when it comes to movies, books, magazines, and TV shows. When members of the opposite sex become a possible distraction, we choose to focus solely on each other. After all, we truly are one flesh, and why would one flesh want to place themselves in a situation that would cause them to come apart?

HELM | RELATIONSHIPS

5.) When facing a decision, ask yourself, “Will this be helpful to my marriage?

Will it glorify the Lord?” If the answer is no, don’t do it. Pretty simple, friends.

Remember that marriage is all about showing the love of Christ and His church. The goal isn’t to make yourself happy, but to love and serve another by placing your spouse’s needs before your own (while showing them grace again and again). Think about what is best for you as a team over what seems to be best for just you. If something is going to create tension in your relationship, is it really for the best?

by: Kelsie Kleinmeyer

HELM | FOOD

Gnocchi Mac & Cheese This quick dish is sure to be a hit with the whole family!

1 lb gnocchi 1 clove garlic, minced 3 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons all­purpose flour 1 cup whole milk 1/2 cup mild cheddar cheese, shredded 2 teaspoons olive oil

1/2 cup Swiss cheese, shredded 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (grated fresh is preferred but canned works too) 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, for topping 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs 1 tablespoon parsley salt & pepper to taste

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees 2. Cook gnocchi, according to package directions. Drain & set aside.

In a pot, melt butter. When butter is melted, whisk in flour and cook until mixture turns light brown.

3. Slowly pour cup of milk into pan, whisking as you pour. Cook & whisk until sauce thickens.

Lower heat and add garlic & cheeses. Stir until fully melted. Then add cooked gnocchi and stir. Pour into oven­safe dish.

4. In a small bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs, parsley, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil.

Sprinkle mix on top of gnocchi.

5. Bake for 10­15 minutes or until brown & bubbling. Serve while hot.

FITNESS FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

By Audrey White Photography By Scott Webb It’s common knowledge that consistent exercise makes you a more healthy and happy person. That’s motivation in and of itself. But for the Christian, there is an even greater motivation.

Fitness glorifies God. The Bible has a lot to say about our bodies.

More than many people are comfortable with.

Most of the time we relate God’s words about our bodies to immorality, but they apply other areas too.

God gave us our bodies, so we should take care of them. We should take advantage of the health He’s given us and take care of the bodies we’ve been given.

We are daughters of the King. We’ve been bought with a price.

“OR DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT YOUR BODY IS A TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU, WHOM YOU HAVE FROM GOD? YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN.” 1 CORINTHIANS 6:19

The Holy Spirit lives in us. Therefore we must glorify God with our bodies.

With everything you do, glorify God. When you’re cleaning your room or washing the dishes, when you’re changing another dirty diaper or playing with your kids, glorify God. When you’re running or lifting weights at the gym, you can glorify Him. The desire for God’s glory influences everything we do.

So we can exercise consistently, not for the satisfaction of weighing a certain number, but knowing that it glorifies our Lord.

HELM | HEALTH

WORKING THROUGH THE PAIN

by Amanda Leite

It was almost a year ago that I was diagnosed with cancer. Something that rocked my world and changed my life forever. Something I’m still recovering from today. And something that ripped apart everything I had worked for: my job, my home, my steady finances, my upcoming wedding. Nothing was going to be normal again. For a long time it was a lot of pain, anger, and a sense of loss. It became difficult to function on a day to day basis and life was just becoming too hard.

For a lot of people, this is how life has become: tiring. And what are we to do about it?

Working through the pain isn’t getting us anywhere. So what are we to do?

1. Ask For Help A lot of times your family, friends, and even coworkers can see you suffering. They long to know what to do but really don’t know how to ask. So, ask them. Put up a Facebook status asking for help. This way it’s seen by many and those who have the skills to help you can. Ask your family and close friends for help. When I had my cancer, it was my best friend who was at my home every single day helping me get tasks done.

2. Rest You cannot fill up someone else’s cup if your own is already empty. Take time to rest each day; whether it’s through reading a book, taking a nap, watching a movie or going to bed early. Be sure to lay down and relax. It’s so important for your health to do so.

3. Take Time for God Find rest in God, for He is our rock.

And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.

Exodus 33:14 No matter where you go, what you do, or whom you’re with, God is always with you, waiting for you to take time with Him, to be in His word and just rest. This is the most important thing you can do for yourself in times of great pain and sorrow. If you do nothing else in these times, do this with Him.

Less About Me, More About God counting yourself less in a more "me" world

written by Helen Kerr

HELM | GROWTH

V

ery recently, I have been investing some time in trimming back what comes into my inbox. I get about 30 emails a day that I just swipe and delete. Emails from companies that are trying their very best to make sure I part with some hard­ earned cash in exchange for something they can offer me.

Special offers. Loyalty offers. One­day­ only offers. Offers promising to make me look better, feel better, stay healthier, improve my smile, enhance my eyes, smooth my complexion…the list goes on and on.

Then there are other offers. Ones to boost my income, improve my memory, increase my knowledge, support my learning.

All for me, me, me, me, me.

I am to take whatever I have in time, money or resources and pump it back into myself in the hope that somewhere along the line I should become a better, thinner, more intelligent, more attractive version of myself.

Modern life is all about me.

Which is completely counter­cultural to what the Bible tells us. Let’s take a look at these words from Philippians 2:3­8:

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

HELM | GROWTH This is not a message that neatly fits with the constant bombardment of media telling us that we need to focus more and more on ourselves because we deserve it; this is not a message with others at the centre at all!

What questions can you ask yourself to check that your motive is not selfish, or your ambition misplaced?

2.) Keep Well – Look not only to his own interests

So how do we fight this barrage we get? These constant messages encouraging us to put So by implication, we can assume that we ourselves first, looking only to our own are to take care of our own interests. interests?

It’s keeping those interests in the right place.

1.) Keep Questioning – do nothing from selfish ambition I am convinced that we are to do our best to eat healthily, drink plenty of water, exercise Sometimes, we can have a short memory can’t regularly and get enough sleep. we? We mean well, we have good intentions, but the swamps of life consume us and before Modern life is so full of stressors that, we know it, we are exactly where we tried so without these, we can sink ourselves fast. hard not to be, didn’t want to be or thought we’d never be.

We are to take care of whatever it is God has given us: our bodies, our families, our And the only way to conquer ourselves jobs, our homes, our resources… sometimes is to keep asking ourselves questions…

BUT… Who is this for?

Who does this benefit?

What is this for?

Whose glory is this for?

Who does this serve?

If we are intentionally checking up on ourselves, taking time to reflect and check where we are and where we are headed, maybe we would stand less chance off derailing ourselves.

3.) Keep Watch – But also the interests of others We can check our motives, and keep our resources well without ever looking to someone else’s welfare.

As deliberate as we are with these other things, so must we be with other people.

"Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

Galatians 6:10 tells us to do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

We need to look out for other people, in a way that is intentional and deliberate; helping wherever and whenever we can, with whatever resources God has given us.

Some people may need our time, others may need finances, some might need help…we can be creative in how we give back what God has given to us!

4.) Keep Christ – Yours in Christ Jesus And at the centre of it all, there must be Jesus.

All we have is because of God’s rich blessing to us. Whether we are able to finance a missionary overseas, or be the hug someone needs on a dark day, we can do these things because Christ first loved us.

And His love is not distant or aloof, dependent on our worthiness or social status. His love was the very epitome of self­sacrifice.

We can follow a lot of people; wise people, knowledgeable people, humanitarians and charitable workers with big hearts.

But let us always keep Christ as our ultimate role model, who took the form of a servant and humbled himself.

Yes, we live in a world that promotes self over other, and applauds ambition over service and esteems gain over sacrifice. But this is not the life we are called to. Press on sisters!

When I was a student leader at my church’s weekly youth group, a modest dress code was enforced. Clothing for both guys & girls shouldn’t be too tight, shorts should be at least fingertip length, breasts should not be visible when standing/sitting/bending, no open toe shoes (this was strictly for safety purposes, especially during volunteer work), no bare shoulders, and modest swimwear only. Pretty much your average dress code, right?

10 Things You Should Know About

MODESTY

by Sharrie Anne

After a few months of leading, a few new kids started showing up – and one girl made quite the impression. She was gorgeous – drop dead gorgeous. Her hair was always done in long dirty blond curls, she wore make­up (but you could barely tell), and she bloomed much faster than her peers as she was significantly taller & curvier. Her outfits never broke the dress code, she usually showed up in jeans & a polo, blouse & a long skirt, and black slacks & sweaters in the winter. In the summer, when we’d take trips to the pool or lake, she would wear a regular swimsuit that covered her waist – plus board shorts to cover her bottom.

After a few months of this young lady coming to youth group (she never missed a Wednesday), I noticed that she stopped showing up. I expressed my concern to the youth group pastor & this is what I learned: “Heather (not her real name, of course) had been coming to youth group wearing clothing that distracted our group ­

HELM | CULTURE – specifically the boys. She wore similar clothes during Sunday service, so we sat down with her last week to discuss her outfit choices & go over the dress code.”

You guys, Heather’s clothes were not the problem. Not in the slightest. I had never seen her wear tight clothing, her breasts were never visible, nor were her thighs (she didn’t even wear shorts to youth group). I couldn’t understand why it was necessary for the church leaders to have a talk with her.

That right there – what we Christian girls were taught – promotes rape culture.

Too many times to count, rape victims have been asked, “What were you wearing?”. That’s not okay.

Now, I want to be clear – I’m not saying that by teaching modesty, we are promoting rape culture. Not at all – I encourage all parents & church leaders to teach modesty…just in the right way.

Needless to say, Heather never returned to Let’s say you pass by a buffet. The food laid youth group. out is drool­worthy, it smells good & looks good – the desserts are just calling your name. The So, why did the leaders feel it was chicken is fried to perfection. The mac & important to talk with her? She was just too cheese looks perfectly cheesy. You decide to beautiful. take a plate & fill it until food is practically falling off your plate. You eat until your You can scoff at that statement all you stomach is full, and then you eat some more. want, but it’s true. Her clothes were not the Afterwards, you feel uncomfortable & you might problem, her beauty was. The only way for have gained 5 pounds – you also feel guilty her to deflect eyes would be to wear huge, because you were a bit gluttonous. Are you baggy sweaters & sweatpants – perhaps going to call out the chef and blame him for you with her hair in a messy bun. But guys, eating too much? Are you going to blame the Heather is the type of person that would restaurant for promoting a buffet (I mean, if it pull off a paper bag at a fancy gala. wasn’t there you wouldn’t be tempted…right?).

The only person that should be blamed for I was one of many Christian girls that grew eating too much is you. You are the one who up with the idea that I must dress modestly sinned. You are the one who chose to eat in so I may not attract the unwanted attention the first place – and then you chose to eat too of my male peers. If I dress inappropriately, much. Your own choices put you in the I am inviting & encouraging young men situation you are in now – pants unzipped & (and perhaps even older men) to lust & unable to move. lead them into sin.

HELM | CULTURE The same can be said for how women dress & how others respond to it – which is why I came up with a few new modesty tips that you should consider applying to your modesty talks: 1. Dressing modestly won’t prevent rape. Five women could be walking down a street, all in different clothing (business casual, sporty, bag lady­like, work uniform, skimpy…) and a rapist wouldn’t think twice about their clothes.

2. Don’t dress modestly for men. Dress modestly for the Lord. Dress modestly for you.

You are not in control of the feelings and emotions of men. You could be wearing anything – modest or not – and a man could still have a lustful heart. When I dress, I ask myself if my outfit shows that I am a child of God – if not, I usually find something else to wear. What men think about my outfit is the last thing I’m concerned with.

3. Don’t be shameful of the body God gave you. God created you just as you are!

Curves or no curves, big breasts or little breasts, tall or short…modesty is NOT about hiding the bodies God gave us – it’s about honoring Him. It’s about glorifying Him. Heather, from youth group, was shamed because of the body God gave her. She did her very best to honor the Lord with her fashion choices & yet she was still scorned for her outfits. That’s really not okay.

4. Men are not the enemy. It took me a long time to think otherwise. I was so upset with men for not being about to wear certain clothes – but men are not the enemy. Sin is. And that saying that we are taught as young women, “Guys only want one thing”. That’s not always true – there are plenty of men that would rather have a healthy, personal, Godly relationship with a girl than casual sex. We are hurting both genders when we say that men are sinful.

5. Stop creating double standards. This is one I am adamant about. If the girls at youth group are not allowed to show their torso – then the guys shouldn’t either. If the girls can’t wear a tank top, the guys shouldn’t either. If the girls can’t wear tight fitting tops, then the guys shouldn’t either. Girls can get all hot and bothered by an attractive man as well, it’s not just men that can lust over another being. When it comes to modesty, we should have the same rules & teaching standards.

HELM | CULTURE 6. The way you dress DOES send a message. I was always told that men are visual creatures. But you know what? Women are too! How many times have you (a woman), oogled at a woman who had a rockin’ body? Or silently judged as a girl walked down the street in an outfit that is usually found in a strip club? How many of us have judged a woman based on their looks? While we are not responsible for the thoughts of others, we should learn to be aware of how others might perceive us.

7. Teach men how to look away. You can’t teach everyone about modesty. No matter where you go, you are bound to run into someone that chooses to wear short­shorts & crop tops. That’s okay – it’s their choice. What our job is – as educators & mothers, is to teach our boys that when (not if, but when) they see a woman that causes them to lust – then look away.

8. You are NOT sinning when men lust. You are not responsible for men’s actions or emotions. In Matthew 5:28, Jesus says that anyone who has looked at a woman with a sinful heart has committed adultery. During that time, women were viewed as the temptresses. If a man passed a beautiful woman & had dirty thoughts – it was her fault for being so gorgeous & for walking by him. Jesus said this to say to the men that it isn’t the woman’s fault for men lusting, it’s the men’s fault – He was trying to remove the shame that women felt for generations!

9. We are not sexual objects. From television to how we talk about modesty, teaches our young girls how men should treat us & how we should treat ourselves. If you promote a dress code based on the idea that men cannot control themselves, you are not only promoting rape culture, you are also implying that women are sexual objects & their biggest role in life is to be some sort of beauty token for their spouse. That line of teaching also teaches men to sexually objectify women.

10. When the Bible teaches about modesty, it’s not really talking about skin ( 1 Timothy 2:9). Modesty mostly has to do with the heart & in 1 Timothy, it really discusses how we shouldn’t dress to show off our wealth. We should all dress as equals.

For the record, we think modesty is good! It’s encouraged! Just be careful how you teach it.

HELM | ADVICE Have you ever felt God nudging you in a direction but you didn’t want to go that way? Maybe it’s not what you want for your life? Or maybe it’s a hard road?

1.) God has a plan specifically for you.

Plan 4 tips for following God's

“I chose you. I wanted you. I appointed you. I set you where you are.” – John 15:16

God knows exactly where you’re suppose to be and where you are suppose to go. He knows the trials you will face, and the struggles you’ll have to endure. He knows the good times and the bad times.

2.) Don’t hesitate.

When you feel God calling you down a path, go. Don’t hesitate. God appointed each season for you and He has an incredible plan for your life.

“God’s plans for your life far exceed the circumstances of your day.”

It’s scary. Anxious thoughts can enter your mind and tell you that you aren’t good enough or that God is sending you down an impossible road. But know that God would never give you an ounce more than you can handle.

3.) Trust Him. Obedience is so important in a relationship with Christ. It’s so easy to want to ignore him and say that you know what path you want and go your own way. It’s so easy to think that you can manage your life better than Him, but that’s not true.

Read Acts 5:17­42, “It’s necessary to obey God rather than men.”

You’ll see how important it is to trust God and obey the calling He places on your life.

This is key for living your life for Christ.

HELM | ADVICE Struggles you face are not meant to break you. From my experiences, hardships make your relationship with Christ stronger. You start to lean on Him more, and you find out that leaning on Him is the best way to get through life.

4.) Worship through the trials.

I wish it was easy. Sometimes worshiping God through trials feels like an impossible task. You might question, “why should I praise Him when He has abandoned me?”

But remember that God never left your side, even when He’s very quiet you can still find Him. “Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6 Remember to obey God during the struggles, and trust Him. Know that He is always there even when He seems silent.

God has a plan for your life, and if you feel like God is calling you to do something, trust that and pray for God to show you the way. ­Brittany Parker

Adam I,

Meet

Adam II

A few weeks back, I attended a TedEx talk at my former university. This sounds like it’s going to be one of those painful academic posts, but hang in there, it gets better I promise.

The speaker, David Brooks, quoted rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik, who wrote a book called “The Lonely Man of Faith” in 1965 (which is a phenomenal read, by the way). In it, Soloveitchik refers to what he believes are the two sides of our (human) true nature; he calls them Adam I and Adam II. Maybe you have already heard of this concept (smarty pants…) but for those of you like me who have not, allow me to explain. According to Soloveitchik, Adam I is the worldly, day­to­day, side of us. He’s ambitious, image­concerned, usually guarded and striving for success.

Adam II is much more vulnerable. Adam II is introspective, concerned with “purpose” and “meaning.” Adam II is the one who values compassion and inner strength over social status.

“Adam I wants to conquer the world.

Adam II wants to hear a calling and obey.

Adam I’s motto is “success,” Adam II’s is “love, redemption and return.”

It doesn’t take long to realize that we live in a culture that puts Adam I on a pedestal, and hides Adam II in a closet, only occasionally letting him out around a handful of people we truly trust. Some of us may never let him out.

It’s easy to label this a “worldly” problem, and file it away in the “doesn’t have to do with me because of my faith” bin. It’s okay, we all have one, you’re not alone, but this battle of the Adams isn’t limited to those who don’t know Christ. If anything, the struggle is intensified once Jesus enters your life (dun dun dun…).

Before I continue, I should clarify: Adam I is not the bad guy. In fact, I feel as though he plays a crucial role in motivating our pursuits and keeping Adam II safe. It isn’t wrong to strive for success, or to be cautious of who you show your true self too, because not everyone needs to know your hopes, dreams, fears, insecurities and what your favorite color is (mine is orange, by the way, I don’t mind telling you guys).

“The issue arises when Adam I is the only one at the wheel. When left alone he tends to go a bit overboard, and suddenly a little too much ambition turns into obsession, a little too much concern for your image makes us prideful, and a little too much secrecy very easily turns into deceit. The Adams don’t just battle “out in the world,” they battle everywhere, within each of us, all the time. That includes in the church.

As a new Christian especially, I can clearly remember feeling a deep sense of inadequacy when I first embraced the church. So many of those around me seemed miles ahead of me in their faith journeys, so far ahead that I wondered if I should even try to follow. I’ve spoken with a considerable amount of people who avoid the church for similar reasons, a few of which have sounded like this: “I feel like I’m just not positive enough.

Everyone there is so enthusiastic all the time.” “ Opening up and “sharing” with people I don’t know is uncomfortable.”

“I just don’t feel as connected as everyone else seems to.”

HELM | ADVICE I’m sure some us have been in these places too, and when we were there, Adam I probably lost his mind.

What am I doing here? I need to be better at this “praying out loud” thing; I sound stupid. Sing better during the hymns, you’re embarrassing yourself. I don’t want to confess x, y, or z, people will think less of me.

Sound familiar?

God calls us to live Adam II lives, but the temptation to let Adam I do all of our bidding doesn’t fight itself. It’s an active choice, a decision we all have to make over and over and over…

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

This is something I struggle with all the time, which is probably why this talk resonated with me so powerfully (kind of like a little “nudge” from God, I feel).

My Adams duel for my attention all the time.

Fortunately, there is a pretty simple solution: we have to introduce the Adams to one another.

We’ve established that neither on is the bad guy, but rather each have their own temptations. We make mistakes when one operates without the other, regardless of who’s driving. The goal then, is to try our hardest to make sure the Adams are cooperating no matter where we are. Remember the guys from the Ted talk I mentioned earlier?

They agree: “Adam I is built by building on your strengths. Adam II is built by fighting your weaknesses.” – David Brooks “Nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in our lifetime; therefore we must be saved by hope. Nothing which is true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history; therefore we must be saved by faith. Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone; therefore we must be saved by love. No virtuous act is quite as virtuous from the standpoint of our friend or foe as from our own standpoint. Therefore we must be saved by that final form of love, which is forgiveness.” ­Reinhold Niebuhr

HELM | ADVICE So, friends, here are some “Adam” challenges for you. I encourage you to attempt all of them, and I promise I will be doing the same.

1. Figure out which areas of your life are controlled by Adam I, and which are controlled by Adam II. ( Ex: Maybe Adam I is the driver at work, but not at home.)

2. Try to picture them switching. Is the result so horrible? How could it be beneficial?

3. Use the Adams’ “weaknesses” for good. Let Adam I motivate you to succeed, but allow Adam II to keep his pride in check. Likewise, allow Adam II to come into the light a bit more often, so long as Adam I is there to make sure he is seeking wise counsel and good company.

God turns our weaknesses to strengths, our fears to victories, and our doubts into trust.

He can do the same for the Adams, I’m sure of it. ­Amy Klinkhammer