MannaEXPRESS August 2012 by MannaEXPRESS

August

2012 Vo l u me 6 Is s u e 8

Scott Brodie has lived 16 years with Lou Gehrigâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disease, but he thrives on a promise that God is healing him

by Julie Cramer Struggling with depression among godly scoffers

Eat Mor Chikin, by Sharifa Stevens Fighting for freedom of speech with tasty sandwiches

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The D Bomb,

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PAGE 8

by Chuck Goldberg Searching for Supermom, by Stephanie Morris-Graves Can Christian women really have it all?

August 2012 • Volume 6 • Issue 8 • Page 2

Page 3 • Volume 6 • Issue 8 • August 2012

CONTENTS Publisher May Olusola

Features 8

Editor Julie Lyons

Jason McFarland Cover design by Jason McFarland

Dropping the “D” Bomb Facing depression head-on means calling it what it is: a disease.

by J. Lee Grady

Taiwo Ayeni Julie Cramer Joanne Cutting-Gray Chuck Goldberg J. Lee Grady Mrs. Happy Hank Lamb Trevor Main Stephanie Morris-Graves Sanele Ndebele Sharifa Stevens Michael Tummillo Staff Photographer

For subscription information e-mail us: info@mannaexpressonline.com For Advertising, event coverage, church or organization listing and general information, please call: Office: 972-782-2727; 972-228-9200 To send a message to the Publisher, e-mail: editor@mannaexpressonline.com © 2012 MannaEXPRESS All Rights Reserved. No reproduction of any portion of this issue is allowed without written permission from the publisher. MannaEXPRESS reserves the right to decline advertising that is not in accordance with what the newspaper represents.

by Sharifa Stevens

Manna Confidential Oh, how our husbands hate it when we try to control through criticism.

Columns

by Mrs. Happy

It Is Well

by Joanne Cutting-Gray

by May Olusola

Talk Back

Guest Column Can Christian moms have it all?

Natalie Nichols’ testimony; Myles Munroe’s uncommon insight; Dana Air plane crash.

by Stephanie Morris-Graves

Prayer Mountain

by Taiwo Ayeni

The Remnant A testimony that’s too good to be true; sin hits the bottom line at Penn State; what does it mean to fix your thoughts on things above?

Third Watch Beware the power of unfulfilled vows.

This month’s focus: Pray for our children.

Soul Food Drinking from the well of luscious lemonade.

All is not as it seems in my dream destination, sparkling Dubai.

Kevin Dukes MannaEXPRESS 7000 Independence Parkway, Suites 160–145 Plano, Texas 75025

American evangelicalism had a captive audience, and…we ate a sandwich.

by Chuck Goldberg

Grace and Grit

Against All Hope, He Believes Scott Brodie has lived 16 years with Lou Gehrig’s disease, but he thrives on a promise.

Contributing Writers

Fire in My Bones You can’t fool teens: They don’t wear church masks like we do.

by Julie Cramer Art Direction

Behind the Dazzling Veil

Entertainment 19

Manna Groove

by MannaEXPRESS staff

The Dark Knight Rises falls into the pit of plot holes.

Godly Man

by Trevor Main

We solve the mystery of 2012. by Hank Lamb

Manna Fun Test your Bible smarts with our crossword puzzle.

August 2012 • Volume 6 • Issue 8 • Page 4

hen Emirates began direct flights from DallasFort Worth to Dubai this past March, I knew a personal trip to this dream destination of mine was bound to take place in the near future. While YouTube videos and stories from family members and friends who’d visited painted a beautiful picture of Dubai, seeing it in person is a totally

When all of my siblings arrived, we lit the fire of nostalgia with the many stories we shared. When we weren’t on memory lane, jokes and outrageous laughter shook the walls of our It is well room. We were so by May Olusola happy to be in each Publisher other’s company and different ballgame. away from the stress and bustle of our daily lives. A lot of time was spent touring, On July 9, my dream became a reality as my plane touched and some of the interesting places we visited included the down at Dubai International Airport for the beginning of Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world; the Burj Al a week-long vacation. I was dizzy with excitement at all the Arab, the most luxurious hotel in the world; the Dubai City tourist attractions I planned to visit but most important the Mall, one of the biggest malls in the world; the Gold Souk; family reunion I was going to have with my siblings. For and the desert safari, which was the most fun. I also got the some reason, they decided to make Dubai their vacation spot opportunity to interview Dr. Dill Kumar, founder of King’s this year—the more the merrier. Revival Church, which is the largest Christian church in Dubai. He shared with me that his love for his neighbors was As I got out of the airport, I walked to the first car in a row the key to his success in planting a fast-growing church in a of available taxis. A man called out to me “Pink, pink, pink.” predominantly Muslim society. I gave him a puzzled look as I said, “Excuse me?” He pointed to a second row of cabs on the other side and explained that But in the midst of all the pomp and excitement, it was female passengers are driven in pink-colored cabs by female disturbing to see the way women were treated as secondtaxi cab drivers. I swallowed my dismay as a very skinny lady class citizens, stripped of many rights that women in dressed smartly in pink overalls came over and hauled one Western societies take for granted. Also, the salaries of the of my bags into the car. When she reached for the other bag, workers who do menial jobs are pathetic. They’re treated I gestured that I’d do it myself. She pleaded with me that it without regard in a city where the wealth from oil enables was her job, but I still wouldn’t let her—how in the world the Emirati nationals to be catered for generously by their was I going to stand there and let a woman who weighed government. These workers don’t have the freedom to three times less than me carry my luggage while the men complain to any authority, because they need the job to stood by staring like nothing was happening? This didn’t sit survive. This explained the inward suffering and outward well with me, and I began to wonder if there was more to the smiling attitude most of them seemed to possess. place than my virtual eyes had seen. Time flew so fast, and soon we were saying our goodbyes. In By the time we began driving into town, my mind became all, I will say my trip exceeded my expectations, and I thank the preoccupied with all the amazing buildings, the numerous Lord from the bottom of my heart for such an opportunity. skyscrapers, the wide highways, the number of American This month’s MannaEXPRESS features Julie Cramer’s franchises, and the overall blanket of opulence that seemed courageous story of how she endured and overcame to envelop the city. I knew I was in for unlikely discoveries depression; Chuck Goldberg’s stirring account of a former and lots of exploration. athlete living with Lou Gehrig’s disease; Sharifa Stevens’ wry At the hotel, the first thing I noticed was the excellent observations on the Chick-fil-A controversy; Taiwo Ayeni’s customer service. I was received with so much enthusiasm— provocative look at the power of vows; and much more. like a prodigal returning home after many years. Most of Keep praying and lifting us up, and don’t forget to log on to the employees were foreigners, primarily from Pakistan, www.mannaexpressonline.com to leave your comments. Until Bangladesh, the Philippines, and India. They spoiled me next time, stay blessed. rotten and catered to my every need. If I asked for something they unfailingly returned with at least two of that item. I was sure their big paycheck was the reason for the enthusiasm. Little did I know that tipping them made a difference. Page 5 • Volume 6 • Issue 8 • August 2012

Prayer Mountain

Talk Back Letters to the Editor Natalie Nichols’ Struggle To God be the glory! Best article and testimony I have ever read and heard! [“Be Strong and Take Heart and Wait for the Lord,” by Chuck Goldberg, July 2012.] It truly encourages me to surrender all to Christ. May God continue to use this young lady to share His goodness and His power. God is truly able to do all things! —Elaine B. Wow. This has given me a lot to think about. God does do things that at the time we do not understand, but He always knows what He is doing. We lose our faith at times and go back to doing things in our own flesh. This story has so reminded me of that. —Mandy This couldn’t have come at a better time this morning. I told God 10 years ago that if He would let me be a lawyer, I would go wherever and do whatever He told me to. I have lost three homes since 1994, I have been divorced three times, and as I sit here worrying about being able to pay my light bill, all of my worries seem so few compared to Natalie’s. I would ask for prayer from anyone who reads this. I need to learn to let go completely like Natalie did. —Michele

This month’s focus: Pray for Our Children

Amazing testimony—God is a great healer, and He works in mysterious ways. May God continually restore Natalie Nichols both physically and spiritually. —Catherine

Bahamas’ Best

I have been reading Myles Munroe’s books [“Rats to Riches,” by May Olusola, July 2012], and he has more than blessed me. The bottom line is you cannot go wrong with applying Biblical principles—if this, then that! Sometimes God allows us to suffer in order for us to let May the Lord continue to use him to open the eyes of go of our own wants and needs, but He does it with love others. May we be leaders and not followers, may we see never leaving us. This was a great testimony—one I felt so ourselves in a better light, in the name of Jesus Christ. deep in my spirit. God bless this fantastic man of God. —Hilda —Frankie

Gone in Seconds

“Sometimes God allows us to suffer in order for us to let go of our own wants and needs, but He does it with love never leaving us.”

Yes, we all take life for granted [“Twinkling of an Eye,” by May Olusola, July 2012]. Life is too precious. We need to stop and take care of our affairs NOW. Are our children provided for? I cried when I viewed those clips of the tragic and horrific plane crash in Lagos, Nigeria. Those people had no idea what their fate was that day. None of us do! They trusted the pilot, the airlines, etc. We too put our trust in many daily activities. We have no control over our destiny. A perfect example is what happened at the theater in Aurora, Colorado. It seems we’re not safe anywhere at any time. So, yes, we need to take action right now! Not tomorrow, but today! —Karen H.

Natalie, what an inspirational story. Unfortunately, it My prayers and sympathy go out to the families of these All things are possible to those who trust the Lord. He is takes our own personal pain to realize we need to be fully people. I know there are no guarantees of how long we will committed to Christ. I had a life-changing experience the Author and Finisher of our faith, the Beginning and be here. We need to make peace with God while we can. in 2007, and it has really turned my life in the right Ending of all that concerns us. This testimony has made —Carol S. direction. I depend on Christ in all that I do each day. my day. —Paulette G. Though there are always trials and temptations, Christ is there to strengthen us. Your story has touched my heart and will bring strength to many who read it. —Rebecca W.

August 2012 • Volume 6 • Issue 8 • Page 6

Reflections on Malachi 1–4 Malachi was one of the prophets in the days of Nehemiah. In his time, the temple had been rebuilt but was run by promiscuous, deceitful, wicked, and corrupt power-brokers—the priests and the Levites. They led the people deeper into sin. Malachi 2:8: “But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.” Malachi functioned as pastor, prophet, and theologian to the people. His messages were directed at the atrocities among the people. They dishonored God with defiled sacrifices.

only for those who remain steadfast in the way of the cross (3:16–18). Malachi 4:2–3: “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.” Sadly, the atrocities in the days of Malachi are prevalent now. Sorcerers, adulterers, perjurers, exploiters, and haters have taken over the pulpits and are putting on collars (Malachi 3:5). The people are being led astray through wrong counsel. Malachi ended his message with the prediction of an Elijah who was to come, who Jesus identified as John the Baptist.

Malachi 4:5: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful Malachi 1:13: “Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness day of the LORD.” is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the For more than 400 years, God kept silent until John lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should the Baptist appeared on the scene. I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.” Matthew 11:13–15: “For all the prophets and the law Things had gotten so bad that the Word of God was prophesied until John. And if ye will receive it, this is not important to the people; they lived their own Elijah who was to come. He that hath ears to hear, let lives. They disregarded the institution of marriage him hear.” and abhorred God’s standards in their social lives. The book of Malachi should serve as a warning, Malachi 2:16: “For the LORD, the God of Israel, causing us to check our ways. The manner of saith that he hateth putting away [divorce]: for one worship we often see today is becoming insincere covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of and full of falsehood. The ethical standards of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not God’s covenant are becoming alien to worshipers. treacherously.” People worship as the flesh leads and not as the Spirit leads. Sincere and genuine Biblical counsel Many things were taking place that hurt God. The and standards are being compromised for the proud were being praised and the wicked went insincere. Politicians are the advisers of the clergy, free. The righteous were being silenced. Many gave and the clergy lead the people into more captivity. up serving the Lord because of evil counsel and We must pray for revival. compromised the righteous path. Let us seek for the old path where we can find rest. Malachi 3:14–15: “Ye have said, It is vain to serve Let us listen to the trumpet’s sound, which will God: and what profit is it that we have kept his allow us to escape the calamity that is to come. ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts? And now we call the proud happy; SCRIPTURES yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that Isaiah 54:13; Colossians 3:20–21; 2 Timothy tempt God are even delivered.” 3:16–17; Deuteronomy 6:6-9; Psalm 127:3–5; Psalm 139:13–16; James 1:17; Matthew 19:14. The book of remembrance spoken of in Malachi is Page 7 • Volume 6 • Issue 8 • August 2012

Special Prayer for Our Children Acts 19:20

I thank you, Father, that Your Word prevails over our children, Isaiah 54:13 that they are taught of the Lord and continue to be Proverbs 13:1 the fruit of godly instruction and correction. Isaiah 54:13 Great is their peace and undisturbed composure. Proverbs 2:6 Father, give us counsel and wisdom in bringing up our children. 1 Peter 1:14 I declare that they are obedient, not conforming to the things of the flesh, 1 Peter 1:15 but holy in all conduct, 1 Peter 2:2 desiring the pure milk of the Word that they may grow thereby, James 1:19 that they are swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Hebrews 13:5 Their conduct is without covetousness, Hebrews 13:5 and they are content with what they have. Hebrews 13:16 They do not forget to do what is right and to share. 2 Peter 3:18 I pray that they grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord 1 Thess. 4:1 and abound more and more in how they should walk and please You. 1 Peter 5:5 That they submit to their elders, and to one another, 1 Peter 5:5 being clothed with humility. 1 Peter 5:7 That they cast their cares upon You, Father, for You care for them. James 1:22 I thank You that they are doers of the Word, and not hearers only, Philemon 1:6 effectively sharing their faith. 2 Tim. 1:7 Not having a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. 2 Tim. 1:9 Father, You have saved them and called them with a holy calling, 2 Tim. 1:9 not according to works, but according to Your own purpose. 2 Tim. 4:18 Deliver them from every evil work and preserve them. John 10:5 They will by no means follow strangers, not knowing their voices. 2 Tim. 2:22 They abide with others who call on the Lord out of a pure heart, James 3:10 and cursing comes not out of their mouth. 1 John 5:18 Because Jesus keeps them safe, the wicked one does not touch them. Psalm 91:11 Give Your angels special charge to accompany, defend, preserve, Psalm 4:8 and provide safety for them, day and night. 1 John 2:5 Because they keep Your Word, Your love is being perfected in them. 1 John 2:15 They do not love the world or the things in the world, 3 John 1:11 and they do not imitate what is evil but what is good. 1 John 1:7 They walk in the light as You are in the Light, James 4:8 cleansing their hands and purifying their hearts. 2 Tim. 2:22 They follow after righteousness, faith, love, and peace. Hebrews 13:18 They have a good conscience and desire to live honorably, Proverbs 3:4 having favor and high esteem with God and man.

Dropping the “D” Bomb Facing depression head-on means calling it what it is: a disease.

retending a horse is a zebra doesn’t make it a zebra. Labeling depression a spiritual deficiency doesn’t make it true. Depression is the “D” bomb among Christians. Breathe a word of it, and you are doomed by Julie Cramer … to be stigmatized, chastised, pitied, whispered about. Instead of facing the medical fact that depression is an illness that affects the brain, we prefer to paint it with stripes and hope no one notices the disguise. We look away, or assign the person to the category of “spiritually lacking” or “unsaved.”

Chemical or circumstantial? When I was depressed, I spent months on the bathroom floor. I needed the commode close by because I was nauseated, and the tile cooled my throbbing head. I remember lying there, with my arm outstretched beneath my head, tapping the cold rim of the toilet base. I can’t sink lower than this, I thought. But I’m so tired. I just can’t do it anymore.

During those nights, lying on the bathroom floor, I wondered about the world outside my door. I wondered about my friends and what they were doing. I wondered about my now exboyfriend. I thought about the coming summer and the warmth I could not feel. I thought The truth is depression is a mental condition that cripples about my sister and how she had survived one in 10 Americans every year, according to the Centers in a way I hadn’t—out of the same tough for Disease Control. childhood, but with a resiliency I couldn’t seem to muster. I thought about her children—two God said through His man, David, that the body is boys at the time. They would not understand fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). Indeed, if I walked out of that bathroom one day and every system in the body requires a complex set of lay my body down in a ditch and died—willing interworking—from the way our blood moves through cold or hunger or whatever to take my life. our veins to the way our body winds down to sleep to the way our food is digested to the way babies know it is And yet I just couldn’t get back up. time to make their grand entrance. Our brains are Those days turned into two no different. years of insomnia, nausea, despair, and anguish. I When deficiencies crop isolated myself and stopped up in our ways of relating trying to tell others how I to others, don’t we know felt. They didn’t, couldn’t it? I grumble, accuse, understand. I was tired of withdraw—and quite the “pull-yourself-up-byquickly the relationship your-bootstraps” speeches, with the other person the judgment that if I suffers. When I do not “just prayed … trusted in give a relationship the God … got counseling … proper amount of time, focused on the positive,” I attention, and care, it would feel better. surely begins to show signs of stress and neglect I didn’t. Thirty-three years the way a plant begins was enough for Christ on to droop or turn yellow. earth; it was enough for me. We cannot see “time,” “attention,” and “care,” “Depression is not easily but we can certainly cured. It doesn’t go away,” feel the lack thereof. Glenn Kreider, Ph.D., Depression is like that theology professor at distant relationship, or the drooping, yellowing plant; Dallas Theological Seminary, told me recently. “It’s always we cannot see the brain’s chemicals, but depression is dangerous to over-generalize, but I think one can observe one way it signals distress and insufficient amounts of without much criticism that the evangelical community “serotonin,” “melatonin,” and “norepinephrine.” responds to depression and other mental issues in two

The church is not a safe place for strugglers, especially for people with depression. If somebody has cancer, the church rallies around them. But when somebody has a mental illness, there seems to be a marginalization of the hurt person.

“In considering counseling or not, ask yourself if your hopelessness is high and chronic. Do you need someone to help you get out of the hole? Are you working hard just to tread water?” Spatola says. “After depression has gone on for a long enough period of time to really deepen, it doesn’t matter if the depression was triggered by something circumstantial or chemical. It’s not going to be resolved by only talking about it or exercising.” Spatola notes that when a traumatic event happens in a person’s life, it causes brain chemistry to shift. “With medication, people need a lot of patience for side effects. You need to wait it out,” she says. “The first thing you take may not be a magic bullet—there are no magic bullets. And you might need to live with a side effect, but it’s worth it.” Furthermore, if you experience anxiety along with depression, Spatola recommends telling your psychiatrist because some antidepressants are known to increase anxiety.

Off the deep end

ways: 1) we have no idea what to do; and 2) strugglers are marginalized and condemned. It’s treated primarily as a problem of sin that says that if you’re a new creation in Christ, the old has gone, the new has come, so if any of these struggles are manifest, it’s evidence of sin or that you’re not saved. “The church is not a safe place for strugglers, especially for people with depression. If somebody has cancer, the church rallies around them. But when somebody has a mental illness, there seems to be a distancing, a marginalization of the hurt person. If I have a headache, no one judges me for taking Tylenol. But if I have depression, I am judged for taking Prozac.” Meredith Spatola, M.A., LPC, who is in practice at The Barnabus Center, a Christian counseling center in Charlotte, North Carolina, and who counseled me for nearly two years and for whom I am deeply thankful— suggests the first thing to do if you suspect you are depressed is to interview the emotion. In other words, ask yourself if the depressed mood is connected to something in your story. How long have you felt the depressed mood? Have you noticed a pattern to your emotions? In cases of low-grade depression, you can try practicing self-care, exercise, changing your diet, and having your thyroid checked. In both low-grade and full-blown depression, tell someone you trust.

August 2012 • Volume 6 • Issue 8 • Page 8

I stopped eating after the break-up—and for months afterward. On the surface, it seemed like I had gone off the deep end because I broke up with a boy. What people could not know is that breaking up with a man triggered a reaction of memories and emotions from a lifetime of living under an abusive father. The failed relationship confirmed as true what my father had said over and over: I was fat and ugly, and no wonder no one loved me. I grieved more than the loss of a relationship; I grieved a deep wound about which no one fully knew. My sister flew to Dallas when she realized I was suicidal because of memories of sexual abuse that were emerging like a photograph in a darkroom. She told her story. I told mine. And the horror of what was real—but clouded in confusion all those years— thundered: Our father had abused us in every way imaginable. The grief and despair I felt before her visit collapsed into an eversinking, deepening hole. It swallowed me, and not only could I not get out of it, I just didn’t care to try anymore. I began begging God for death. The pain was too much to bear. How in the world was I going to pick up the pieces at this stage of life? I was never going to be OK. It was just never going to be OK.

and flat-out broke. I had earned a master’s degree from Dallas Seminary, yet I was charging gas and groceries. I was single and alone and 33. No children. A woman in Southern evangelical Christianity. Depressed. Striped with stigmas. All the world felt harsh and I, unnecessary. For me, the worst part of depression was that when it all came down to it, I had nowhere else to turn but to God—and He felt impossible to reach. So impossible that I clutched the Bible one night as tears streamed down my face into the soaked pillow. That rectangle of leather was the only tangible thing I could think of to hang onto … that, by chance, maybe God would honor that desperate act and show up. Instead, the night dragged on and I felt closer to the psalmists than I did to the God with whom they too pleaded.

• You lose pleasure in things you once enjoyed.

Maybe it was true—maybe God had allowed my past so that I would submit to a life alone, full of mental and physical suffering that no one could touch or understand. Maybe I was created to be damned.

• You experience a loss in appetite or feel like eating all the time.

This kind of thinking is common for a hurting person yet dangerous to utter. How could a seminary graduate feel that way? Jesus died for her! She’s so ungrateful!

• You feel hopeless.

“Whether it’s the obvious people like Job, Joseph, Elijah, David, Saul, Moses … it is hard to find a major Biblical character that does not manifest what looks like depression,” Kreider says. “What’s the difference between someone who is blue, down, and somebody who is depressed? That’s where it requires experts. I want to remove the stigma so that people can get help. It’s hard enough to encourage depressed people to get help, but when you add the marginalization, the critical attitude, the judgment—it makes it that much more difficult.”

The worst part of depression was that when it all came down to it, I had nowhere else to turn but to God—and He felt impossible to reach.

I tried to go about my routine, though. That’s what you do, right? I went to work. “I wish someone would break up with me so I could be skinny,” a co-worker said. At that moment I realized I had stood on both ends of the acceptance spectrum: judged for being too fat and judged for being too skinny. And I was also judged for not being able to snap out of it. I was broken up, brokenhearted,

Signs and Symptoms of Depression

The gift of your presence

• You withdraw from relationships. • You have a lack of energy. • You experience sleep disturbance—“This is often the first red flag you are depressed,” Spatola says. “Usually the pattern is that you can go to sleep, but you can’t stay asleep.”

• You think about death or suicide.

of them require a significant financial commitment. It’s not like you get a prescription for antibiotics and you’re cured. You need a series of counseling appointments and medicine. It is a long-term commitment. If you don’t know what to say, don’t say anything. If you think you know how to fix it, keep your mouth shut. Let the professionals deal with it.” I caused my family and friends years of pain as I struggled to get better. I grieve over the pain I must have caused them, with my expressions of longing for death, my withdrawal, my helplessness that required them to shoulder me financially, physically, and emotionally.

I watched a strange movie, Melancholia, starring Kirsten Even when an ER doctor Dunst. The movie opens with a ridiculously awkward and has muscled a dislocated painful wedding and ends with the earth being blown shoulder into place, it’s ready to bits by a collision with a “passing” planet. Dunst’s and able to function properly character, Justine, suffers from depression. Her sister is a again but it isn’t without woman who strives for optimism, order. Yet she cannot pain. It needs time to rest control her sister’s illness no matter how hard she tries. and heal in this righted condition before it can find I sat mortified as I recognized myself in one scene— full range of motion. Even Justine’s sister has to physically walk her from the bed when a person is treated to the bath and try to coach her to lift her foot and step properly for depression, the into the tub. Justine is trembling and slack, her limbs too pain may not instantly stop; heavy to lift; the effort too great. She collapses, naked, on the person may not rebound to normal activities for a the floor, in her sister’s arms. Her sister is angry, defeated, while until she has had time to rest, to heal, to test out frustrated. I sat there, staring at the screen with memories the newly healed mind. of that kind of humiliation, physical incapacitation, and burdening of another flooding back—and the shame “All of us are surrounded by hurting people,” Kreider says. washed over me anew. I know what it is like to not be “I think the place [for Christians] to start is to recognize able to get in the tub. the pain that is around us. Counseling and medication are usually both necessary. And both of them have stigmas continued on page 12 in our community and both of them are expensive. Both

Page 9 • Volume 6 • Issue 8 • August 2012

Against All Hope, He Believes Scott Brodie has lived 16 years with Lou Gehrig’s disease, but he thrives on a promise that God is healing him “… Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” (2 Cor. 4:16, NIV).

“I’m a guy whose voice cannot be heard, whose body is supported by a brace, having no ability to take care of myself, living in a world that champions and celebrates strength, perfection, and addled with Lou Gehrig’s achievement,” he says. “Daily, the Holy disease, Scott Brodie is Spirit reminds me that through my far removed from his days weakness God’s strength is perfected and Witness playing basketball, football, my imperfections have the ability to put His glory and His grace on display.” by Chuck Goldberg and softball. Long gone are health-club racquetball, working out, and coaching the church men’s and women’s Born in Iron Mountain, Michigan, and softball teams. raised in several Wisconsin towns, Brodie attended the University of Wisconsin Today, he cannot fend for himself at all; he is incapable and moved to San Diego in 1982, later of independently eating, dressing, or bathing. Nor working in a gym health bar selling can he use his arms, but he can type with his toes and organic food products. In 1983, he moved to Tacoma, communicate a form of sign language with his feet. Washington, to start a new health bar in a gym, and it Even blinking is difficult, requiring the help of his wife, was there that he met Glennis. Both physically active, Glennis, who also serves as interpreter, since his voice is they frequently exercised together and fell in love, reduced to sounds unintelligible to anyone else. marrying in 1984. Leaving the health bar business, Brodie worked a variety of jobs until 1985, when he began learning mobile vinyl repair and auto pinstriping. He then got the idea to launch his own mobile upholstery company specializing in health clubs and restaurants. Brodie Upholstery began in 1986 and is still going today, based in Puyallup, Washington, with son Justin running field operations and Glennis managing the office.

him among about 10 percent who survive more than 10 years. Just 5 percent make it to year 20.

Brodie obtained a bachelor’s degree in theological studies in 1997 from Maryland Bible College & Seminary in Baltimore, which was affiliated with Greater Grace World Outreach. He taught Biblical studies in Tacoma at Greater Grace Bible College, where Glennis earned her degree in Biblical studies in 2003. Both remained active in ministry with Greater Grace, now known as Living Grace Ministries.

“I could envision Satan standing above me as I clung to the sides of a dark pit. He was gleefully laughing at me in my despair, saying in a mocking tone, Though Brodie received the standard life expectancy of two ‘Where is your God now, to five years, he is now in his Mr. Faith?’” 16th year with ALS. That puts

Yet, as Brodie helplessly watches his body waste away, he is beholding another phenomenon: His increasing reliance upon God and His Word has enlivened his spirit, taking him to greater spiritual heights.

They attended Greater Grace Church in Tacoma from

They decided to meet with their pastor, who wept with them and had the congregation intercede that night and countless times since. He gave them a verse, Romans 4:18, which has become Brodie’s lifeline: “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed.”

The following year, the healing Brodie began to see was spiritual, not physical, as God revealed that He could never fulfill His promise of physical healing if Brodie continued relying upon his human effort to seek a cure. Instead, all he had to do was choose to live and God would take care of the rest, healing him on this earth.

“I had to learn that trust was the avenue God would use to reveal His love for me,” he says. “Healing has never been an issue with God; He has assured me numerous times that my healing has already begun and will physically manifest in His time, not mine, where He will get all the glory. I no longer need to be occupied with Several other neurologists confirmed ALS, he says, all healing; I need to be occupied with my Savior. with the same clinical coldness, leaving him without hope The daily struggles remain, but as I grow in my that any doctor could help. So he turned to faith messages love toward Christ, I rejoice that He allows me and God’s Word to remain encouraged. Satan continued to go through them with Him.” waging an intense battle in his mind, with lingering projections of death and depression. And more trials he would surely endure, including a tracheostomy in April 2009 so The biggest hope-builder of all occurred in March he could use a ventilator, and a severe lung 1998 during a visit to Arizona, when Jesus appeared to infection in June that led to choking because Brodie one night in either a vision or dream. He told of an obstruction. Glennis had to clash with Brodie his healing had already begun and asked three medical authorities in the emergency room to separate times where he would like to serve Him, and obtain the necessary antibiotics for her husband. he answered Phoenix. Greatly encouraged, Brodie Today, Brodie then sought alternative continues to treatments for the next use a ventilator, seven years in the United back brace, and States, Canada, and during wheelchair, though three trips to Mexico, he can do some spending thousands of walking. Unable to eat or dollars on a wide variety of drink, he receives puréed therapies. After all, he had food and vitamins through God’s promise he would be a feeding tube. Every couple serving Him in Phoenix. hours he needs help to blink because his eyes are dry and While he and Glennis unable to shut completely. had faith and hope, at the His lungs function at just same time they felt they 20 percent capacity, so a couldn’t simply sit at home lung infection becomes and do nothing. Perhaps critical since he has such low God’s answer would come breathing capability. through people, they thought, so they had to The Brodies’ children are seek alternative treatments Justin, 29; Jessica, 27; since conventional medicine offered no hope. Each Ashley, 24; and Kylee, 21. Jessica has given them two alternative built hope, but each failure became a hard hit. grandchildren: Korbyn, born December 2008, and Yet they remained encouraged and hopeful, believing God Brodie, born July 2011. Ashley and Kylee still live at for healing. Instead, Brodie’s condition worsened. home in Puyallup and help with care, running errands, and maintaining the house. Jessica comes over four days He became so weak by 2005, he had difficulty a week to help with care and work in the family business. breathing, talking, and could barely eat without One of Brodie’s brothers, Boo, 50, lives in Tacoma and choking. Realizing he needed intervention to save his also helps Justin in the business. Brodie has two other life, he followed Glennis’ urging and got a feeding tube, caregivers to help Glennis with household chores. bi-pap machine to help get air into his lungs, a custom neck brace, and a wheelchair. Glennis says that although the kids have lived with the uncertainty of their father’s condition, they have not “I’ve held onto that one truth since that day,” he says. “When questions came, I just kept holding onto hope. God has encouraged me to never lose my hope, to never lose faith in Him. He promises us ‘those that wait upon the Lord shall mount up with wings as eagles.’”

Such are the ravages of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which came to prominence when it killed New York Yankees great Lou Gehrig in 1941, a tragedy immortalized in the 1942 Gary Cooper movie, The Pride of the Yankees. Occurring in two of every 100,000 people, ALS is a degenerative disease that affects the brain’s ability to initiate and control muscle movement. No longer able to receive nourishment, muscles atrophy, eventually leading to death, according to the ALS Association. There is no cure.

gleefully laughing at me in my despair, saying in a mocking tone, ‘Where is your God now, Mr. Faith?’”

1988 to 2008, until Brodie’s health made it impossible to attend, so they now listen to daily messages online and host Bible studies in their home and an occasional speaker. With an active family of four children, full church involvement, and a growing business, life was good for the Brodies. Then in late 1995, Scott noticed twitching in his right index finger. Eventually, he became unable to press hard enough when writing invoices at work to create duplicates. He detected a loss of strength in his right arm, reducing his velocity when throwing a softball or football. Also, his aim when shooting baskets was off. Figuring he needed more strength training, he increased his exercise at the gym. Instead, he slowly worsened. The problem expanded to his left hand and left arm, then neck to chest. Brodie learned from his doctor it could be anything from a pinched nerve to ALS. Because his condition continued deteriorating, Brodie thought the worst, leading him to research ALS. That fall, a neurologist confirmed his fears after just two tests and a physical exam. Brodie, now 53, was 37 at the time. He refused to believe the neurologist, who delivered the diagnosis with clinical callousness, he says, simply stating the hard facts about ALS, offering no hope. When Brodie said God could heal him, the doctor accused him of “living in denial.” Yet, the diagnosis devastated him, leaving him and Glennis crying and praying together in the parking lot. “As we left the office, a dark cloud hovered over our heads,” Brodie says. “I could envision Satan standing above me as I clung to the sides of a dark pit. He was

August 2012 • Volume 6 • Issue 8 • Page 10

“I had to learn that trust was the avenue God would use to reveal His love for me. Healing has never been an issue with God; He has assured me numerous times that my healing has already begun.”

Page 11 • Volume 6 • Issue 8 • August 2012

(Above) Scott before his diagnosis of ALS. (Below) Scott in the hospital just before his tracheostomy surgery.

allowed it to weigh them down and have pursued their futures with an enhanced view of the world, more alert to others with limitations. “I’m really, really very proud of them, and I’m proud of Scott for every day that he commits his heart and he commits his day,” she says. “Because he doesn’t quit, I don’t quit.” Satan hasn’t quit either, however, telling Scott he’s a burden, without dignity, and dependent on everyone. He tells him he will never receive his promise, that he’s done enough, and has even said, “God told me to tell you it’s your time—time to die.” Some friends have departed because they either did not know how to talk to Brodie or had too much difficulty communicating and relating. Yet the Brodies remain undeterred in their focus upon God, who encourages them to keep pressing on. “None of this seems to bother us anymore,” Glennis says. “We just have to know we are in the will of God, pursuing Him wholeheartedly. We’re hanging onto the God of all hope.” As Brodie continues to wait for deliverance from an continued on page 25

$40 a session. “You are my last resort,” I told her. “I have nothing left.”

Dropping the “D” Bomb continued from page 9

Shame and humiliation were depression’s companions for me. Depression strips you not only of your sense of being covered, but exposes you, naked, with nowhere to hide. I anticipated people’s criticism because I was acutely aware of my own failure, my own fragility. “Take your shots and you’re sure to get a hit,” I said to my sister once. “I’m an easy target.” I had no defenses. I was clearly struggling, clearly without resources, clearly unable to help myself. Arrow 1: “You should be ashamed.” (I already was.) Arrow 2: “You need to stop dwelling on the past.” (If only I could.) Arrow 3: “This has gone on too long.” (I didn’t realize there was a time limit to grief.) Arrow 4: “God helps those who help themselves.” (So, He won’t help me? Because I can’t help myself.) Arrow 5: “You are saved! You’re not supposed to be this depressed.” (Then am I not saved?)

graduate program only months before the onset of depression, who had traveled the world and lived in tough conditions, who had overcome a childhood of silent abuse. I had not stopped being her; I had simply sat down in the ash heap of her soul.

I know now that even the threats people made were out of their concern—and fear. It is terrifying to be a family member or friend of someone suffering. The stark reality of our own powerlessness is often too much to take—so we step in. We cajole, critique, and push. We threaten. We fight, demean, and argue. We plead. We ache and hurt and go through the ringer trying to help someone who seemingly will not do anything to help herself. I regret causing my family and friends to feel this way; I regret being in so much pain that I could not stop it. The recognition of how deeply I This running commentary on my life—and my struggle— could cut someone layered me with more shame. happened often, no matter if the person knew me well or not. People seemed to feel free to lob arrows. I had no I understand it is difficult to try not to push someone to energy to respond, or get out of the way. I felt riddled get help, to try harder, but please resist. Before you speak, with ridicule. consider that the person who is suffering has probably weighed his or her options ad nauseam—and to no avail. I didn’t need others to tell me how awful I was; I was telling myself. I hated being in my own skin. I hated Before you speak, try to remember the person’s God-given being inside my own mind. I hated being seen. identity and appeal to that. Speak kindly. Ask questions. Sit in silence. Hold your “I just want to live a small life. A very, very small life,” I friend when she cries. Allow told my mother. Can you imagine a child saying that to her to say ugly things. her mother, no matter what age? With birth comes hope Three people exhibited for a full life. With depression comes despair. It frustrated this patient, long-suffering me when people gave me lists of “how-to-get-betters” as grace for me during that if I had not agonized over a remedy for months, had not time. My closest friend run the same scenarios through my mind like a video called one night and—at loop. When you’re sick, people naturally push you to the realization that I had get better, but that is not what I needed. I longed for already been crying alone someone to let me curl up in their lap like a wounded for hours—she offered animal to whimper and to weep. to come over. I struggled to accept, so she said in a “It’s only going to be better when it’s better,” I said to my calm, low voice, “I’m on sister. Few of us who suffer from depression are ignorant. my way.” She arrived, sank Few of us haven’t racked our brains for a solution. into the sofa beside me, and Few of us are unaware of our emotional state, our dire put her arm around me. We both stared at our feet. And condition. The worst attempts people made “to help” me I unleashed four hours of guttural sobbing that felt like I came wrapped in threats. As if suddenly—because of my was flinging it from earth to the heavens in desperation. emotional incapacity—I had rendered myself an infant, I don’t even know if she moved to use the bathroom. I a dependent. But I had not stopped being a 33-year-old don’t even remember if she uttered a word. When I had woman—albeit deeply wounded and in crisis—who had cried myself to a point of exhaustion, she simply hugged built a life for herself, who had completed a vigorous me hard—and left, promising to call the next day. And

This running commentary on my life—and my struggle—happened often, no matter if the person knew me well or not. People seemed to feel free to lob arrows. I felt riddled with ridicule.

she did. Give your suffering loved one the consistency of your word—and you will give them a lifeline. Another time, my beloved mentor and friend was listening to me—again—express sorrow over the abusive past I had known, about the loss of my dreams, about my despair. Her eyes filled with tears—and her reaction shocked me. She wasn’t reviling me? Bored sick by the repetition of my complaints? Instead, she was weeping with me just as Jesus had modeled in the Gospel of John (Chapter 11). Furthermore, she gave me one of the greatest gifts I have ever received: She said, “I promise you that I will never make you eat your words.” Tell your depressed friend or loved one that you will not use their words against them. The freedom and safety you will give them will change their life—and yours. We all need that person to whom we can verbally rail against the gates of heaven and hell—and receive grace and understanding for the pain underlining the rants. Healing also came when a professor that I admired and secretly viewed as a father figure looked me in the eye and said, “You are gorgeous.” The rest of what I had been told, he said, was a lie. “You are gorgeous.” He said words to me that a father should say—without sexual innuendo, without ulterior motives, without flattery. And he said it as if he were seeing the whole of my heart—and pronouncing over it a blessing. For me, the actions of these dear ones helped to heal me. They may help to heal your dear one. “Larry Crabb’s idea in Inside Out is that the church promotes ‘the emotional prosperity gospel’—the idea that you’re not going to have to struggle internally if you are walking with Jesus,” Spatola says. “Yet the more you see the world as it is, the more you will struggle. It may be a sign of spiritual maturity. The church’s response to depressed people is often shame; people with depression already are struggling with false guilt. It makes the current emotional pain worse. The best thing to do is to offer your presence.”

Before you speak, try to remember the person’s God-given identity and appeal to that. Speak kindly. Ask questions. Sit in silence.

I attended a group for victims of childhood abuse. I ate cake, alone, sitting on my kitchen floor afterward. I gained 50 pounds. I ate for comfort. I ate for anonymity. I ate because I hated myself. My relationships with my sister and mother strained to breaking points—and snapped. Yet somehow we stayed together, although at a distance. Maybe it was memories of what we had all been through that made them give me undeserved mercy. My counselor recommended seeing a psychiatrist. “I’d feel better with you seeing a psychiatrist, because they specialize in neuro-medicines,” she said. I went. And for the first time in 35 years—after struggling with depression from as early as I can remember—a doctor prescribed two medicines, Wellbutrin and Celexa, that eased the anxiety, depression, and lethargy that had seemed like old friends that you stay in touch with only because you know them so well, even when they are bad for you. I’m 36 now. I’ve been dating, but no answer to my prayer for a husband and a family yet. I’m still scared to death about the prospect of being alone forever. I still fight the lies that I am fat and ugly and that no one could ever love someone—choose someone—like me. I bought a home, and I plant flowers, I talk to my neighbors, and I thank God when I crawl into bed at night that I do not have to clutch a Bible to feel that He is real.

counselor, and through life-saving medication—the thing with feathers about which Emily Dickinson wrote: Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul, And sings the tune—without the words, And never stops at all No matter what your circumstances are, no matter what your genetic make-up, no matter what others may say— don’t ever give up. Keep fighting. Please hold on. Paul’s idea that nothing could separate me from the love of God—not depression, not death (even at my own hand), not anything, helped to carry me through that darkness. It’s the opposite of what the world tells you—that if you trust in God, you cannot despair. But despair is the language of depression; express it as often as you need to. It’s OK to wail to God.

Close to the brokenhearted

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are

The thing with feathers Two years of misery gradually evolved into small steps of healing. I moved out of my sister’s house. I found a terrible job that forced me to get dressed in the morning. I went to work and I came home and wept, and sometimes slept. I got fired. Then I got a new job. An acquaintance recommended a counselor who happened to work in a Christian nonprofit practice. I could go for

August 2012 • Volume 6 • Issue 8 • Page 12

• Tom Nelson, senior pastor of Denton Bible Church, gave a talk—A Christian Looks at Depression—in a chapel message at Dallas Theological Seminary (March 27, 2007). To listen, go to www.dts.edu/media/chapel and search Tom Nelson, “A Christian Looks at Depression” (March 27, 2007).

Books: • The Healing Path, by Dan Allender • Inside Out, by Larry Crabb • Shattered Dreams, by Larry Crab

• Breaking through Depression: There is no easy way for me to end this piece on A Biblical and Medical Approach depression … because depression is not easy. I can only to Emotional Wholeness, by Donald Hall offer you a perspective of one who has suffered—and who has had to come to terms with my physiology as much as • Darkness Is My Only Companion: my theology. This is the bottom line: If you think you are A Christian Response to Mental Illness, depressed, ask someone compassionate to help you find a by Kathryn Greene-McCreight therapist who specializes in treating depression, and to make an appointment with a psychiatrist to discuss if more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am medication will help. convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, Christ may seem like a liar, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, like He has abandoned you, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is Christ but He will not. We change, Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35–39). • thank God; He does not. He promises me, and He Julie Cramer is a graduate of Dallas Seminary and lives in promises you or your loved Charlotte, North Carolina. Unlike most, she misses the Texas one, that He draws close to heat and long summers. the brokenhearted. If that is you, reach out for help. If that is someone you know, reach out to help.

No matter what your circumstances are, no matter what your genetic make-up, no matter what others may say—don’t ever give up. Keep fighting. Please hold on.

Slowly, I am hearing again—through a church community, through people who have experienced or who are compassionate toward people who have depression, through the forgiveness of my family and friends for the hurtful ways I related to them and the chilling remarks I made (I once said I wouldn’t kill myself in my sister’s house, leaving her to swing in the wind and feel fear), through a quality

Resources

Page 13 • Volume 6 • Issue 8 • August 2012

The Remnant Featuring dispatches from our writers in Dallas, Texas; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Johannesburg, South Africa.

Based on a True Story It was a spectacular testimony. Horrific abuse; a broken lifestyle; encounters with the rich, the famous, the villainous; daring exploits; a stunning escape. Others have featured this testimony, including major television shows in the secular and Christian spheres. The individual in question has spoken at multiple conferences. I sent a trusted reporter to interview her, and I said what I always do when we encounter amazing testimonies: See if you can independently verify some pieces of it. Listen carefully, observe closely, and don’t be ashamed of being skeptical. We want to be mindful of the people we feature in this newspaper, because we represent the cause of Christ. I know from many years of experience as a reporter that everything isn’t as it seems. Well, our reporter listened, and her antennae pricked early. So many incidents in the individual’s life bore a striking resemblance to scenes in well-known movies, and indeed, the person displayed a fascination with Hollywood, citing parallels to multiple major releases. Then our reporter noticed that, under questioning, the individual backed away from a few stories and declined to offer details.

conclusion as editor of MannaEXPRESS, and that I am shocked—simply shocked! But I am not. The worldly tendency to embellish the facts is found among those who identify with Christ as well. We have heard other fantastical testimonies, did a bit of checking around or put the story on the shelf for a while, then found out the truth was quite a bit different—and usually a lot less interesting, or flattering, or clear-cut as a tale of soaring spiritual triumph. Do we dare call it what it is? Lying. I am a professional journalist and have written a nonfiction book. I don’t have a gift for writing fiction, so I am stuck with the truth. One thing I’ve discovered is that life doesn’t unfold in a neat narrative, with a high point in the right place and a tidy dénouement. It takes a lot of work, and considerable skill, to extract a compelling narrative from the disarray of real life.

I wish I’d held this conviction all of my life. Check your own words: when you’re 1) caught in a tight spot, and you know you’re at fault in some way; 2) when you’re around people you’re trying to impress; 3) when you’re leaving out certain details of a story that would probably leave your listener with a very different impression; 4) when you hear a gossipy tidbit about someone else that you know you could balance with a more generous truth, but you don’t bother … and see how you fare in the light of the Spirit of Truth. I have done this many times in the last few years, and that Spirit of Truth will often shine the light on words and gestures of subtle non-truth. But I can confess my faults, and find forgiveness. And I can call on that same Spirit for grace and strength, and He will guide me “into all truth” (John 16:13). If I had one thing to say to aspiring Christian writers, journalists, and prophets, it is to live and embody truth in every aspect of your life. How, after all, can you be a conduit of the Spirit of Truth if you are not truthful yourself?

Note what many supposedly “true” Hollywood films disclose in a single frame of easily forgotten words: “Based I pray that Jesus will be able to say of us what He spoke of Nathanael when He first spotted the future disciple on a true story.” sitting under a tree, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.” Read: mostly fiction, punctuated with just enough resemblance to real persons that I had to purchase their —Julie Lyons “life rights” in order to avoid getting sued for stealing their story.

Penn State and the Profits of Sin

We dumped that story like a barrel of radioactive waste.

As a follower of Jesus Christ who is also a journalist and nonfiction writer, I see my calling first as a truth-teller. God has endowed me with the Spirit of Truth—the Holy Spirit—and I represent Him by seeking, speaking, and writing the truth.

Personally, I don’t believe any of it. (But I can’t prove it’s false, either.)

If my words aren’t true, they are worthless.

I wish I could say this is the first time I’ve reached this

If I know my words aren’t true, they are a denial of the

The reporter and I compared notes afterward, and we noticed a common thread in the individual’s amazing tales: Every single one of them was 100-percent unverifiable. There was no way you could determine if any of these incidents was true or false.

Christ within me.

Should hot dog, hotel, and hoodie sales be more important than the NCAA’s sanctions against Penn State University? For 15 years top officials at Penn State—including continued on page 24

August 2012 • Volume 6 • Issue 8 • Page 14

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Tainted Hero Forever stained by a tragedy, The Dark Knight Rises falls for more mundane reasons— plot holes and poor characterization

fter The Dark Knight (2008) came out, the question on everyone’s mind was, “How on God’s green earth can Christopher Noland (director, writer) top this?” Whether or not you MANNA GROOVE enjoyed the second film by Trevor Main in the Batman trilogy, no one could deny its edge, novelty, or power. Did Noland raise the bar too high for the third film? Well, the answer is a resounding yes. It pains me to say it, but The Dark Knight Rises falls way below its predecessor in storytelling and character development. The Dark Knight Rises will forever be associated with last month’s tragic events in Colorado, and audiences may never see The Joker in the same light again. Does this make The Dark Knight an evil film, as some are inclined to think? Of course not. The Dark Knight was one of the best films of the past decade, and James Holmes merely attempted to stain a God-honoring work. We are at war with terror, abroad and at home. Metal detectors and security checks play their part, but by no means will they win the war for us, because terrorists will always find a way. Our greatest weapon is prayer. Pray for the families of the victims. Pray for God to use this tragedy. And yes, pray for James Holmes, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). Batman Begins (2005), the first film of the trilogy, showed us the origin of Gotham’s dark hero when Raz Al Ghul, leader of The League of Shadows, a ninja organization responsible for the destruction of history’s most corrupt cities, trained Bruce Wayne in the art of “justice.” Bruce rejected their cause and escaped home to show Gotham the error of its ways in his own way. But Raz followed Bruce to Gotham to purge the city of its corruption by making society destroy itself.

August 2012 • Volume 6 • Issue 8 • Page 18

The Dark Knight took place soon afterward, introducing us to the phenomenally portrayed Joker and his scheme to corrupt the hearts of Gotham’s people by whittling away their spirit until they became as senselessly evil as The Joker himself. The key to The Joker’s plan was District Attorney Harvey Dent who, after The Joker succeeded, became Two-Face. But Batman took the fall for Dent’s crimes in order to save the DA’s reputation. If fans cheered for the first movie, they raved at the second one. No one saw this version of The Joker coming, and Wayne/Batman made a great symbol of Christ in his humanity vs. deity. Bruce (humanity) did not have the power to redeem Gotham, but Batman (Christ as deity) could by taking on the sins of Gotham’s once purest, now corrupted, creation, Harvey Dent. By carrying this cross, Batman was able to keep evil behind bars and give Gotham hope that it could defeat corruption.

Bane sounds like a British robot with a broken voice chip. And he talks way too much for an authentic super-villain.

character holds the same realism as past characters in the series. Where The Dark Knight Rises fails is clarity—and one of the most unclear things is Bane, along with nearly everything he says. Some words seem close to English, but he mostly sounds like a British robot with a broken voice chip. And he talks way too much for an authentic super-villain. What makes villains like Darth Vader and Agent Smith from The Matrix so intimidating is that they don’t say much. Their silence makes them appear all the more evil, and when they do speak, the audience hangs on every word. Those super-villains, in fact, generated some of the most memorable lines in their movies: “The force is with you, young Skywalker, but you are not a Jedi yet.” “I’m going to enjoy watching you die, Mr. Anderson.” But with Bane’s flappy trap, I doubt many viewers will remember any of his lines by this time next year. On top of this Bane-sized disappointment, the story has more holes than a paper snowflake. Bane and his partner in crime Talia Al Ghul (Marion Cotillard) have no motive for blowing up Gotham other than because that’s what Daddy would have wanted. But with eight years of peace, Gotham has proven it can be redeemed, so corruption is no longer a valid reason. This intriguing theme stops dead with the most clichéd threat in contemporary film, a nuke.

The Dark Knight Rises takes place eight years later. Gotham’s streets have never been cleaner. Batman (Christian Bale) is still in hiding after taking the blame for the death of Dent and his victims. But when the cynical master thief Selina (Anne Hathaway) steals Bruce Wayne’s fingerprints for Bane (Tom Hardy), this monstrous villain seizes Wayne’s resources and holds Gotham City under martial law with the threat of a nuclear bomb, drawing Batman from the ashes into battle The holes in The Dark Knight Rises provoke questions that reveal other holes. Let’s say Gotham is home to once again. millions of people. So there are a couple thousand common thugs released by Bane who are now acting Noland scores by introducing us to Blake (Joseph as some kind of twisted militia. That means you have Gordon-Levitt), aka Robin, sparing us the cheese of the 3,000 bad guys against millions of citizens, many of hokey circus backstory from past Batman films. Though we’re only given enough to tickle our taste buds, his continued on page 28

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The Mystery of 2012 Solved T

hree years ago a book caught my eye titled The Mystery of 2012: Predictions, Prophecies, & Possibilities. I had just seen a special on the History Channel about Nostradamus and his GODLY MAN prophecies concerning the by Hank Lamb year 2012, so I couldn’t resist the intrigue. I bought the book and immediately began reading it. Here’s an excerpt from the introduction: “Highly intelligent and serious spiritual practitioners. . .believe that 2012 offers a ‘gateway of possibility,’ an opportunity for awakening that requires our immediate attention. . .If there was ever a time to investigate the possibilities of 2012 and prepare ourselves for its opportunities, that time is clearly now.” Well, this will be problematic for us because of our addiction to all forms of media. We are “always on” and consequently can’t fathom living 15 minutes without access to our personal electronics. One psychologist submits this rhetorical question: “If our minds are always worrying about what we are missing then how can we focus attention on what we are getting?” In Maggie Jackson’s exceptional book Distracted, she points out, “We can tap into 50 million Web sites, 1.8 million books in print, 75 million blogs, and other snowstorms of information, but we increasingly seek knowledge in Google searches and Yahoo! Headlines that we gulp on the run while juggling other tasks.” She concludes, “In this world, something is amiss. And that something is attention.” Her thesis states, “The way we live is eroding our capacity for deep, sustained, perceptive attention—the building block of intimacy,

wisdom, and cultural progress. . .Put most simply, attention defines us and is the bedrock of society.” Why did I bring the subject of attention to your attention? Because 2012 “requires our immediate attention,” remember? The publisher assures the reader, “In this book, 2012 is most often described as a choice point, a time of intensified possibility and opportunity, rather than an apocalyptic time bomb destined to explode at midnight on December 31, 2012. What these visionaries are calling us to do as we investigate 2012 is to be intensely alert, responsive, and creatively engaged with the possibilities that may be unfolding around us.”

The old adage applies here: “I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know Who holds the future.” Every day is a “choice point” for all of us. One author of the book offers this advice: “To change the way we live, we must change the way we believe.” Well, the Apostle Paul would agree with this approach. In Romans 12:2 he writes, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. . .” Unsettling to me is an author’s admission that “The global crisis we are now facing is, at its root, a crisis of consciousness—a crisis born of the fact that we have

prodigious technological powers but still remain halfawake. We need to awaken to who we are and what we really want. . .We are, after all, our only hope.” Mankind is our only hope? I hope not! Proverbs 16:25 says, “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” God gives mankind a clear choice in Deuteronomy 30:19: “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants. . .” The old adage applies here: “I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know Who holds the future.” Every day is a “choice point” for all of us. “Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 4:7). Please read Hebrews 2:1–4; 6:9–12; 9:27–28. According to some scholars, the root lig in the word religion means “to pay attention.” If so, from its very definition, religion helps us learn to pay attention to God, to people, and to life. William Blake believes you become what you behold. Scripture agrees. According to Scripture, God has “made known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). The Apostle Peter weighs in with sage advice, “Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13). While 2012 may be full of mystery for some, Christians should pay attention to the person and work of Jesus Christ. • Hank Lamb is senior pastor of Central Christian Church in Richardson.

Don’t Despise the Youth

FIRE IN MY BONES by J. Lee Grady

lease don’t ignore the mandate to disciple young people.

CHURCH IN AMERICA NEEDS TO DOUBLE ITS EFFORTS TO REACH THE YOUNGER GENERATION!”

I don’t think of myself as a particularly effective youth speaker. I’m in my 50s. No matter what brand of jeans I wear, high school kids are not going to label me “cool.”

The Apostle Paul, who is our model for ministry, made discipling the next generation his central focus. The book of Acts tells us when he first met his disciple Timothy (Acts 16:1–3) and how Timothy was eventually appointed as an apostolic leader in Ephesus. One-third of the New Testament was either written to Timothy or from Paul and Timothy (see the salutations in 2 Corinthians 1:1; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1; Philemon 1:1). Another epistle was addressed to Paul’s young trainee, Titus. Paul’s investment in the next generation is reflected in the actual canon of Scripture, yet we’ve overlooked this principle.

But when my buddy Jason, a youth pastor from Pennsylvania, asked me to speak at his summer youth retreat, I took the challenge because (1) I wanted to invest in his life, and (2) I thought it would be fun to swim in Lake Erie. When it comes to ministering to different age groups, I feel the most intimidated when I speak to teens. This is mostly because they are so honest. You can’t fool them. They don’t wear church masks like adults. They have an uncanny ability to detect insincerity. So I tried to relax and be myself, even though I was still self-conscious about my age. On the first night I challenged them to forgive their parents—especially their dads—for being distant, absent, critical, abusive, or addicted. I didn’t have trendy movie clips or animated graphics to illustrate my points. But in the end many of the teens came to the altar to receive prayer, and Jesus healed wounded hearts. On the second and third nights they opened their hearts wider. A few invited Jesus into their lives for the first time. Others asked for grace to resist sexual temptation. Many more prayed to be filled with the Holy Spirit. As they gathered at the altar on the last night to worship the Lord, there was a sense of holy abandonment. Their devotion was more intense. And I had a deep sense of fulfillment that my feeble investment had made a difference. If I wore a hat I would take it off to honor all the selfless people who devote their lives to youth ministry. It’s not a glamorous job, and the pay usually stinks. Youth ministry budgets are often the first to be cut when church donations are down, and many youth pastors are volunteers because ministering to teenagers isn’t viewed as a priority.

I feel the most intimidated when I speak to teens. This is mostly because they are so honest. You can’t fool them. They don’t wear church masks like adults. Paul invested his life in Timothy, and he was so proud of him that he told the Philippians, “I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare” (Philippians 2:20, NASB). Paul added: “But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father” (verse 22). I rarely see these kinds of Paul/Timothy relationships when I look around at the church today. Our lack of discipleship has created a generational breakdown that is reflected in several disturbing trends:

• Some church leaders are getting old and gray, yet they have no succession plan. They hold on to their positions (for financial security?) and leave no room for younger leaders to learn from them. I’d like to stand on top of a mountain with a bullhorn • Many churches throw money at youth ministry, as if and make an announcement: “ATTENTION! EVERY expensive sound systems or skate parks automatically

August 2012 • Volume 6 • Issue 8 • Page 20

Page 21 • Volume 6 • Issue 8 • August 2012

win kids to Jesus. But the best financial investment we can make is in a real, live youth worker, not a program or a building. What today’s kids need is someone who cares. • In the typical American church today teens are bored and unchallenged. Leaders who are out of touch with the needs of youth keep church in a time warp, so teens naturally check out. They are not exposed to the power of the Holy Spirit, the adventure of missions or the excitement of winning people to Jesus. It’s no wonder that many teens leave their faith behind when they go to college. The solution? Like Paul, we must go out and find our Timothys. We must invest in them personally. It’s not about preaching to them; they want a relationship with us that is genuine. They want spiritual moms and dads who are approachable, accepting, affirming, and empowering. If we don’t mentor them now, there won’t be anyone running alongside us when it’s time to pass our baton. • J. Lee Grady is contributing editor of Charisma magazine. You can learn more about his ministry at themordecaiproject.org. This article is reprinted by permission from Charisma magazine online.

Protest with a Side of Waffle Fries I

order Chick-fil-A so regularly that those closest to me can recite my order with relaxed confidence: a No. 1 with provolone cheese and a half-sweet, half-unsweetened iced tea. When I moved to grace and grit Texas, I counted Chickby Sharifa Stevens fil-A proximity as one of my favorite fast-food reasons for loving Dallas. Their menu has mouth-watering appeal; they deliver courteous service (“my pleasure!”) consistently; and they tame the beastly lines they encounter six days a week with panache. I admire the business acumen that uniquely honors the Sabbath.

been transformed into the arbiter of free speech, of traditional values, of the power of Christian unity!

Bad Bob! continued from the last issue

Forgive Your Enemies

Solution to last issue’s crossword!

The preacher’s Sunday sermon was “Forgive Your Enemies.” Toward the end of the service, he asked his congregation, “How many of you have forgiven their enemies?”

Some of us engaged in a strange communion on August 1, of sweet tea and chicken sandwiches in place of wine and bread. Chickfil-A Appreciation Day was an enthusiastic gastronomic response to Dan Cathy’s critics, a show of Christian force.

About half held up their hands. He then repeated his question. As it was past lunchtime, this time about 80 percent held up their hands. He then repeated his question again. All responded, except one small, elderly lady. “Mrs. Jones?” inquired the preacher, “Are you not willing to forgive your enemies?”

In defense of free speech and traditional values, droves of believers made pilgrimage to Chick-fil-A, selling out stores, some of which Now Chick-fil-A has come under fire because of comments served at 300 percent capacity. Many who participated described the ethos made by the CEO, Dan Cathy. Here is what he told of the day as peaceful and one of the Baptist Press when asked whether he supported the traditional family unit: “We are very much supportive of the solidarity. family—the biblical definition of the family unit. We are Quick as a flash-fry, ordering (or not ordering) a chicken a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are sandwich became a monumental statement on where married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that.” we stand on the definition of marriage, and a fiscal Chick-fil-A is an unabashedly Christian-owned business, response to the manipulative reduction of Christians to homophobes and bigots. (I don’t really buy the “free though, so...duh. Of course Cathy would respond this speech” argument. Freedom way. Right? Duh? of religion, yes.) Well, as it happens, these When did a chicken comments—taken out of sandwich gain so much context, but nevertheless power? If the thrust of our very clear on marriage protest is symbolized by between one man and one eating a sandwich, we are woman—were quickly lacking in both eloquence condemned by politicians and conviction. I dunno; it and some media outlets. just seems...impotent. The mayors of Boston and Chicago made threats to bar There were many believers any Chick-fil-A franchise I spoke to who rightly from building in their cities. underlined the importance of being able to speak Before I could exhale a Biblically and freely in a culture that does not always big “Huh?”—since when could mayors block brisk, like what Christians have to say. But when we had the legitimate and, might I add, tasty businesses from podium, we stuck a sandwich in our mouths and said, expanding because of the CEO’s religious beliefs? Not “So, there!” company practices, mind you, but personal beliefs?— Mike Huckabee struck back in the name of free speech Sandwich-eating is not a proxy for sending out the and Christian values. The politician, talk-show host message of the gospel. The sandwich cannot remind the and prominent evangelical declared a protest in the country that free speech and freedom of religion ought to form of “eating mor chikin,” calling for a Chick-fil-A be tolerated, if not embraced, as Constitutional rights. Appreciation Day. Fight fire with…food.

If the thrust of our protest is symbolized by eating a sandwich, we are lacking in both eloquence and conviction. I dunno; it just seems...impotent.

Flavorful, golden-brown, buttery-bunned chicken sandwich—oh, the weight that recently has fallen upon your shoulders. Originally, your delectableness served as a high-calorie hunger-queller, but now…now, you have

Manna FUN!

It’s a sandwich, after all. It can’t talk. Eating at Chick-fil-A is a weak symbol. If protest ends there, then we’ve created a tantrum, not a movement.

“I don’t have any,” she replied, smiling sweetly. “Mrs. Jones, that is very unusual. How old are you?” “Ninety-three,” she replied. “Oh, Mrs. Jones, what a blessing and a lesson to us all you are. Would you please come down in front of this congregation and tell us all how a person can live 93 years and not have an enemy in the world?” I hear the words “persecution” and “oppression” being used to describe our experience as Christians in this country. But Christians in this country have freedom; that fact is ironically demonstrated by the cultural discomfort that results from expressing our beliefs. But we are not oppressed. There are Christians like Farshid Fathi who live in bona fide persecution. Fathi, an Iranian pastor, husband, and father of two children, is serving a six-year prison term for his Christian work. Courts routinely postpone his hearings and label him a political dissident. Despite the unjust circumstances, Fathi is respected and loved by his fellow inmates. I’ve witnessed infighting in my local believing community; one group accuses the other of being backward and bigoted, the other group responds that their accusers are wishy-washy and approval-seeking. I think the Christian community in the United States needs to figure out who we are and what we are after. Power? Understanding? Freedom to worship? Vote our values? Room to live? Right to rule? To go back? To move forward? I didn’t believe free speech was really a Biblical value until talking theology with some friends earlier this week. Our tongues are tied to our God-given free will and have been since the first couple walked and talked with God in Eden...and lied to God’s face about eating forbidden fruit. As Christians, we have committed to submitting our free will to Jesus Christ; our thoughts are captive to him. Jesus commissioned us to make disciples and be witnesses in His name. Witnesses are charged to speak, to testify. And bold testimony often comes at great cost; most of the continued on page 24

August 2012 • Volume 6 • Issue 8 • Page 22

You and Your Bible Crossword Puzzle Across

1. The ___ left her and she began to wait on them (Mark 1:31) 6. under oaks and poplars and ___ (Hos 4:13) KJV 10. the poison of ___ is under their lips (Rom 3:13) KJV 14. thy brother was dead, and is ___ again (Luke 15:32) KJV 15. Rejoice in that day and ___ for joy (Luke 6:23) 16. where they decided to run the ___ aground (Acts 27:39) 17. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ ___ (1 Tim 4:7) 18. God said, “Let us ___ man in our image (Gen 1:26) 19. Be joyful in ___, patient in affliction (Rom 12:12) 20. in the days of ___ the King (Matt 2:1) 22. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus ___ (John 8:11) 25. LORD Almighty, will ___ off the boughs with great power (Isa 10:33) 27. Her filthiness clung to her ___ (Lam 1:9) 28. You, ___, are controlled not by the sinful nature (Rom 8:9) 32. gathered thereof wild gourds his ____ full (2 King 4:39) 34. God provided ___ ___ and made it grow up over Jonah (1,4) (Jonah 4:6) 35. Philistines assembled to ___ a great sacrifice to Dagon (Judg 16:23) 38. A fool’s talk brings a ___ to his back (Prov 14:3) 40. ____ your heart and not your garments (Joel 2:13) 41. a time to tear down and a time to ___ (Eccl 3:3) 42. thy people Israel be as the ____ of the sea (Isaiah 10:22) 43. “No ___ sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment (Matt 9:16) 44. Have you not put a ___ around him and his (Job 1:10) 45. Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred ___ (John 12:5) KJV 46. exiles who lived at ___ Abib near the Kebar River (Ezek 3:15) 47. Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief ___ (Acts 14:12) 49. if I drive out demons by the ___ of God, then (Matt 12:28) 52. The sons of Aram : Uz, ___, Gether and Meshech. (Gen 10:23) 53. God’s voice ___ in marvelous ways (Job 37:5) 55. their round ___ like the moon (Isa 3:18) KJV 59. Master, we’ve worked ___ all night (Luke 5:5) 60. They worship me in ____; their teachings are but rules taught (Matt 15:9) 62. the hare, and the ___: for they chew the cud (Deut 14:7) (KJV) 64. the Pharisees began to ____ him vehemently (Luke 11:53)

The little sweetheart of a lady tottered down the aisle, faced the congregation, and said, “I outlived the old hags.” 65. the ax is dull and its ___ unsharpened (Eccl 10:10) 66. a gentle tongue can break ___ ___ (1,4) (Prov 25:15) 67. “I am the ___ ,” Samuel replied (1 Sam 9:19) 68. Joshua ____ his clothes, and fell to the earth (Joshua 7:6) 69. Foxes have holes and birds of the air have ___ (Matt 8:20)

Down

1. that ye eat neither ____ nor blood (Lev 3:17) KJV 2. Hoshea the son of ____ made a conspiracy against Pekah (2 King 15:30) 3. Who shall change our ____ body, that it may be fashioned (Phil 3:21) 4. to whom be glory for ____. Amen. (Romans 11:36) 5. not judge one another anymore, but rather ___ this (Rom 14:13) NKJV 6. type of tree 7. ____ me, O LORD, in thy righteousness (Ps 5:8) 8. He ___ clouds rise from the ends of the earth (Ps 135:7) 9. remove from them every ___ or spotted sheep (Gen 30:32) 10. Like a club or a sword or ___ ___ arrow (1,5) (Prov 25:18) 11. Jesus said, I am with you for only a ___ time (John 7:33) 12. the people piped with ____, and rejoiced with great joy (1 King 1:40) 13. The creatures ___ back and forth like flashes of lightning (Ezek 1:14) 21. Even the ___ in the field deserts her newborn fawn (Jer 14:5) 23. let God be true, but every man a ____ (Romans 3:4) 24. I am a rose of ___, a lily of the valleys (Song 2:1) 26. Before his downfall a man’s heart is ___ (Prov 18:12) 29. Every grain offering baked in an ___ or cooked (Lev 7:9) 30. Drink no longer water, but use a little ____ for thy stomach (1 Tim 5:23) KJV 31. he that endureth to the ____ shall be saved (Matt 10:22) KJV 33. of ___ and darting snakes (Isa 30:6) 36. Look at the ___ tree and all the trees (Luke 21:29) 37. “You are my own ___ and blood.” (Gen 29:14) 38. Mordecai the Jew was second in ___ to King Xerxes (Est 10:3) 39. The death he died, he died to sin ___ for all (Rom 6:10) 41. Obadiah was a devout ___ in the LORD (1 Kings 18:3) 42. Jesus, walking by the ____ of Galilee, saw two brethren (Matt 4:18) 44. A large ___ of pigs was feeding on the nearby (Mark 5:11-12) 45. the swan, and the ___, and the gier eagle (Lev 11:18) KJV 46. The mighty man will become ___ and his work a spark (Isa 1:31)

Page 23 • Volume 6 • Issue 8 • August 2012

48. He will ___ the sheep on his right (Matt 25:33) 49. Come and ___ your master’s happiness (Matt 25:21) 50. cleanse, purify (Deut 22:24) 51. their sailors came alongside to ___ for your wares (Ezek 27:9) 53. ___ you nullify the word of God by your tradition (Mark 7:13) 54. They will be a ___ and a wonder to you (Deut 28:46) 56. David was clothed with a ____ of fine linen (1 Chr 15:27) 57. son of Seth (Gen 4:26) KJV 58. Then Annas ___ him, still bound, to Caiaphas (John 18:24) 61. Andrew his brother casting a ___ into the sea (Mark 1:16) 63. affirmative response (Acts 22:27)

Answers in the next issue!

The Remnant

continued from page 14 the university’s famed former head football coach, Joe Paterno, or “Joe Pa,” as he was called—squashed allegations that Paterno’s assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky, raped and sexually assaulted 10 boys. In June a jury found Sandusky, 68, guilty. Others complicit in the abuse were Paterno (who persuaded officials to stay silent), former university president Graham Spanier, two other university executives, a graduate assistant, campus police, and a janitor. None spoke up for the voiceless, vulnerable children. No one in authority lifted a finger to stop it. Paterno continued to stride onto the field, accumulating wins. The university and community of State College continued to boast, “We are Penn State!”

Sin never affects one person. We should grieve for the pure of heart in State College who are suffering the consequences. We should pray for restoration. We should feel sorry for them. I grew up in Pennsylvania; I get it. I understand. Yet sin is like a toxin injected into the body; it spreads and the body absorbs it. Although Jesus’ work on the cross has released believers of sin’s control, it has not insulated us from sin’s natural consequences. When I hear a community bereaving its bottom line, I want to vomit. In light of those children … are you serious?

5. To give a permanent or final form to. Therefore, we are to direct our thoughts steadily (in an unwavering/free or almost free from change, variation) to what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise. Most of the things we fix our thoughts on fail the Philippians 4:8 test. If someone says something bad about you and you know it’s not true, it automatically fails the test—therefore, you cannot fix your thoughts on it. If anyone tells you depressing news about how you’re a failure or how you’re going to fail, is that lovely? Is it even true?

Jesus said, “But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light” (John 3:21). Now that this scandal has surfaced, shouldn’t we continue to walk in the light that says Test every thought that crosses your mind against that Martin Luther said, “He who accepts evil without idols—be they football or pride or one man’s legacy— Scripture. And FIX your thoughts on what passes the protesting against it actually participates in it.” So who all should be destroyed at all costs? Unfortunately, we always test, only. is to blame? Most agree that the guilty have received their pay for the sins of others, and others pay for ours. just deserts, and yet others have decried the sanctions —Sanele Ndebele because they would adversely affect “the innocent,” the I guess I am wishing that those worrying about how industries that profit from Penn State football. they’ll stay afloat financially because of the repercussions of these sanctions would do as the Penn State officials “Hours after the NCAA sanctions were announced,” the did—remain silent. Where they erred, State College Philadelphia Inquirer reported, “merchants along College residents can do right—they can stop thinking about Avenue and the many downtown side streets maintained themselves and think of the now-grown children who a stoic yet stunned silence as they tried to process how the will grapple with the residue of the abuse long after the actions would affect their bottom lines.” community bounces back and is in the black, chanting, “We are Penn State.” Does anyone else bristle at this cry for protection of the football-consumer culture? Does anyone else feel —Julie Cramer Grace and Grit sick when reading the Paterno family’s reaction to the continued from page 22 sanctions: “The idea that any sane, responsible adult would knowingly cover up for a child predator apostles and early followers of Christ were severely is impossible to accept. The far more persecuted. Many were martyred. Farshid Fathi realistic conclusion is that many people languishes in jail for living out his faith. Many of “And now, dear brothers and didn’t fully understand what was our brothers and sisters, right now, today, testify to sisters, one final thing. Fix your happening and underestimated Jesus and are murdered for it. Let’s pray for them. thoughts on what is true, and or misinterpreted events”? Write to them. Support them. honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think Didn’t fully understand? I suggest we look to the apostles and to people like about things that are excellent and Underestimated? Far more Farshid Fathi for examples of Christian free speech worthy of praise.” realistic? The reality is that in action. I support our right to freedom of religion, —Philippians 4:8 adults routinely sweep the and freedom from discrimination as Christians in the brutal abuse of children United States, and our freedom to fight for that right. The operative word here is fix. We’re not just under the rug. They know I don’t think Chick-fil-A Appreciation did much supposed to think of such things but to fix our what is going on, but are too beyond filling our tummies, exhausting some stellar thoughts on them. fearful of what it could mean employees, and filling some coffers. This is a tepid for them to act and protect witness. According to my dictionary, to fix is to: those children. What do we want? And will we really get it by 1. Make secure or firm. The greater reality is that the eating a sandwich? • deception that perpetuates 2. To put into a stable or unalterable form. abuse cripples not only the Sharifa Stevens is a wife and mother, singer, and children who are direct writer. She earned a B.A. from Columbia University 3. To direct steadily. victims but also swaths and a Master of Theology degree from Dallas of families, relationships, Theological Seminary. She lives in Dallas. 4. Concentrate. churches, and communities.

The Fix Is In

August 2012 • Volume 6 • Issue 8 • Page 24

Manna Confidential Mrs. Happy’s House Rules, No. 1: Pray more than you talk.

case you haven’t noticed, our husbands don’t appreciate when we do this and tend to dig their heels in deeper the harder we push.

God’s ways are so much higher than our ways:

The Scriptures make plain why they don’t take well to our efforts to control them. The answer is contained in Genesis 1:26–27, when God declares that man (meaning “But many who are first will be “mankind” in this instance) has been made in His image Mrs. Happy last, and many who are last will and given dominion over all the earth and its creatures. be first” (Matthew 19:30). God, in fact, delineates the various types of creatures— fish, birds, etc.—and something is conspicuously missing. “The greatest among you will be your servant” (Matthew 23:11). Did you figure it out? What’s missing is people. God didn’t intend for people to exercise dominion over one another. “Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses We are made in His image, and since He is spirit, not his life will preserve it” (Luke 17:33). Now let’s import His perfectly wise ways to the more personal sphere of marriage and relationships. We see again that God’s wisdom goes straight up against our natural inclinations: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). “Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out” (Proverbs 17:14). “Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue” (Proverbs 17:28). One thing that has changed greatly over the course of Mrs. Happy’s marriage is that she holds her tongue far more often these days. She cringes, in fact, to consider the destructive ways she used words in the early days. She undoubtedly hindered her husband. Many of us godly wives somehow acquired the belief that it is our job to correct and instruct our husbands. There is nothing in the Word of God that backs this up, and in

Against All Hope, He Believes continued from page 11

impossible situation in the natural, he draws upon a host of relevant Bible passages, as well as the lives of Abraham, Daniel, Joseph, Nehemiah, and Hezekiah, who all faced waiting and adversity before receiving their answers. The Brodies know that God is accomplishing something special as they wait.

We hate it when someone tries to control us. Our very insides bristle and chafe and churn. flesh, we bear His image in some other way than how we look physically. One of the ways we resemble God—a way in which His divine nature is imprinted in our being—is that we were created to have dominion. A consequence of this to which any man or woman can attest is that we hate it when someone tries to control us. Our very insides bristle and chafe and churn. We were never meant to be controlled or dominated by another human being, and the extent to which this kind of control exists in the world is because of sin. Interestingly, it is only as a result of the curse (Genesis 3:16) that many husbands rule over their wives. A curse,

waiting to help us develop our relationship with Him.” Brodie says he is tempted to view his weakness as a liability that should be removed but realizes it may be his greatest asset because God is using it both to refine him and increase his dependence upon Him.

“It’s not the weakness we may have that is significant; it is what it can potentially produce in our soul that is of value,” he says. “I like to consider my back brace as God’s “God has His timetable,” Glennis says. “He’s making all golden treasure, my feeding tube as God’s silver cup, and things beautiful in His time, and He’s refining us in this my tracheostomy as His diamond. They each represent a process. We’re drawing nearer to Him. He uses even our time of difficulty, a season of seeking and God’s provision.

Page 25 • Volume 6 • Issue 8 • August 2012

by the way, is a curse. It is not a good thing. Praise God for the One who took the curse upon Himself, Jesus Christ, and freed us from the dominion of sin and death! May we enjoy His goodness forever. All right. Mrs. Happy is finished with her brief foray into theology, and now we can turn our attention to more intimate matters. Because he is made in the image of God, your husband reacts strongly against any attempt by you, his wife, to control him through criticism and correction. Does that mean you are never to point out when he is in error, or when he has acted unwisely, or when he is on a path that leads to danger? Not at all. But we godly wives must carefully weigh our words and the manner and the timing in which they are spoken. When it comes to words of potential criticism concerning our husbands, Mrs. Happy has adopted a simple rule that helps keep her on the straight path: Pray more than you speak. If you think you should discuss a sensitive matter with your husband that could be received as criticism or reproof, spend more time praying about it than you do talking. When you commit the matter to prayer before opening your mouth, you place it in God’s hands. You are now in position to get a supernatural result. At the same time, God will begin to work patience and gentleness in you. You will experience peace. Remember that God is doing a work in your husband’s heart, and He is much better at it than you are. While you might end up speaking to your husband after all, the patience you develop will allow you to operate in God’s timing and in accordance with His heart for your husband. • Mrs. Happy has been married to one man for a long time. She loves to read your comments online at www.mannaexpressonline.com; just keep it holy, ya’ll.

Each scar, whether visible or not, can become an ornament of His grace.” • For more on Scott Brodie’s journey of faith, check his blog at www.deathvalleypromises.org. Chuck Goldberg has a degree in journalism and a Master of Divinity in Christian education. A former newspaper reporter and magazine managing editor, he is now an ordained minister and freelance writer-editor. He and his wife Dolly have three children and live in Layton, Utah.

Can a Christian Mom Have It All?

Rebecca at the Well W

hat do you serve a guest that’s refreshing in the heat of summer? Something cold to drink, you say—like lemonade? It all depends on custom. Hot tea from the Soul Food British regardless of the by Joanne Cutting-Gray season; hot, sweet tea from Mideasterners or Africans; bread and salt from Russians. But why offer anything to drink or eat? What does it mean? The meaning is the difference between the actual thing offered and what it stands for. What is offered is a symbol of satisfying another’s hunger and thirst, of being solicitous of their basic needs. The common definition of symbol is something that stands in for or represents something else. The word comes from the Greek, symbolon, a token used to determine something genuine. It refers to the Greek custom called the “hospitality tablet.” The tablet was a small object broken in two with each person saving a piece. When they met again years later, they, or even their children, were assured of recognizing one another by matching the two pieces, the symbolon. The symbol is what permitted them to reunite or repair the hospitality broken by years of separation. It was a material sign of caring for another in a harsh and contingent world.

custom of hospitality. However, if the girl not only offered the servant water but also offered to water his camels, she would be a match, a symbolon that she was the one intended by God to be joined to Isaac. And so Rebecca did and was. But there’s more. After Rebecca gave the foreigner a drink and watered his camels, he asked if there was room in her father’s house for “us to spend the night”—meaning the man, his servants, and his camels. She agreed and he and his men (and camels) ate and spent the night at her father’s house. So she became Isaac’s wife, and “he loved her and was consoled for the death of his mother.” Is it surprising then that a woman Isaac never met before or chose for himself was a perfect match? Not at all. The symbol of her loving character was revealed beforehand in her generosity to a foreigner at the well. Her actions were a token or symbolon from God, a means of determining something genuine. Which brings us to the generosity still symbolized today in the offering of food and drink. And not just to the guest or stranger, but for all who at times become strangers to us. These can be our family or friends or coworkers. Which brings us back to the symbol. We offer a symbolon, a loving meal or dish or drink to someone we don’t recognize; in other words, we acknowledge or accept, perhaps after years of separation, and renew our relation. The “hospitality tablet” joins us again. It says that what is broken can be reunited.

Is it surprising that a woman Isaac never met before was a perfect match? Not at all. The symbol of her loving character was revealed beforehand in her generosity to a foreigner at the well.

Which brings us to Rebecca at the well. Recall the story. Abraham sent his faithful servant to the land of his, Abraham’s, birth to find a wife for his son Isaac. When the servant arrived there, he prayed that God would show him the woman intended for Isaac through a symbolic act of generosity. The servant would ask a local woman to give him a drink from the village well. Now offering water to a stranger in an arid climate and country where water was scarce would not have been extraordinary. It was an accepted

hen The Atlantic published Ann-Marie Slaughter’s op-ed Why Women Still Can’t Have It All in early July, I eagerly sought out the story online so I could see if she had any answers for questions my guest column friends and fellow working by Stephanie Morris-Graves moms have looked for for years now. Is it possible to soar to the highest heights in our careers while managing our households and raising our children? And if I do, does my family pay the price for my professional success?

And that brings us to a symbol of quenching thirst in summer. Mint lemonade. A symbol that conjures up porch swings, lawn chairs, picnics, barbecues—places where we join together in hospitality. This lemonade recipe is for a syrup made with fresh mint that can be conveniently frozen or stored in the fridge and mixed up in a glass as needed. • Joanne Cutting-Gray, Ph.D. is an author, scholar, and lifelong student of cooking. She lives with her husband in Savannah, Georgia.

What if I want to be an awesome mom and an awesome businesswoman? As a Christian woman, should I weigh these things any differently from my secular colleagues? It’s a deep and emotional struggle that I’ve carried since my son was a year old.

Mint Lemonade (serves 10) 2 c sugar 2 ½ c water Grated peel of 1 orange 2 oranges and 6 lemons juiced 1 c mint leaves packed Cook sugar and water for 5 minutes. Add orange peel and fruit juices. Pour syrup over mint leaves. Cover and let stand 1 hour. Strain. Store in refrigerator or freezer. Use ⅓ c syrup per glass and fill with crushed ice and water.

Joanne’s Quick Tips... The syrup stays slushy in the freezer, so you can scoop out what you need. When you grate an orange or lemon, make sure not to include any of the bitter white pith.

August 2012 • Volume 6 • Issue 8 • Page 26

I’d never thought twice about going back to work after he was born. After my six-week working maternity leave was up, I was right back at it, cranking out 50 to 60 hours a week in my job as a public relations account supervisor. I was in love with my new baby, but I also liked my job, even though it was becoming increasingly difficult for me to manage it all. I was nursing, I had difficulty sleeping at night, and my account work was getting backed up. Still, it never registered that something was going to give. And I certainly didn’t know it was going to be me. I became anxious and overwhelmed. I was dropping the ball at home and at work. I would cry but never reasoned that I was doing too much. After all, I was only doing what I was supposed to be doing. It was December, and my son’s first birthday was approaching. I was under enormous pressure at work, racked with projects and deadlines. I had a major planning meeting scheduled with a client in Vermont, and two days before I was to head out I hadn’t begun preparation. The night before my flight I was on the phone with my boss talking through undeveloped plans. The roads were icing over outside, and I could hear strange moaning sounds coming through the baby monitor. I asked my boss to hold on. I went upstairs to check on my baby, and he was a green color. I thought the baby food I’d fed him earlier smelled weird, but I didn’t have time to think about it too much—all baby food smells weird, right? But he was sick as could be, writhing and vomiting. He was my first child, and I didn’t know what to do. And my boss was on hold and I had a flight out to Burlington at 8 a.m. the next morning and it was icy outside.

I called for my husband and told him we needed to take the baby to the ER because he had food poisoning. My husband was convinced the bug would work itself out and he’d be fine. He told me I was overreacting. And I lost it. I sobbed uncontrollably. I felt completely and utterly alone. I was 100 percent broken, but I still had a meeting to plan and a flight to catch. The bug did pass and the color came back to my son’s face, and he eventually fell asleep.

But what about my more ambitious sisters? I’ve never desired to be CEO or a VP; that is my choice. But I know many women who aspire to go as far as they possibly can in their careers—and that is their choice. Yahoo’s new CEO, Marissa Meyer, made headlines recently when she announced the day after assuming her new role in one of the most powerful, visible offices in the United States that at 37 she was expecting her first child and would be taking maternity leave, but would work through it. I applauded her for her decision but even more so for her courage. It couldn’t have been easy to advise the board of her pregnancy and watch the faces in the room morph into God knows what.

I finished up what work I could, figured out what time I needed to be out the door to catch my flight, and laid down to sleep. The next morning, I was out the door at the scheduled time, but what I hadn’t factored in was the icy road conditions. Traffic was at a standstill. By the time I got to DFW airport, my boss was sitting alone at an Because here’s what I have come to believe: Having empty gate; the doors to the jetway had just been closed. ’round-the-clock nannies doesn’t make one a bad mother. I’d missed the flight, and she’d decided not to get on. I’d It’s far worse to bridle the greatness that God has placed in us. It’s no coincidence that Meyer had what it took to break through the glass ceiling and venture where few women have gone before. Guess what? God makes strong, empowered, smart, business-savvy, glass ceiling-breakers.

I was nursing, I had difficulty sleeping at night, and my account work was getting backed up. Still, it never registered that something was going to give. And I certainly didn’t know it was going to be me.

never missed a flight in my life. The look on her face was more than I could handle. I burst into tears and literally begged her not to fire me in Terminal A. She didn’t, but we both knew that changes had to be made. I was failing. We settled on a scaled-down version of my job that allowed me quite a bit of flexibility and quite a bit of happiness. It allowed me to keep working but freed me up to be with my family. The downside is I’ve had to accept that I can only go so far as a part-time PR professional. The upside is I get to work outside of my home and problem-solve and create in a business environment—I value having that outlet— but I get to spend most of my time with my children, who are more important than my work.

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When I read Proverbs 31, I see a woman who works infinitely harder outside of the home than inside of the home, but it’s obvious she cares about the well-being of her family and is diligent in caring for them. Yet, there are women who God has called to work harder inside of their home than outside. And then there are some of us who are a little of both. As Christian women, our primary concern should be doing all things to the glory of God, following where He leads us. And whether He leads us to a high-powered position in a demanding corporate environment or to teach, nurture, and develop children into well-rounded, emotionally and spiritually healthy adults, we can rest assured that He will always lead us to green pastures and quiet waters where He’ll refresh and strengthen us for the job—or jobs—He’s called us to. • Stephanie Morris-Graves is a publicist, freelance writer, and graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary. She lives in the Dallas area with her husband and their two children.

The Power of Vows, Part 1 W

Third Watch by Taiwo Ayeni

vows in a believer’s life.

e speak many things casually in our culture: “I’ll pay you back next week.” “I’ll always love you.” “I’ll be there on Sunday at 10 a.m. for sure.” We fail to recognize that our words have power—and are witnessed by both God and the enemy. In this new, provocative series, deliverance expert Taiwo Ayeni examines the power of

“And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.” Genesis 35:1 (KJV) A few days ago, as I began to meditate on Genesis 35:1, it suddenly dawned on me that when God told Jacob to arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there, God was, among other things, calling out Jacob on the vows he’d made in Genesis 28:20–22. “And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.” I realized that some cases of bondage or affliction that people battle in their lives could have been the results of broken vows or promises. I observed that this same Jacob—who had a great encounter with God in Genesis 32:24–28 where God changed his name (identity) and told him, “...as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed”—also had challenges of satanic uncleanness. The victory achieved during that encounter should have been sufficient to move him to the next level of Kingdom operation, yet Israel could not function as long as unfulfilled vows and idolatry were still at work in his life. It is clear that Jacob was compromising his stand with God. Maintaining a righteous life was a struggle for him, because of the retinue of idols, accursed earrings and garments in his household (Genesis 35:2). Where vows are unfulfilled, doors are open to confusion, compromise, and uncleanness (Psalm 97:7). The good news was that the moment God turned his searchlight on Jacob, this great patriarch responded positively and made quick moves that brought instant deliverances. He commanded his family to put away the strange gods among them and be clean. And as soon as they did, the Bible confirms that “…they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of

Jacob” (Genesis 35:5). There was instant visitation from heaven to sufficiently protect Jacob and his family. Not only that, God blessed him for the second time and reaffirmed his change of name to Israel. So what happened between chapters 32 and 35? Jacob was living in uncleanness, burdened with his own unfulfilled promises, and this amounted to rebellion (Psalm 107:11–13). As a result, the gains of “power with God, power with men and prevailing” against the adversary were neither being felt nor seen. There was more of God for him than he was enjoying at that time—yet he felt he had to buy his victory against Esau, rather than allowing God to put him on the path of victory. His cunning old identity rose up in him, and the schemer Jacob appeased his brother with presents while with his own mouth he demoted himself to the level of a servant, contrary to God’s promise (Genesis

Many of us have power with God, but we are limited because of factors that have kept us “bound in affliction and iron.” When you make a vow and don’t fulfill it, it’s a form of rebellion. 32:17–21). Hence God—by way of reprimand—told him, “…I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins” (Genesis 35:11). Many of us have power with God, but we are limited because of factors that have kept us “bound in affliction and iron” (Psalm 107:10). When you make a vow and don’t fulfill it, it’s a form of rebellion. The warning of God is clear on this matter in Ecclesiastes 5:2: “Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.” As serious as this matter is, many of us either do not understand the seriousness of a vow or choose to disregard it. In my few years in ministry, I have come across believers who have been held in bondage as a result of unfulfilled vows. This is the reason I am doing a series on the power of vows, adapted from

my book Fighting Your Way To Victory.

What is a Vow? “A vow is a solemn pledge or promise earnestly made, to perform a specific act or task; or to behave in a certain morally upright manner.” This action is born of conviction to do what is right and to be at peace with God. For some, however, it is born of impulsive behavior and isn’t adequately thought through. Whatever the circumstances, when a vow is made, it is automatically binding on the maker. It requires a person higher in grace or authority to break the consequences of a broken vow. Vows can be made by a person and also on his or her behalf; either way they are binding. There are many believers carrying the weight of ancestral vows that they are aware of yet they discount the consequences, and they are paying dearly for it. Examine the stories of the Rechabites (Jeremiah 35:1–19) and Samson (Judges 16:1–31) to understand both the blessings of keeping—and the dangers of not fulfilling—vows. • Next month, Pastor Ayeni examines in depth the consequences of unfulfilled vows. Taiwo Ayeni is president of Rehoboth Bible Ministries, Inc., in Grand Prairie, where he lives with his wife Abidemi and their son and daughter. You may contact him at rehobothbministries.org.

Manna Groove

continued from page 19 whom own guns. Where is the uprising? With Bane roaming the streets and with all the time he spends in the open, what keeps anyone from putting a bullet in his head? If you look up The Dark Knight Rises on Internet Movie Database or Rotten Tomatoes, you’ll see that readers have rated the film anywhere from 8 to 9 stars out of 10. I suspect it is out of respect for the first two films and Noland’s usually stellar work. Even before Batman, Noland was a masterful storyteller with Inception and Memento. I find it hard to believe his heart was in The Dark Knight Rises, and if this is how he’d treat the series from now on, I’m glad it’s over. • Trevor Main has a B.A. in fiction writing from Columbia College, Chicago, and is working on his master’s degree in communication at Dallas Theological Seminary. His ministry experience with Youth With a Mission has taken him across Europe, Africa, and Asia.

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