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Articles by
R.C. SPROUL JIM DALY DENNIS RAINEY PAUL SHEPPARD STEVE WILBURN FRANK SONTAG TERRY FAHY
ISSUE 17 KKLA.COM
Alex Aguas, M.Div. ’12 Matthew Veling, M.Div. ’11 Co-pastors Restoration Abbey
Finding God in a Pizza Restaurant
While students at Azusa Pacific Seminary, Alex and Matthew often wondered about how they could “do church” in a way that tore down walls and passed on the gift of Christian faith to other generations. After graduating, they founded Restoration Abbey— a church in a pizza restaurant. Watch Alex and Matthew’s story at
apu.edu/stories/restoration-abbey/.
Visit apu.edu/seminary to learn more about how the seminary can help you transform the world with Christ through one of its five degree programs in Azusa, Los Angeles, or San Diego: Doctor of Ministry Master of Divinity Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies Master of Arts (Theological Studies) Master of Arts in Transformational Urban Leadership
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TERRY’S NOTE
Prince or Pauper? Written by six different KKLA Bible teachers and authors, and without any prior direction from KKLA, there is a theme to the articles in this edition of the KKLA Magazine. The theme is: An enriching life, one like we have never experienced before, is available to us. Now. Paul put it this way, “(God) has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” Peter says, “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.” Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life and that more abundantly.” So if “every spiritual blessing” and “all things” for life and godliness have already been given to us, why are we not experiencing this “abundant life?” Why are we living like spiritual paupers rather than princes and princesses, children of the King? The answer is simple yet difficult to live out. It requires six steps: E.A.S.T.E.R.
1. Examine yourself. We cannot live on auto pilot, being swept along with our culture. Ask the Lord to show you where you are falling short in obeying His life giving ways. Psalms 139:23-24 2. Admit your faults. Freedom from sin and guilt only comes by confession. 1John 1:9-10 3. Sanctify yourself. Ask God to give you the strategy and power to break habits that are not pleasing to Him. Ephesians 4:22-23 4. Transform your thinking. Immerse yourself daily in reading and meditating in God’s word, the Bible. Then you will know what His will is for you. Romans 12:2, Psalms 1:2 5. Exalt Him. Worship God with holy thinking, praise from your lips and by serving others. Romans 12:1 6. Reflect His light. and feet of Jesus, who can never Matthew 5:16
Be the hands helping those repay you.
As you read the articles in this magazine, ask the Lord to speak to your heart those things that will lead you to the abundant spiritual riches He promises to all who love, listen and obey Him!
Terry Fahy
Vice-President / General Manager KKLA
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Any thoughts on KKLA Programming? Email TERRY FAHY at tfahy@kkla.com
In this issue... KKLAMAGAZINE.COM
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ADMINISTRATION Terry Fahy Vice President/General Manager,
Salem Media Group Bob Hastings Director of Sales, 99.5 FM KKLA Chuck Tyler Program Director, Salem Media Group ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Steve Brodsky General Sales Manager, 99.5 FM KKLA (818) 662-3743 Contributors: Jim Tinker, Salem Media Group Art Direction & Design: Olive Group, LLC info@OliveGroup.biz
04 | Prince or Pauper? by Terry Fahy
08 | The Seven Non-Negotiables by Dennis Rainey
14 | Saving Misfits by Steve Wilburn
26 | The Importance of Integrity by Jim Daly
31 | Where God Puts A Comma by Paul Sheppard
35 | The Secret To A Happy Life by R.C. Sproul
38 | The Men’s Gathering by Frank Sontag & Sonn Eidem
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CULTIVATING DIFFERENCE MAKERS SINCE 1899 Azusa Pacific Seminary draws upon the university’s mission to graduate disciples and scholars, offering a welcoming learning community that prepares men and women for practical, sustainable ministry. Graduates include Troy Murphy, M.A. ’02, who earned a Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies and now serves as lead pastor of Green Bay Community Church and as chaplain of the Green Bay Packers.
F
or more than 100 years, Azusa Pacific University has prepared students to impact the world for Christ. Attending APU is a transformational experience— students graduate ready to make a difference, in classrooms, communities, hospitals, boardrooms, churches, and beyond. At the graduate level, Azusa Pacific partners with working professionals to enhance their skills and advance their careers and callings. Whether it’s a combined master’s and credential in education; an innovative program in nursing, psychology, or physical therapy; an MBA or management degree; or a program in art, music, social work, and more, APU offers a robust selection of master’s degrees and doctoral opportunities for graduates desiring to join a community dedicated to God-honoring professional excellence. “Before entering my master’s degree program at APU, I anticipated receiving tools and skills that would be applicable to various leadership situations,” said Dianne Schlitt ’84, M.A. ’15. “What I didn’t anticipate was the life-changing process that I experienced. This truly has been a significant time that God has used to mold and shape me. I more clearly defined my calling, clarified my passions, gained a deeper understanding of my strengths and weaknesses, and became equipped with many leadership insights. It stirred my passion to lead and make a difference in this world, and it built the leader in me from the inside out.” True to this transformative education experience,
Accredited by the Association of Theological Schools, the seminary offers a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.), Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies, Master of Arts in Youth Ministry, Master of Arts (Theological Studies), and Master of Arts in Transformational Urban Leadership. Each program offers scholars the benefit of learning alongside expert faculty-mentors active in ministry. Dual-language Korean and Spanish programs are also available, equipping individuals to serve as ministers, missionaries, and leaders in diverse communities throughout the world. “We seek to equip these individuals so they might present the Gospel message in innovative and culturally relevant ways,” said Enrique Zone, Ed.D., associate dean for urban and multicultural programs. Moving beyond the academic program experience, the seminary provides support for pastoral staff serving in churches and parachurch organizations through APU’s Partners in Ministry, which hosts an annual conference, educational programs, and networking events that connect local pastors and their congregations to a wealth of resources at the university. “I really appreciate the effort the school makes on our behalf, thus enabling our local church to have influence and impact for God’s Kingdom,” said J. Gerry Wilson, M.A. ’96, lead pastor of Arcadia Friends Community Church. APU remains grounded in Scripture and committed to its enduring motto of God First throughout all its programs. Inside and outside the classroom, students apply their hearts, souls, and minds, pursuing excellence—and Christ—in all they do. Whatever their passion, students can choose from 67 bachelor’s degrees, 42 master’s degrees, 18 certificates, 14 credentials, 8 doctoral programs, and 3 associate’s degrees at a university ranked among the best schools in the nation. Programs are available on campus, online, and at six regional centers across Southern California. Learn more at apu.edu.
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The Seven Non-Negotiables The basics for a healthy Christian life
Dennis Rainey
IS HEARD WEEKDAYS AT 8:30AM ON 99.5FM KKLA
I IF YOU’VE EVER PURCHASED A CAR, you’ve seen the owner’s manual. It’s the book that tells you about the “non-negotiables” for maintaining the car. These are things like changing the oil, filling the tank with gasoline, topping off the transmission fluid, and having tires with adequate tread. We spend a lot of time making sure these non-negotiables are done so that when we get in the car, it runs properly.
“... you have not returned to me.” But Amos 5:4 reminds us of where life is found. God says, “Seek me that you may live.” These words should get our attention. We will only find life in seeking Him.
The same principle is true for the life of a believer. We must spend time on the nonnegotiables so that our lives may glorify God. But what are the non-negotiables? They must be defined in order to maintain and fulfill them. In seeking the Lord, I have discovered what I believe to be seven non-negotiables for life. Each principle is centered on the Lord, bringing the glory to Him alone, and the fulfillment of each is essential to the healthy Christian life.
Our God is holy and is the Lord God Almighty. When I think of the power He holds, I can’t help but fear Him and hold Him in reverential awe. Do you care more about what men think of you than God? Then learn to fear God, and you will be preoccupied in walking in His presence, not wondering what other people think of you. You will begin to live your life in light of eternity, and the temporal views of men won’t matter anymore.
#1: Seek God, not sin. “For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel, Seek Me that you may live.” —Amos 5:4
God is the life-giver. We will find life in no other. But as sinful creatures, our hearts are naturally prone to wander from our Creator. Our souls were made to pursue God, know God, and walk with God—nothing else. It’s only as we pursue Him that we live. In the book of Amos, God tries over and over again to get the attention of His people. He allows them to experience famine, drought, and pestilence and yet, as God says in Amos 4:11,
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#2: Fear God, not men. “The fear of the Lord leads to life, so that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.” —Proverbs 19:23.
The fear of the Lord also keeps us from evil and sin. A.W. Tozer wrote, “It is impossible to keep our moral practices sound and our inward attitudes right while our idea of God is erroneous or inadequate.” When we lose the fear of God and don’t respect Him and His commandments, we are going to live our lives without accountability to God and one another, which is the cause of a number of sins. #3: Love God, not the world. “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of
the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.” — 1 John 2:15-17 What is the object of your affections? Power? Recognition? Hobbies? Not too long ago, I visited an unbelievable house, and as I walked around it, for just a moment my thought was, I could have had a house like this. But I was reminded that a house is not what life is all about. The world is seeking to seduce us into a love affair, but we must love God and be preoccupied with pleasing Him alone. When I first fell in love with Barbara, no one doubted that I loved her; I was preoccupied with pleasing her. We must also love His people and be concerned about their eternal destiny. We must look at them with compassion, like Jesus, and be moved with action to do something for them. Those who love God will do what He wants and be concerned about His mission and His will, and they will fulfill His calling.
unbelief. Never forget that your adversary is the father of lies. He wants to destroy you, so he works to make us doubt the promises and to accuse the brethren. #5: Obey God, not your appetites. “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” —1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Our appetites are the passions that we have within our flesh, contrary to the spirit, craving and battling to be satisfied. If you give in even the slightest to these desires, the enemy can use that to launch an attack in your life. At the same time, the same trivial act in obedience to God may be used to launch a powerful lifechanging ministry. Our passions must be subordinated to the cross.
I don’t know anyone who enjoys suffering, but I do know many who have benefited from the growth that occurs as a result.
#4: Believe God, not the deceiver. “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” —John 8:44
In 1938 a man in Long Island ordered a very expensive weather barometer. He unwrapped it and realized that the arrow that was supposed to reflect the weather he was experiencing was stuck at the bottom, pointing at “Hurricane.” So he slammed it down a few times, and when it didn’t respond, he wrote a hot letter to the manufacturer and mailed it off on the way to work. When he came home, he found that a hurricane had hit, and everything was gone. As believers, sometimes we don’t want to believe the truth. When life and Scripture collide, which one do you believe and trust? The deceiver wants us to believe the lie. Will you believe God? The Scriptures tell us that without faith it is impossible to please God, but our nature is to move toward
Obedience to God demands two main things. It demands courage to say no to self, no to appetites, no to lusts of the flesh, no to what’s easy, and yes to carrying the cross. It also demands faithfulness—the plodding endurance to God, to His call, and to that which He calls you to suffer. Only by yielding to the cross can you obey God, not your appetites. #6: Serve God, not self. “Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” —Isaiah 6:8 The concept of becoming a “bond slave” in the Scriptures means that we are the slaves, and He is the master. That means that we must surrender completely, without reservation. Many would see this type of service as lowly, and it is humbling, but it should be seen as a privilege to serve such a loving Lord. On Christmas Day 1972, in the first year of our marriage, Barbara and I decided that before we would give anything to each other we would surrender our lives in writing to Jesus KKLA Magazine
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Christ, giving Him everything we ever dreamed of having. We gave it up and gave Him the contract and title to our lives. Looking back at that day, I see now we gave Him nothing, but I am amazed to see that He has given us everything in return. #7: Worship God, not comfort. “Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.” — Habakkuk 3:17-18 I don’t know anyone who enjoys suffering, but I do know many who have benefited from the growth that occurs as a result. Are you celebrating God and worshiping Him in the midst of your pain or do you seek comfort by escaping it? When suffering comes, you must move through the pain to the God who allowed it to come to fruition. When you escape, you miss the comfort God gives in the midst of that pain. Barbara and I have given thanks for short paychecks, for the deep waters of misunderstandings and unmet expectations, for a teenage boy with muscular dystrophy, for the loss of friendships due
to the call of God—the list goes on and on. Pain has pressed us against our Savior and reminded us that we are not in control. Pain results in growth and greater fruitfulness for Him. We worship God through music, prayer, God’s Word, and baptism. But we should also worship God in the midst of suffering and pain. These seven non-negotiables are the basics for the solid Christian life, and if any of them are neglected, we will be the ones to pay, not God. Now that you know what the non-negotiables are, why don’t you sit down in a quiet place and meditate on the areas where you are taking good care of your spiritual life and then ask the Lord to show you the areas where you need help. And then choose a close friend or accountability partner and share with him or her the areas where you need help and prayer. Soon, you will begin to experience a healthier life— mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Copyright © 2004 by Family Life. All rights reserved. FamilyLife is a donor-supported ministry offering practical and biblical resources and events to help you build a godly marriage and family.
Any thoughts? Visit Dennis Rainey’s website at FamilyLife.com.
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Saving Misfits
H Steve Wilburn
IS HEARD WEEKDAYS AT 7PM, SATURDAYS AT 8PM & SUNDAYS AT 9:30AM ON 99.5FM KKLA
“Look, Lord. I’m the least of the least. I’m from a long list of whiners. I’m insignificant, and I have no skills or value.” ...We must remember, God saves us Misfits for a real purpose!
H
HAVE YOU EVER LOOKED AROUND AT CHURCH and felt like you were surrounded by the most gifted people? People who are so comfortable in sharing their faith; people who can pray the perfect prayers; people who can sing so much better than you during worship; and, of course, those people who seem to have a much better knowledge of the Word of God - always able to answer the most puzzling questions? Well, if you have ever felt this way, I welcome you to the Club of Misfits! Wasn’t there an island that was set apart for us misfits? Oops, that was an island for misfit toys. Wrong story. But, getting back to us… If you have ever felt this way, I have some really good news for you. You came to the right place! This article is all about how the God of Creation has made it His standard to touch, save, set apart, and work through misfits. By the way, I am the chief of misfits! But that’s okay, because I stand as one amongst a sea of misfits, like the ones God raised up throughout the pages of the Bible. Misfits like Moses who was raised by Pharaoh’s daughter. He killed an Egyptian and then fled for his life at the age of 40. Moses went from being a royal prince in Egypt to a lowly shepherd tending sheep for the next 40 years of his life at UBSD (the University of the Back Side of the Desert). When God called Moses to use him, to set His people free from slavery, Moses’ response to God was NO! God asked him multiple times, yet Moses gave excuse after excuse. Finally, in Exodus 4:10, Moses used the excuse that he was not an eloquent speaker. God quickly responded to him in the next verse saying, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say.” Yet, Moses simply cowered once again and told God to send someone else! Then there was Gideon. In Judges 6, Gideon
complained about all the so-called miracles that happened in Moses’ time, while nothing was happening in his own time. He accused the Lord of abandoning them. That’s when the Lord told Gideon that he, in fact, was the one the Lord had sent to deliver Israel. Unfortunately, Gideon didn’t jump on that opportunity either. He started whining with a multitude of excuses about why he couldn’t do it, which leaves us reaching for a box of tissues for poor Gideon. Gideon questioned the Lord about what he could possibly do; asking if God knew who he was. As he proceeded to give the Lord a history lesson on his ancestry (as if the Lord needed that!), he identified himself as one from the Tribe of Manasseh, the tribe that complained about their inheritance when entering the promised land. He reminded the Lord that his family was the least in that tribe. And to make things even worse, he confirmed his position as a royal misfit when he confessed that he was the least in his own family. Gideon was saying, “Look, Lord. I’m the least of the least. I’m from a long list of whiners. I’m insignificant, and I have no skills or value.” What about Peter? He was a crusty, uneducated fisherman who was always saying or doing the wrong thing. He spoke on the Mount of Transfiguration when he should have been listening. He rebuked the Lord for going to Jerusalem to be crucified when he should have been embracing God’s eternal plan. At the last supper, he was bragging about being more faithful than all the other disciples when he should have been humbled by the very topic. He was sleeping in the Garden of Gethsemane when the Lord had asked him to stay awake and pray with Him. And his biggest downfall of all - when they arrested Jesus, Peter followed at a distance while warming himself by the enemy’s fire, and he denied three times that he ever knew the Lord. KKLA Magazine
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What can we glean from all of this? Moses went on to be the great deliverer of Israel from the mighty Egyptians and became the author of the Torah – the Pentateuch – the Law to all of God’s people. Gideon went on to destroy 120,000 Midianites with his little band of 300 men and delivered Israel from their oppressors. Peter went on to preach the greatest message of his life on the day of Pentecost, as the Holy Spirit of God was unleashed on every single believer in Jesus, just as God had promised. Over 3,000 new souls were added to the new Church. Yes, Moses was only able to be Moses, because God made him Moses. Gideon and Peter were only able to accomplish such great things, because God made them who they were. The same goes for David, the shepherd boy turned king; the fearful youth named Jeremiah, turned weeping prophet; the rebellious prophet named Jonah who first disobeyed God’s original direction, then preached to an entire nation of Ninevites who then repented; Amos the fig picker, through whom God spoke when the religious leaders no longer spoke the truth; and a man named Saul who changed his name to Paul. Paul was a man who could boast of being a Hebrew of Hebrews, from the tribe of Benjamin, and as to the Law, a Pharisee. Yet, Paul counted it all loss for the surpassing knowledge of knowing Christ. Yes, our gracious Savior has been saving a host of misfits from the beginning of time. He saves us; He sets us apart; He fills us with the power of the Holy Spirit; and then, He uses us for His Glory.
ior. Yes, His power now lives within us. Now, all the areas that would normally be way out of the realm of our natural abilities are all within our reach! It is now possible because our Gracious Savior lives inside us, as we are told in Ephesians 3:20: “Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.” Make no mistake about it. It is only in and by the power of God, He has unleashed within us, that we are able to do the unbelievable! So when we ask ourselves the real questions of life: what is my true purpose; why am I here; and what is the true meaning of my life, we must remember that God saves us misfits for a real purpose. We are all called by God to know Him personally, to worship Him freely, and to serve Him whole-heartedly. Yes, God has given and gifted us misfits with a calling that is far above all callings! We must ask ourselves if our decision to follow Christ has really changed the course and direction of our lives. Has our conversion caused our lifestyle to be altered? Are we a willing vessel in the hand of our merciful and loving God? Know this: our life is a gift from God. Every breath. Every heartbeat. Every living moment. It’s time for the people of God to rise up and share the wonderful message of the Gospel – that there is a God in Heaven that loves all the misfits of the world. It’s time for all of God’s people to rise up and shine as lights in this dark world.
It is only in and by the power of God, He has unleashed within us, that we are able to do the unbelievable!
Let’s not forget what we are told in 2 Corinthians 3:5: “Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.” Every believer needs to drink this truth into their soul. That word “adequate” in the New American Standard Bible is translated as “sufficient” in the King James Bible. In the original language, it simply means just that! We are not competent or good enough, worthy, or sufficient of anything, as coming from ourselves. Yet now, we can rejoice that our adequacy, our competency, and the ability to do great things to fulfill our high calling from God doesn’t have to come from us. God has given that power to each of us who knows Christ as our Sav-
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When we allow the Holy Spirit to move inside of us, He will move in the hearts and lives of those around us! Remember – if our faith costs us nothing, doesn’t it accomplish the same thing? Nothing? As a closing thought, instead of questioning, because of our own feelings of inadequacy, the call of God in our lives to reach out to the lost and to be used in some capacity by the Holy Spirit of God, shouldn’t we rather question these feelings of inadequacy when they conflict with the Word of God? Just a thought! May the Lord bless you!
Any thoughts? Visit Steve Wilburn’s website at CoreChurchLA.org
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ryan-ries.com
Ryan Ries
10:00 pm | Live Your Dream
churchwithoutwalls.com
Dean Clark
10:30 pm | Only The Truth
megapraiseministries.com
Manuel Johnson
11:00 pm | Sanctified Young Adults
theharborchurch.org Nathan J. Morris
11:30 pm | Reaching Out Radio
reachingoutproductions.com
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Ambassador Elisa
Sundays 12:00 am
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The Gypsy Christian Hour
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Local Programming
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lachurch.net
Sam Nicholas
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calvaryonglendale.com
Philip George
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theshepherd.org
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corechurchla.org
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Soli Deo Gloria
branchofhope.org
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Truth that Changes Lives
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ifcj.org/radio
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Mission Hills, CA Susan Fries a.k.a The Termite Lady has been around the pest control business for almost forty years. Inspired and motivated by her son who suffered from symptoms of chronic asthma, Sue Fries approached the pest management industry like only a mother would by providing effective non-chemical alternatives. In what might sound like a page out of a scifi novel, her company, ECOLA Termite and Pest Control Management, utilizes alternative methods like ECOLA HEAT™, the Electro- Gun and microwave technology to rid her customer’s homes of termites and other pesky pests. And, although many national companies successfully use alternative methods for controlling termites, Sue Fries and ECOLA Termite and Pest consider themselves to be The Alternative Methods Pioneers.
derstand, pests are eliminated and customers with children, pets or chemical sensitivities can rest easy knowing that ECOLA has streamlined the best solutions for each individual need. California’s leading alternative termite and pest control company and authoring the book, Learning to Breathe, what more could possibly fill Susan’s schedule? Sue hosts her own TV and radio shows, both entitled “The Sue Fries Show”. In each, Ms. Fries takes the pursuit of passion, purpose and connection with her own life stories, analogies and those of her frequent live guests. The radio version of The Sue Fries Show airs weekly in the San Diego, Los Angeles and Central California markets. Episodes and podcasts are available at www. SueFries.com. What more? Sue also competes as a professional dancer.
Susan Fries summarizes ECOLA’s approach in four easy steps: smart choice, simple solutions, problem solved, mother approved. As simple as that, customers are provided with a variety of options for controlling their pest issues, in simple terms that anyone can un-
What makes ECOLA Termite and Pest Control a special organization? Sue Fries states it best, “ECOLA is your best choice for family and environmentally friendly alternative treatments. Let us be your 1st choice or your second opinion!” ECOLA Termite and Pest Control can be reached at (800)332-BUGS or www.ecolatermite.com. For more information regarding Susan Fries or the Sue Fries Show, please visit www.SueFries.com.
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VENTURACOUNTYCOAST.COM
The Importance of Integrity
Jim Daly
IS HEARD WEEKDAYS AT 7:30AM, 11:30AM, 10PM & 4:30AM ON 99.5FM KKLA
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AS THE POPULAR SAYING GOES, you change the world by “starting with the person in the mirror.”
college to work for the Tension Corporation. We became good friends, and he assumed the role of a strong mentor in my life.
For parents, it’s the way you change your kids’ world too.
One day while visiting my sales office in San Diego, he mailed a few of his personal letters through the office postage machine. “How much do I owe you?” he asked. “Don’t worry about it,” I responded. But Jeff wouldn’t let it go. “The company didn’t hire me so they could pay my postage,” he insisted. I finally agreed to charge him a whopping one dollar and thirty cents.
I’m reminded of a man who came home one night with a briefcase full of work and the pressure of the office heavy on his mind. His son just wanted to play. He kept asking his dad, again and again, to play catch. Finally, the man had enough. He tore off the front page of a newspaper with a world map on the front. He ripped the image into small pieces, handed them to his son, and ordered him not to come out of his room until he’d put the map back together. The boy was disappointed. He still wanted to play catch. But he did as he was told and wandered off down the hall with the pile of shredded bits his father had given him. Relieved, the man got down to work. But after only a few minutes, his son returned – with a perfectly completed map! Frustrated, the man asked his son how he’d finished so quickly. “There was a picture of some guy on the other side,” his son said. “I figured, if I got the man right, the world would be right, too.” Mom and dad, our kids’ view of the world begins with us. Get yourself right as a parent, and your child’s world will be right, too! And there’s no better place to start than modeling integrity. Integrity is a character trait that will positively impact even the smallest details of your kids’ lives. That’s a lesson I had to learn the hard way throughout my childhood. When I was growing up, not one of the men who filled the role of “dad” in my life had much integrity. After my mother died when I was nine years old, my step-dad abandoned me and my siblings within hours of her funeral. My biological father died of alcoholism, and I was placed in foster care. I ended up in a home where parenthood was considered a hassle to endure, rather than a gift to treasure. One of the first men to model integrity for me was a man named Jeff Eaves. He hired me right out of
I know that sounds like a small thing, but that’s exactly why it left such a huge impression on me. In that moment, Jeff taught me volumes about
Because, you see, it’s often the little things that transform a person’s job, a marriage, or their relationship with their kids. what it means to be a person of genuine integrity: you take care of the little things. Because, you see, it’s often the little things that transform a person’s job, a marriage, or their relationship with their kids. I’ve never forgotten that moment, and my wife Jean and I have worked hard to model the same level of integrity for our boys. In those rare times when they’ve bent the truth or cheated, we’ve explained why being trustworthy is such a vital part of a successful life. Integrity isn’t just about keeping Mom and Dad happy. Ultimately, it’s about becoming the kind of men others can depend on. KKLA Magazine
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This is such an important lesson for their future that we do more than simply discipline Trent and Troy for their poor choices. We take the time to go deeper and engage them. We walk with them through their thought processes. We ask questions like, “What made you want to do this?” At the end of our discussion, we ask if they can think of another way to handle things the next time they’re faced with that situation. The goal is to help them understand how much better and, in some ways, easier it is to be a person of integrity. The fruits of their character will enrich every area of their lives, even when things don’t go the way they hope. Take, for example, professional golfer Brian Davis, who was pursuing his first PGA tour win in 2010. When regulation play ended, Davis was tied for first place with Jim Furyk. Deciding a winner required a playoff. On the first hole, Davis’s approach shot to the green rolled off and settled in a hazard among rocks and twigs. After chipping the ball back onto the green, he seemed poised to extend the playoff. Instead, he stopped play and motioned for a rules
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official. To everyone’s amazement, Davis called a penalty on himself – in effect, handing the victory to his opponent. It was a stunning moment. What happened? On his backswing, the club grazed a twig six inches behind the ball – technically, a violation of one of the sport’s rules. The movement was so slight that no one but Davis could have seen it happen. Even with slow motion replay the twitch was nearly indiscernible. But Davis knew it had happened. He later explained that, even though it cost him the tournament, “It’s one of the best things I’ve done … I did the right thing.” A lot of motives drive decision making. Quick and easy fixes. Personal gain. But our kids need to learn that the best choices are made out of a character of integrity. It’s about doing the small thing, the right thing, even when it costs us. And they’ll learn that from us, their parents – if we “get the man right.”
Any thoughts? Visit Jim Daly’s website at Family.org
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Don’t Put a Period Where God Puts a Comma!
Paul Sheppard
IS HEARD WEEKDAYS AT 3:30PM ON 99.5FM KKLA
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WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WANTED TO QUIT? Everybody has moments like these: “I don’t really need the aggravation this job gives me. Maybe I should look around.” Or you could be thinking, “I’m just not cut out for family life. I’ve had enough of this marriage. I want out.” People even do it at church. A challenge arises and you say, “I’m not going to hang around for all of that; I can watch wrestling on my TV.” And soon, you find you’re stuck in a pattern. You’ve been a part of every church in town, and none of them really feels like home anymore. It’s so easy to walk away. It’s too easy, really, because it only requires the emotions of a single moment. A lot of us have become very good at walking away. We life-surf like we channel surf—we keep the remote in our hand at all times, so we can hit a button and be somewhere else when the commercial starts. That’s handy with television, but not so much with life. Life takes a little constancy. It requires a certain amount of stick-to-itiveness, because all the best things in life come at a price, and that price is patience and perseverance. God is always at work, so if you’re disappointed, you don’t need to give up. You need to talk to Him. And you’ll find the Lord encouraging you to wait and see what He has in store. In other words, don’t put a period where God puts a comma. You’re going to miss the best part of the story. A man named Paul in the Bible learned this lesson. After being shipwrecked, bitten by a poisonous snake, talked about, and thrown into prison, he knew a thing or two about persevering through hardships. And he writes the following words to encourage the other believers to develop this same mindset:
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We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8–9 Take another look at that verse. If you read those four items, but leave out the comma, you get: “We are hard pressed on every side, perplexed, persecuted, and abandoned.” And that would be one of the most depressing stories I could imagine. I wouldn’t want to see that movie, would you? But the commas are there, and if you ignore them, you’re making the mistake of your life. The comma makes the difference between tragic surrender and eternal victory! Here are a few ways to make sure you keep the comma in view in your own life. First, realize that having problems doesn’t neces-
Instead, do what you’re called to do. If there’s gossip to deal with, do so neatly and biblically, but then get back to work. Focus on God and follow His plan. sarily mean you are outside of God’s will. When we are pressed on every side, it means problems are seemingly coming at us from multiple angles—the car breaks down, the kids start acting up, and a co-worker suddenly becomes difficult. Paul, too, was “hard pressed on every side,” all while doing the very thing God called him to do. Sometimes, the center of God’s will is the very place where
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we’re under intense pressure. The good news is: we’re not crushed! Secondly, wait on the Lord rather than quit. When things get difficult, we can become perplexed— meaning we become bewildered, baffled, and stumped. In those moments of confusion, we’re often tempted to take a stab in the dark and think: “God must want me to quit my job,” or, “God wants me to leave my spouse.” But the comma reminds us that there is hope on the other side of our confusion, if we don’t give up. Wait upon the Lord when you’re perplexed. There’s always a better answer after the comma than the one you force on your own. Thirdly, focus on your assignment, not your antagonizers. This is what Paul meant when he said he was “persecuted, but not abandoned.” Persecution is when problems get personal. It is when people, not things, are coming against us. The nicest person you’ll ever meet is still going to be gossiped about—just ask Jesus! But handled correctly, persecution can drive us closer to God by making us less dependent on popularity and more dependent on God. You have a tool in your hand; so don’t let people tempt you to put it down. The only way your enemies win is if you let them, by changing your agenda to win them over or argue with them. Instead, do what you’re called to do. If there’s gossip to deal with, do so neatly and biblically, but then get back to work. Focus on God and follow His plan.
Finally, remember that winners in life aren’t the ones who are never knocked down—they’re the ones who get back up. If you’ve ever seen a boxing match, you know that the fight isn’t over when someone falls down, but when someone stays down. The same is true for us. Paul says we are, “struck down, but not destroyed.” Perhaps the most beautiful reminder of this principle is Jesus. He was not only struck down in this life, but also killed on the cross. But what made the difference—what allowed Him to be triumphant over his darkest moment—was the knowledge that the cross was the ultimate comma. The empty tomb was on the other side, along with eternal life for believers like you and me.
Things may be tough right now, but trust me on this—and trust God—the best is yet to come! I’m not the greatest authority on grammar and punctuation, but I know this: a comma is a brief pause in the middle of a sentence, and it tells you to keep on reading, because this sentence isn’t over. There’s more to the story. On the other side of this trial, everything is going to change if you’ll simply keep trusting Him.
Any thoughts? Visit Paul Sheppard’s website at PastorPaul.net
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The Secret to a Happy Life
R. C. Sproul
IS HEARD WEEKDAYS AT 12 NOON ON 99.5FM KKLA
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JAMES IS SOMETIMES CALLED THE “NEW TESTAMENT BOOK OF PROVERBS.” That’s because of passages such as James 4 that give us a series of loosely linked aphorisms of practical, godly wisdom. This chapter begins with our universal concern about conflict: What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend on your passions. (James 4:1-3) The world is marked by warfare. There’s global war and national conflict; there’s warfare in the church; there’s warfare in the community; there’s warfare in the home—there’s conflict all around us. James says that these quarrels, fights, disputes, and contentions come from within, from the fallenness of our hearts. The motivation for these conflicts is envy, or covetousness, which is a transgression we rarely hear about in our own day. Conflict is the fruit of covetous hearts that want what others have. Now, it’s not inherently wrong to want something we don’t have. James’ statement that we do not have because we do not ask implicitly calls us to ask God to give us our desires. We should feel no shame when we desire good things as long as our desire does not make those good things into idols. The warning against covetousness comes into play when James acknowledges that sometimes we ask wrongly for what we don’t have. Sometimes we ask for good things in the wrong spirit. What does this mean? Consider that we ask for things because we believe they will make us happy. This turns into covetousness when we believe that we have an inalienable right to pursue pleasure as the source of happiness. Maximizing pleasure is our culture’s chief goal, but happiness and pleasure are profoundly different. I’m not opposed to pleasure. I enjoy pleasure. But KKLA Magazine
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remember, sin is tempting because it can be pleasurable—in the short term. We sin because we think it will feel good. Every time we sin, we believe the original lie of Satan, who tempts us that we will be happy if we get the pleasure we want. Hedonism, which defines the good in terms of the pleasurable, is the oldest philosophy to oppose God.
opposition with a capital O. He’s the last being I want to have opposing me. God opposes the proud, so we need to get this maxim from James into our souls: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
However, sin never brings happiness—the state of inner delight, blessedness, and contentment wherein there is no room for greed or covetousness. Christians know moments of happiness, when we are alone in the presence of God, in fellowship with Him, and it is enough to know our sins have been forgiven. But soon we forget and we’re worrying about the bills. Suddenly, we say, “If I just had a little bit more money, if I just had a better car, if I just had a nicer house, I’d finally be happy.”
By definition, grace is not something you can earn. You can receive grace only if God in His mercy gives it to you. It’s a gift. You can’t buy, earn, or merit it. God gives grace to the humble because they understand the graciousness of grace. Humility willingly submits one’s life to God’s sovereign mercy. Humble people recognize that the Lord doesn’t owe them anything.
If there’s anything that we ought to be in a passionate quest to achieve, it’s the grace of God.
Do we want more grace? Let’s try a little more humility. Do we seek less opposition from God? Let’s do away with our pride. We must remember that we are unworthy servants throwing ourselves on the mercy of the court. When we enter God’s presence and demand that He give us something or try to persuade Him to give us something as if we were His counselors who advise Him of a better way of doing things, we’ve entered into His presence not boldly as the Bible calls us to do, but arrogantly. We must come to Him in thanksgiving and praise for the grace we’ve already received. The more humble we are, the more grace we get. The prouder we are, the more God opposes us.
Scripture does not say the humble person is Mr. Milquetoast, the wishy-washy person, the spineless man who is a doormat for the world; rather, the humble person is one who fears God.
After explaining conflict’s source, James reveals what ends it and brings true happiness: But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God…Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (James 4:6-7, 10) Humility is the secret to a happy life. What is humility? Scripture does not say the humble person is Mr. Milquetoast, the wishy-washy person, the spineless man who is a doormat for the world; rather, the humble person is one who fears God. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and such fear flows from a heart that is in awe of God and bows to His authority.
The opposite of humility is arrogance. To think God owes us every pleasure we want manifests an unspeakable arrogance that presumes to critique God’s provision for us. Every time we start fighting over what we don’t have, our struggle is ultimately with the Lord. Is anything more foolish than warring with God? Opposition from God is
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©R.C. Sproul and Ligonier Ministries. Ligonier. org
Any thoughts? Visit R. C. Sproul’s website at Ligonier.org.
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The Men’s Gathering By Frank Sontag & Sonn Eidem
Frank Sontag
IS HEARD WEEKDAYS AT 4PM ON 99.5FM KKLA
“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13
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THE ROLE OF MEN IN OUR SOCIETY IS DIMINISHING. Once leaders in the home, in the workplace and in our communities, men have been relegated to second place status. The government and feminine leadership have taken over many of these important roles. This shift has left many adrift in their identity, and the results have been devastating both to men and the families they have abandoned either emotionally or physically. The Christian community has not been immune to this trend. Many men no longer lead their families nor are they the spiritual leaders God intended. They have fallen into the secular ways of this world. Church is no longer important, and time with the family has been replaced with hobbies and vices. Many children are growing up without fathers. As society has lowered its expectations of what being a man is, men have surrendered themselves to this standard. At a time, such as this, men no longer know nor understand their God-given role. Psalms 1:1-2 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
Now is the time to call on men to break away from society’s low standard of manhood and to rise up to the standard God has given. It’s time for men to bear fruit and to regain their spiritual foothold. It’s time to recapture leadership of the family, to be fathers to our children and get back to not only understanding but doing the roles that God has given us and will empower us to do. Men need to stand firm and not be like the chaff driven away in the winds. It’s time to prosper as men! To help support men in their vital leadership role KKLA Magazine
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KKLA began hosting The Men’s Gathering in various churches in the southland. Men have come together with a desire to be challenged, corrected, held accountable, encouraged and united, while standing firm on the Gospel of Jesus. Men have come broken and lost, contrite and apologetic, some complacent about their spiritual life, while others have come seeking to fill a void in their manhood that they felt is missing. Together they have united to make a commitment to “step up and not step back.” This concept of men stepping up and boys stepping back was inspired by the teachings of Fred Shuttlesworth, a Baptist minister and one of the South’s most prominent civil rights leaders. Shuttlesworth had the strength and courage to stand alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. where he used his public platform to talk about his faith and the power of forgiveness. One Sunday in particular he called a meeting at his church for men only. With racial tension at extreme levels, Pastor Shuttlesworth implored the men in his community to not waiver from their commitment to exemplifying God’s love to their oppressors. He also issued this challenge, “Boys step back, men step forward,” a formal decla-
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At each Men’s Gathering, we have seen guys courageously embrace their calling as men and allow Jesus to enter into their lives.
ration that acknowledges the spiritual imperative of honoring God’s call in their lives to be men. On August 23rd , 2014, at Mariners Church in Newport Beach, The Men’s Gathering opened its doors and 800 men came together to take accountability for their lives, to step up, and seek out a deeper connection to God and other men and find out more what the Holy Spirit was calling them to. Since then we have held gatherings twice a year drawing upwards of 1600 men each meeting. Revelations 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. At each Gathering, we have seen guys courageously embrace their calling as men and allow Jesus to enter into their lives. Crying out to Him, with everything they have, we have seen lives being transformed, scores realizing that their true strength comes from complete dependence on God as well as countless men recommitting their lives to Christ.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Face it: it is easy to be in this world and to be of this world. It takes veracity and perseverence to be in this world but NOT of this world--to stand boldly against the tide. Renewing your mind, taking on that what is good, acceptable and perfect and following the will of God, takes commitment, accountability, discipleship and mentoring. But taking the journey alone is not an option. The enemy of our soul is out seeking who he may devour. Strength comes in numbers, and that is where we can find our accountability, discipleship and mentoring. Steve Wilburn, pastor of Core Church LA, brought the concept of “Who Is Your Monkey?” to a Men’s Gathering event recently. He shared the concept of a “go to” person in times of trouble. A man who can be called upon when the enemy is attacking. Someone who can serve as a reinforcement with prayer, KKLA Magazine
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counseling and accountability. Darryl Strawberry, former MLB player, was a speaker at another Men’s Gathering and his focus was on discipleship. Darryl shared his story of salvation and then falling back into his old sinful ways because he had no discipleship or accountability. He had no support system. Both of these speakers reaffirmed the fact that men need to be in fellowship with other men, sharpening one another and being a support system. Without the accountability of other Christian men, the possibility of failure is high. Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. One of the great casualties in the declining leadership role of men today is fatherhood. Many men have given that role over to their wives while pursuing other priorities like spending greater amounts of time at work.
But some men don’t know how to do this, as they may have had an absent father themselves. This is why men need to come together. Learn from each other and grow in their skill and confidence as fathers. Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. KKLA Magazine
Being a man of God is no easy task. The assault on men by society is strong and swift. Accountability, discipleship and mentoring are crucial aspects of becoming a better father, husband and man of God.
Men are in a spiritual struggle, and to win this battle, men need to be prepared, they need to be equipped with the tools to fight the enemy and they need the support and help of others.
But the stakes are too high for men to abdicate this vital responsibility. Children need their fathers to love and guide them into maturity to adulthood.
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When men fail as leaders in the home, women suffer. Men need to step up and treat women the way God instructed them. As men embrace the value and worth of their wives, and love them as Christ loves the church, they will become better husbands, families will be rebuilt and the next generation will thrive.
Issue 17
Ephesians 6:11-13 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
Men are in a spiritual war, and to win this battle, men need to be prepared, they need to be equipped with the tools to fight the enemy and they need the support and help of others. This is a crusade that cannot be fought alone. The Men’s Gathering is a tool that can be used to declare victory, to unite men, encourage, strengthen and renew them and give them the hope of the Glory that is to come! Learn more. Tune into The Men’s Gathering radio program Sundays at 5:30pm on 99.5 FM or listen to the podcast www.kkla.com/podcasts. Frank Sontag is the host of The Frank Sontag Show heard weekdays at 4pm on 99.5 FM KKLA. Sonn Eidem is the producer of The Frank Sontag Show.
Any thoughts? Visit Frank Sontag’s website at FrankSontag.net
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