Rethink Monthly - October 2008

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RETHNK RETHINKING GOD IN TODAY’S CULTURE.

MONTHLY

THE WATER CRISIS | FIREPROOF | AFGHANISTAN | THE FATHERLESS

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father to the fatherless Page 18

i became a Christian and all i got was this

lousy t-shirt Page 10

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OCTOBER 2008

CONTENTS 12 18

10 EDITORS/PUBLISHERS >

Bo Lane > bo@rethinkmonthly.com Melissa Lane > melissa@rethinkmonthly.com

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Craig Oviatt, Randy Mooney, Mike Yoder, Karl LaCalli, Chad Gillock

2_RETHINK MONTHLY

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS >

Bo & Melissa Lane, Sam Skillern, SJ Hill, Tim Challies, Anthony Trask, John Greco, Kate Phillips, Vince Antonucci, Pete & Jo Lessing

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Images by: Johanna Lessing, Kim Koster, Matt McGraw. All images used by permission.

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RETHINK, Inc PO Box 17316 Salem, OR 97305 Phone: 503-856-4430 Fax: 503-394-7121 info@rethinkmonthly.com www.rethinkmonthly.com After you’ve read every single word of this magazine and have shared it with all your friends and family, please consider recycling it - or add it to your collection of Rethink Monthly magazines and save it forever.

Because your friend’s cousin Jimmy isn’t quite the “web designer� he made himself out to be.

Website Design •Logos & Branding • Biz Cards Church Websites • Band Posters • E-Commerce

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THEALPHA

EDITORIAL I received the call on May 30, 2006 while at a church board meeting. I was on staff at a church in California. Our senior pastor had just resigned and I stepped in to fill his shoes. They didn’t fit.

But my oversized shoes came in small comparison to the news in which I was about to receive. My wife Melissa gave it to me straight. “Get to the hospital now.” The sound of her voice told me to grab my keys and leave the meeting. So I did.

When I got to the hospital I realized that it was a lot worse than I’d imagined. The doctor spoke in words with more than five syllables as the nurse typed away on her laptop. Long story short, Melissa needed some serious attention. If we didn’t do something now, she might die. And of course, we’d lose the baby too.

The next thing I know I’m following an ambulance down to San Francisco – an hour or so from where we lived – trying to keep my composure from passing motorists who knew nothing of my current situation. I was going through something so massive, so colossal, that not even the latest James Taylor album could console me.

I was about halfway to San Francisco when the fear really hit me; I realized that I was in jeopardy of losing my wife and unborn child.

From the moment we reached the hospital, time seemed to stand still. Minutes faded into hours. Friends and family quickly made the trek from Oregon to California. Hours turned into days. We spent time praying and waiting. Four days later, our son Benjamin was born. He weighed about two and a half pounds and came two and a half months earlier than expected. And God, whose power continues to remain incomprehensible, spared my wife and son with little to no consequence – a true miracle. Two and a half years later, the miracle remains.

But let me back up for a minute. Shortly before the nurse took Melissa into the operating room, she brought me a change of scrubs and set them neatly on the chair.

I let them sit there for a few minutes as I talked to Melissa, trying to prepare us both for the operation. I have to admit, I had never been more nervous in my entire life.

Even more nervous than the time the cops showed up at my house when I was twelve. Apparently, they thought that

Make sure to read “Father to the Fatherless” on page 18 4_RETHINK MONTHLY

I was the twelve year old kid who shot out the neighbor’s window with a BB gun. Go figure.

On my way into the bathroom to change into my scrubs, I grabbed my father by the arm. I didn’t plan it. It just happened. Before he could close the door behind him, I broke down. I couldn’t control the tears; they overwhelmed me. I was completely scared and broken. Yet in this troubled time, God recognized my weakness and turned this bleak situation into a beautifully orchestrated composition. He seems to thrive on stuff like that.

There I was, a grown man crying like a school girl, standing in a small bathroom with my father. In a strange way, it was beautiful. Beautiful because my father, who is unashamedly finite, listened to the instructions of an infinite Father and wrapped his arms around his adult son. In that moment I became my daddy’s little boy again.

He mustered the meekest prayer I’ve ever heard: “God, I know I haven’t been the best dad. I didn’t play catch with him that much. I didn’t take him fishing that much. But God, if it’s all You ever do for me, please grant me this one prayer – let my grandson be ok.”

And what resonates with the most beauty is that God did just that; He caused my son to be ok.

I was once told that “it’s about the journey, not the destination.” I disagree. I think that in order to enjoy the destination – a never-ending union with God the Father – you must first concentrate on the journey. It’s both-and.

Now, as I hold my two and a half year old son in my arms, I take the image I have of my earthly father and compare it to myself. My dad’s an incredible father but he’s not perfect. He’s quite normal. I now see that I’m just as normal; I’m just as imperfect. And then I compare that to my heavenly Father and realize that I have a really long way to go.

But I’m more than ok with that. I’m more than ok with God being my father and me just being His son. Because being His son ensures an incredible journey. And the destination?

Well, I really wouldn’t have it any other way.

LINCOLN

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it’s not about me.

Last month I spent an evening with my family at the Oregon State Fair – the pentacle of summer-time entertainment for the city of Salem.

There I was – walking the promenade with my beautiful wife of nine years, my three and a half year old son, and my six month old daughter – so much to do and so much of Oregon ’s goodness to enjoy.

I have gone to the Oregon State Fair every year since I can remember and it may be weird, but I really love it. I love the scones, the elephant ears, the art and photography exhibits, the World’s Largest Pig, Horse, and Alligator, the traveling shows, the free concerts, the Carnies, the 12” tall ice cream cones, the smell of the cow barn, the 4H kids, and the weird people with the Britney Spears’ headset-style microphones trying to sell you the latest knife set. Did I mention the scones?

From the moment we walked through the Yellow Gate, my son had two things on his mind: rides and games. We were starving and we knew that we had to eat something before we made our way to the ride and game area because once we got there, there would be no turning back.

So we ate our food and, distracting our son with pop and candy, tried to look at a few of the cool grown-up exhibits. But that’s when it happened.

Somewhere between the Fuzzy Magic Worm and the Obama ’08 booth, my six month old daughter let it rip. The only way I could stop her from being fussy was to have her ride on my shoulders through the exhibits. So with her head directly above mine, she puked all over me. Not just a little bit on my head or my shirt, but all over me!

That’s when I realized that this year there would be no hypnotist show, no French bread pizza, no hot-tub clearance sales, no baby pigs, no free hats from Toyota , and possibly no scones.

My wife and I would have to sacrifice all that we love about the Oregon State Fair and make a B-Line over to the rides and the games before all parenting control would be lost.

So we did just that. And once my son realized that we were there amongst the over-priced rides and the scandalous games his 6_RETHINK MONTHLY

face shown with glorious joy. This is what, for so long, he had been waiting for.

My son enjoyed every second of the canoe ride. He cherished every moment of the Indiana Jones’ish obstacle course.

And for him – it was as if his life were complete as he whooshed up and down on the bouncing bus. Every ounce of his three year old life was revealed as he shot water into a clown’s mouth and caught plastic octopuses with a fishing pole. And my six month old daughter beamed from ear to ear as she watched the lights of the promenade flash off and on, and her big brother laughing with excitement as he went from ride to ride.

After all of the previous stress caused by my son’s anticipation and my daughter’s puking incident, my wife and I were at peace. We were at peace because life, for that moment, was balanced and where it should be.

That’s when I realized that THIS (this life of mine) IS NOT ABOUT ME anymore. It’s not about me eating scones or watching two grown men mix comedy and professional juggling. It’s about making sure that my kids are loved, safe, and are enjoying life. It’s about doing what Jesus spoke of: ‘Loving my neighbor as I love myself ‘and ‘loving God with all that I’ve got.’

Sadly, today, in American Culture and equally in Christian Culture; life has become all about ME: What will make ME feel good? What will make ME more money? What will make people like ME more? What ministry will make ME look more important? What will make ME holier than my neighbor? How can I get God to bless ME with more Spiritual Gifts?

But Scripture centers us back to where we are supposed to be – life being all about GOD. Take the Bible’s very first verse for example; “In the beginning GOD created the heavens and the earth.” This story is about GOD, not about ME. As the Scriptures culminate in the book of Revelation, we see a beautiful picture of all things restored, balanced, and where they should be. “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

These were people from all over the world with their focus, not on themselves, but on God. And just like my wife and I at the Oregon State Fair, we must come to the realization that life is balanced and where it should be when the focus is not on us, but when the focus is on HIM. And when the focus is on HIM, He sets it on others as well.

What if there were enormous banners lining the walls of your church’s sanctuary that said “THIS IS NOT ABOUT YOU”?

Would that change the way you worshipped? What if your alarm clock woke you up every morning with the words,” THIS IS NOT ABOUT YOU”? Would that make getting ready in the morning any easier? What if every bill board you passed on the street said, “THIS IS NOT ABOUT YOU”? Would that change the way you drove? What if the thought, “THIS IS NOT ABOUT ME” passed through your brain throughout the day? Would that change the way you lived? Would that help you shift the focus off of YOU and onto HIM? Would that help you pay attention to the needs of those around you?

Think about it – this is not about you.

Anthony Trask is the husband of one wife and the father of two children. He currently spends his time with over 50 international high school boys as a dean at an international boarding school in Southern Oregon. You can check out his blog and listen to some of his teachings at anthonytrask.com.

SALEM’S OWN

Does my life really matter to anyone else?

For two Salem-area medical professionals, they have found an answer to this question and have invested their lives in ways that are impacting people around the world.

In 2005, Reid Saunders Association, a Salem-based evangelistic ministry, planned a mission trip to a small village in Uganda, Africa. A young couple, Brandon and Stacy Schmidgall, was part of the mission team. The Schmidgalls, both Registered Nurses, were very interested in using their medical training to share the love of Jesus Christ with the people of Uganda. Within a few months of preparation, Brandon and Stacy were able to recruit two other nurses, and they organized their first overseas medical clinic.

When the small American medical team arrived in Kayunga, Uganda, they set up a large tent, tables, and supplies.

The team was not prepared for the response – hundreds of people began lining up to receive care! The clinic had not been publicized, but the moment locals inquired of the team, they began to spread the word that there was free medical care available, and the crowds ensued.

Medical team members were soon busy diagnosing infections, providing wound care, distributing eyeglasses, giving away toothbrushes and teaching basic dental hygiene, treating malaria and other illnesses, screening for hypertension and diabetes, and more. Several of the mission team members who were not medically trained were quickly recruited to help with eyeglasses, medication, crowd control, and other support tasks.

After only a few days, the medical team had served 545 people! But what was more significant to the Schmidgalls is that each person who was cared for at the clinic also had a mission team member talk with them, share the Good News of Jesus Christ, and pray with them. Each person going through the medical clinic experienced the love of God in word and deed. Of the 545 people treated at the medical clinic, 96 prayed with team members to begin a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Other mission team members were involved in music, drama, puppets, and speaking at schools, prisons, men’s and women’s conferences, and churches.

For Brandon and Stacy Schmidgall, their experience in Kayunga, Uganda in July of 2005 was a turning point in their lives. From then on, they wanted to use their skills and passion to share God’s love with even more people, not only in Africa but around the world.

Since 2005, Brandon Schmidgall has led three other medical teams with Reid Saunders Association: Madurai, India (February 2006), Red Hills, India (February 2007), and Gulu, Uganda (November 2007). Since 2005, 5075 people have been served at RSA medical clinics, 1050 of whom have made decisions to follow Jesus Christ.

This fall, the RSA medical team will serve in rural Romania for the first time, with plans to minister in Rwanda and India over the next two years.

If you are interested in helping these teams, please contact Reid Saunders Association at www.reidsaunders.org or call 503-581-7394.

ea l ife ORTHWEST N 2008

November 14 • 15 THE GOODNESS OF

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Special Guests

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William P. Young Author of The Shack

love thy neighbor?

I grew up in Salem and can remember when we were a small city; a town really. Today, with a population over 150,000 and with Keizer (30,000) right next door, our community isn’t small anymore.

As we’ve grown, it’s hard for any one person, group or organization to really “get their arms around Salem” anymore. The geography is just too big, too bulky. Even though there are issues that affect our entire community, most needs and most answers reside in the smaller, cohesive geographies that dot the map of Salem-Keizer.

Let’s take that ‘Big Geography’ and break it down into chunks we can chew: We are one (1) Community. And yet two (2) side-by-side Cities. We have six (6) High-school Feeder Districts. 12 Middle-school Communities. 26 Neighborhood Associations. 45 Elementary-school Neighborhoods.

After that are the smaller neighborhoods marked by a hill, a creek, a builder’s subdivision or a historical figure. These are the “villages” where modern-day people live and move and have our being. These are the areas where we encounter our Neighbor; but do we know how to “love our neighbor as ourselves?” (Luke 10) Especially the “least of these?” (Matthew 25) Since our founding in 1996, we at the Salem Leadership Foundation (SLF) noticed that the most people do the most good when the work is “in sight, in mind.” People have the most passion for doing good when it’s close by, or involves them (and their families) personally. That all adds up to “Neighborhood.”

All of us have one neighborhood; many of us have three.

There’s the neighborhood where we live (that’s #1). Then, the neighborhood where we work. And for many of us, the neighborhood where we worship. These are the places where we spend the most time, where we have the most friends/colleagues, and where we’ve made more than a casual investment. Instead of taking on the whole world, why not go deep in your own neighborhood? There are kids, families, and senior citizens who need you. There are rich, middle-class and low-income folks in every part of town—and they need a good neighbor. There are schools, non-profits and ministries serving those in need—and they would love to have your partnership. Our city’s Neighborhood Associations and Community Progress Teams (CPTs) need us to link arms and do good work together.

To make things even easier, SLF is placing a skilled networker in each one of Salem-Keizer’s six high-school feeder 8_RETHINK MONTHLY

or just thyself?

By Sam Skillern

areas. We call these gifted catalysts “Lightning Rods” and you might have met Carrie Maheu, Herm Boes or Wayne Crowder out there doing amazing work. We are furiously raising more money to hire three more Lightning Rods so that all areas of town are fully engaged—especially the churches.

Please don’t resort to that tired old wineskin of “the State hates the Church” or “the secular world doesn’t want us.” Yes, there are spiritual battles above and cultural conflicts around the globe. But here in Salem the Church Community is valued, respected and sought-after. Our secular neighbors and public officials are asking us—pleading with us—to come help hurting kids, families and neighborhoods. God has opened the door.

Will we go through? Or complain about past snubs?

Again, you don’t have to take on every need . . . just find one person, close by, and help them. If you are a business, see how you can positively invest in the district around your address. If you’re a church, open up your building (as many have done) or go to the nearest school and ask: “How can we help?”

There are now 40 to 50 churches (out of 180) doing ‘significant servanthood’ in Salem-Keizer. Some are Churches as Neighborhood (CaN) Centers. Others partner with neighborhood schools for reading, after-school and mentoring programs.

Some churches host homeless families through the Interfaith Hospitality Network, and others build affordable homes through Habitat for Humanity. More and more are getting involved in Foster Care and helping families with loved ones in prison.

I have a dream. Some say I’m crazy. I believe that one day Salem will be known as the “healthiest community in Oregon.”

I believe we will be the City of Shalom; the place of peace and well-being. We can get there if everyone will just serve their neighbors. Especially those who claim to know the Savior, who personally commanded us to “Go and do Likewise.”

What’s Your Neighborhood?

Sam Skillern is the Executive Director of the Salem Leadership Foundation. He lives in the Grant-Highland district of North Salem and, with his wife Jennifer, actively volunteers at Grant and Highland Schools, Salem Alliance Church, and many community partnerships. A Salem native and a Young Lifer in the ‘70s, Skillern graduated from Oregon State University in 1982 with a degree in Journalism.

authors MARK DRISCOLL & GERRY BRESHEARS

Real people. Real sin.

Transformed lives. A compilation of heartfelt letters written from a pastor to his people that explains Jesus’ work on the cross.

Death by Love is a unique book on the cross of Jesus Christ. While many books debate the finer points of the doctrine of the atonement, what is often lost are the real-life implications of Jesus’ death on the cross for those who have sinned and have been sinned against. Written in the form of pastoral letters, Death by Love outlines the twelve primary effects of Jesus’ death on the cross and connects each to the life of a different individual.

Driscoll, one of America’s most influential pastors, and Breshears, a respected theologian, help readers understand, appreciate, and trust in Jesus’ work on the cross in a way that will transform their lives. Both deeply theological and intensely practical, this book shows how everyone can find hope through the death of Jesus Christ.

SPECTACULAR SINS author JOHN PIPER

John Piper delivers powerful biblical reassurances to bolster readers’ trust in the sovereignty of God and the supremacy of Christ when evil and tragedy come.

If God governs the sinful acts of men, then does the devastation caused by those terrorists, dictators, murderers, cheats, and abusers discredit Jesus’ words: “All authority in heaven and earth belongs to me�? When heart-rending news comes of the latest accident, illness, or natural disaster, can we really believe that in Jesus, “all things hold together�?

Though God has not answered all of our questions about sin and suffering, there are things he wants us to know, things he declares in his Word— such as what’s at stake in the “spectacular� sins of others and the horrible tragedies of this life; their global purpose, both historically and today; and what these events say to us personally.

This book will bolster readers’ trust in the utter sovereignty of God.

4

DEATH

BY LOVE

4

4

BOOK REVIEWS

THE FINE LINE

author KARY OBERBRUNNER

Jesus prayed a bold prayer to his Father hours before going to the cross. He pleaded that his followers would be “in the world, but not of it.�

Although this short phrase sounds simple enough, it’s laced with tension.

Certain times throughout history Christians avoided this tension and the church and the world suffered because of it. Other times Christians ventured into the unknown—celebrating the tension instead of suppressing it.

Every generation must answer the most basic ethical question of the Christian faith, “What does it mean to be in the world, but not of it?�

Answering correctly yields relevance, something the world deeply desires, but rarely sees. The Fine Line re-envisions what it means to integrate Christianity with culture.

We all have questions. It just depends upon whether or not we’re honest enough to admit it.

Author Kary Oberbrunner is your tour guide through the tension and into life on the Fine Line.

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i became a Christian and all i got was this

lousy t-shirt

My parents never took me to church.

Not once.

That might have something to do with the fact that my mother is Jewish and my father a professional gambler, but regardless, growing up I knew nothing of God, Jesus, or Christianity; as far as I know, I never even met a Christian.

I first heard about Jesus as a college sophomore in Buffalo, New York.

It was Easter morning. I was waiting for my chronically late girlfriend to show up at my dorm room so we could go out for brunch. I turned on the TV. We had only three channels, and each one featured a dumb religious show.

I would have turned it back off, but one of these shows looked potentially comical. An old man sat, or sunk really, into a big, red-leather chair. Questions flooded my mind: How old is this guy? Is he going to live through this program? Had he become physically incapable of getting out of that chair?

Shouldn’t someone help him?

Then Old Man spoke, “We’ve been studying the last week of Jesus Christ’s life. Today we’re going to talk about . . .” He named something, but I don’t remember what. “Now most scholars believe,” he continued, “that this event happened on Tuesday of Jesus’ last week, but today I will prove to you through the evidence that it actually occurred on Wednesday of Jesus’ last week.”

I mulled this over for some time. Finally I decided: yes, this was the stupidest thing I had ever heard. I didn’t know a thing about Jesus, but Tuesday or Wednesday? About something that happened thousands of years ago? If it happened at all? C’mon! I turned off the TV in disgust.

My girlfriend knocked on the door.

We left for brunch.

But I could not stop thinking about Old Man. Why did he care if it happened on Tuesday or Wednesday? What did he mean by “evidence”? Did anyone help him get out of that chair?

That night I was sitting in my girlfriend’s dorm room when I noticed a Bible on the shelf. “You have a Bible?” I asked. “Can I borrow it?”

“Someone gave that to me years ago. I’ve never opened it. You can have it,” she scoffed.

That night I began reading. I had never touched a Bible. I expected it to be organized like my TV Guide—by day and time—because of the Tuesday or Wednesday debate that was apparently tearing up Christianity. I also assumed it would read like a tall tale: “Once upon a time there was a man named Jesus, who could walk on water. He had a blue ox named Babe and could lasso a tornado!”

I was surprised by what I found. The Bible was full of historical accounts, and then I realized there would be evidence. I knew I could prove or disprove the Bible.

As I continued to read I discovered the Bible’s outlandish claim that there was a God who loved me and sent Jesus for me. I learned that this God allegedly wanted a relationship with me and that he promised real and eternal life through Jesus.

And I encountered the followers of Jesus. I saw how the people who followed Jesus were fully alive, how they were consumed by the adventure of following Jesus. The passion and danger and excitement and joy of their new lives popped off of every page.

And I knew that I had to know: Is it true or a hoax? Did this actually happen? Is life like that really possible? Or did I just read a well-concocted fairy tale?

After months of reading and researching the Bible, I became convinced that it was true.

And I found myself drawn to Jesus. I didn’t want to, but I couldn’t help

By Vince Antonucci

it. He was the coolest person I had ever come across. His character, his personality, his sense of humor, his sense of mission, his priorities, the way he was so subversive.

I still didn’t know any Christians but decided I wanted to be one. Actually, that’s an understatement. It wasn’t just that I decided to become a Christian; it was like Jesus invaded my heart. I realized my entire life had been wrong, but God loved me anyway and was offering me a second chance. I had a grace explosion. I was wrecked.

Summer came and I decided to flee Buffalo and visit my father in Florida. He had just gotten out of prison (for embezzling money from Ted Williams, the famous baseball player, but that’s another story). I told my dad that I had decided to become a Christian, though I had never met one. He was a little taken aback. After collecting his thoughts, he told me about a pastor who had visited him in jail, and wondered would I like to meet him. That night the pastor and I met and the next day I was baptized.

Before the water had evaporated from my skin, the pastor asked me, “So, where will you go to church when you get back home?”

I gave him my best Gary Coleman “What’chu talkin’ ’bout, Willis?” look and said, “I haven’t really thought about going to church. I don’t think church is for me.”

He claimed that church was for everyone and gave me the name and number of a minister friend in Buffalo. “He’s a good guy. Give him a call.”

Back in Buffalo

I stared at my phone. The idea of going to church weirded me out. I was so nervous my fingers trembled as I dialed.

I had to start and stop about four times. Finally there was a ring, and a kind female voice answered on the other end. I asked to speak to the pastor, and she informed me that he wasn’t there.

“Oh,” I said, disappointed.

“What’s the matter?” she asked.

“Well, I’m supposed to come to church this Sunday.”

“He will be here on Sunday,” she answered. “Why don’t you come and you can meet him then?”

“But how will I get in?”

“How will you get in?” She sounded confused.

“Yes, how will I get in?” I asked again.

“Do you mean how will you get here? I can give you directions.”

“No,” I responded, “how will I get in?”

“How will you get in?” she echoed.

I was starting to get angry. “Yes, how will I get in? I don’t have an invitation. I haven’t signed up, or—or anything.”

Silence.

Finally she replied, “Well, you just walk in. Just show up and walk in.”

This didn’t make sense to me. Just show up and walk in? You couldn’t just show up at a college and expect to participate in a class. A boy can’t just show up at Cub Scouts without taking a three-finger pledge. Just show up and walk in?

I took a deep breath and resolved to speak slowly and gently. “So, what you’re trying to tell me . . . is that I can drive to your church on Sunday . . . get out of my car . . . walk up to the door . . . and just . . . walk in.”

“Yes, that is what I told you,” she said. “Just show up and walk in.”

“But . . . that’s the strangest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“And you,” she responded, “are the strangest person I’ve ever talked to.”

Continued on page 17 RETHINKMONTHLY.COM_11

MAKE A CHOICE. TAKE A STAND.

There is a silent and deadly problem in this world that kills more people every year than any form of violence or disease. It does not discriminate against age, gender or ethnicity, but claims the lives of nearly thousands every day. This silent killer is contaminated water.

If you knew that the water you were giving to your child was slowly killing them, would you continue to hand them a cup? What if you or your child had to walk miles every day in harsh, unbearable conditions, worrying about being attacked by wild animals or rebels, just to fetch contaminated water? Would you sacrifice your life? For millions of people in the developing world, this is their daily reality.

On any given day, women and children in the developing world will spend their entire day collecting water for their family’s needs. Also on that day, more than 13,000 people will die from water-related diseases, and 6,000 of them will be children.

Water is a health problem. According to the World Health Organization, more than 1.1 billion people in the world lack access to an improved, clean source of water. More than 2.6 billion people—half of the developing world—live without basic sanitation. While you read this article, a child will die every 15 seconds from contaminated water. In fact, more than 80 percent of the world’s diseases can be attributed to unsafe water sources, sanitation and hygiene.

Water is an economic problem. An estimated 40 billion working hours are spent carrying water each year in Africa.

Most of the developing world is living on less than $1 a day.

Their perpetual poverty only worsens when their source of water is a lake, river, stream, pond or mud hole. Such sources may provide the necessary amount of water to survive, but they also subject people to contaminants and both waterborne and waterrelated diseases. Unimproved sources of water cause illness. Illness not only costs money to treat, but prevents productivity and thus, sustains an impoverished lifestyle. Access to clean water, adequate sanitation and health education could be the determining agent to break the cycle of poverty.

Water is an education problem. Young girls are often prevented from attending school because they must travel great distances to retrieve water for their families. If their communities are provided with a clean source of water, these girls will spend less time retrieving water and have more time to receive an education. Clean water can revolutionize a family, community or a nation. It can be the difference between a young girl receiving an education or not.

Water is also a woman’s problem. In many developing countries, women and their daughters bear the primary burden in collecting water to sustain their families. Women must maintain the household, which means taking care of children, cooking and cleaning—all of which require water.

We can do something about this, and spreading awareness about the world water crisis is a start.

Find more facts and steps on how you can make a difference on pages 14-15.

think global. start local.

12_RETHINK MONTHLY

two dollars & thirty minutes

By Kate Phillips

Two dollars and thirty minutes stood between the people of Koro Abili and clean water.

That’s what it would have cost in US dollars and labor to replace the broken chain on their hand pump.

My stomach knotted as Leo—a resident of Koro Abili— explained what had happened. The pump had been broken for months. His voice failed him as he showed us all he had done to fix it. The desperation in his eyes forced me to turn mine away. I couldn’t handle it, and I couldn’t help him.

I have never felt so powerless in my life. The laughter of the children around me served as a release. Koro is home to hundreds of Northern Ugandans, forced off of their land by a horrific multi-decade conflict. These children were targeted in the village raids that have them growing up in rows of tiny huts on Leo’s family plot. Their parents were gone during the day, which left them entirely unprotected. Many of their mothers were gone because they were walking miles every day—past the broken pump—to gather water. Two dollars and thirty minutes stood between the children of Koro Abili and their mothers.

We have water shortages here in the United States. We have droughts. We have all had to do our part at one time or another to preserve this precious and life giving resource for one another. But I have never seen thirst as I have in the places I have traveled to with Living Water International. I have held a child as she nearly fainted in the African heat, whispering the word for water in her native tongue. I have drilled in a village mourning the loss of a two year old that drowned in their former water source. And I stood in Koro while Leo desperately showed us what he had done to fix that broken pump. The problem is very real. The reality is very heavy. But the solution is here.

I looked on as Leo, with his toothless grin, oversaw the well rehabilitation. Ugandan drillers with LWI had come from Lira, a nearby town, to fix the pump at Koro. A woman grabbed my hand, and declared in the only English she knew, “We are very happy!” Another let out a shrill cry reserved for celebration in Acholi culture. And this was something to celebrate.

They won’t be walking for water any more. And this was not the only well LWI would be fixing in Koro. Now, Leo knows exactly who to call if the water ever stops flowing from these pumps again.

As the story of “the woman at the well,” from John chapter 4, was told in Koro that day—in English and in two dialects of Luo—I heard it with new ears. Jesus had an impact on the life of this woman and her village because of what he knew, and who he is. He knew what was wrong, and he was the resource that could fix it. I care so much for the people in Koro, and the people around the world who are thirsty—for water and for him.

To have an impact like Jesus, you have to know the problem, and you have to be a part of his solution. Two dollars and thirty minutes were what stood in the way that day. Let’s be sure that our money and our time are never the things that stand between a person and a cup of clean, safe water in Jesus’ name.

14_RETHINK MONTHLY

You can do something.

We have been compelled to do something about pov-

erty and injustice. We need your voice, your talents, your creativity, your compassion and your willingness to step out of your comfort zone. We need to you think global and start local.

Start a campaign at church, at college, at home or at school. Find out how by visiting www.bloodwatermission.com.

Help build a well. Make water your only beverage for just 2 weeks. For those 2 weeks, take the money you would usually spend on soda, juice, coffee, milk, etc., and collect it in a your favorite mug or cup. Then go to www.1000wells.com to find out where to send your funds.

Advocate. Raise awareness is Oregon’s midWillamette valley by contacting local government officials. You can find contact information at www.vote-smart.org.

the facts.

1.1 billion very important people lack access to clean water - approximately one in six people on personally, are they reearth. (Although we don’t knowallythem less valuable than we are?)

Every 15 seconds, a child dies from a water-related disease.

Less than 1% of the world’s fresh water (about 0.007% of all water on earth) is readily accessible for direct human use.

think global. start local.

88 percent of all diseases are caused by unsafe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene.

1.8 million children die each year from diarrhea – 4,900 each day.

The water and sanitation crisis claims more lives through disease than any war claims through guns.

RETHINKMONTHLY.COM_15

FROM OREGON TO AROUND THE WORLD

afghanistan I want to introduce you to someone. Her name is Shamuel, and she is the woman in the photo. Her daily bread is earned through begging at this corner. The first day I caught a glimpse of her I took this photo from a safe distance. Something inside me knew I had to get closer. I waited days...and my heart of love for her grew and grew. I had to know her name, her story...Was she old? Crippled?

Young? What did she look like under that worn burqa? To me she was a hidden treasure I had to search out.

One day, our team was returning from distributing food and Shamuel was sitting at the corner like usual. We had some leftover sugar that wasn’t given away, so we stopped the van and I jumped out with Ziyoda, our translator. Something came over me as I walked towards her....LOVE. I could feel it, my heart was pounding. I knew God had a reason she was so heavily on my heart. I greeted her as an old friend. As I crouched down, she extended her hand and pulled me in for three kisses on the cheek, followed by a hug. This woman was so special... How could I feel like this without even knowing her? We talked for a while and made plans for me to return again tomorrow. I couldn’t wait.

The following day one of my team members and I packed up pilau (rice with raisins, carrots, and meat) and some nan (bread) and took Ziyoda with us to meet Shamuel again. This time she wasn’t at her corner. We found a neighbor who was also giving food to Shamuel and she directed us to where she lived. Shamuel rented a small room among neighbors who lived outdoors under tarps. It was really shabby and run down. Her landlord took the food from us and promised to give it to her. “I’ve heard about 16_RETHINK MONTHLY

By Pete & Johanna Lessing you,” he said, “She told us you gave her some sugar yesterday.”

Being confident it was the right place, we left knowing she would recognize that we did pursue her and keep our word to visit.

Over the next few weeks I continued to meet with Shamuel.

We brought her food and I was even able to give her my burqa. I persisted in asking about her life story through Ziyoda and found out she was a widow, she had a son who died, and had a daughter who was too poor to take care of her or to even see her regularly.

Her rent is 500 Afghanis a month ($10 USD) the money for which she begged each day. Diane and I prayed for her. This blessed us greatly.

We prayed that He would touch her stomach problem, and that He would graft in many sons and daughters into her life. Shamuel later told me that when I first met her and gave her sugar, it was like giving her a fattened sheep; it affected her profoundly.

On the day we said our good-byes, Shamuel told us we had become her daughters. She said she would always have daughters in America, and deep in my heart, I knew it was true.

Johanna, raised in Silverton, Oregon, married Pete Lessing after they met on a YWAM Discipleship Training Course. Their journey has led them to explore the “uttermost parts of the world” with YWAM’s PhotogenX team of photographers and missionaries. We’re excited to see their journey laid out for us every month on the pages of RETHINK Monthly. To find out more about Pete & Johanna, or see how you can get more involved both prayerfully and financially, visit their website:

i became a Christian and all i got was this lousy t-shirt (cont.)

Due to contractual obligations, we cannot publish the entire text online which is included in the print version of the October issue of RETHINK Monthly. We do, however, encourage you to purchase a copy of Vince Antonucci’s book, I BecameAChristian andAll I Got Was This Lousy T-shirt. It is a great book that we highly recommend.

You can purchase a copy at www.BakerPublishingGroup.com. Sorry for any inconvenience. If you wish to read the entire article, please pick up a copy of RETHINK Monthly’s October 2008 issue in the Salem, Keizer and surrounding areas.

Used by permission of Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, copyright © 2008. All rights to this material are reserved.

Materials are not to be distributed to other web locations for retrieval, published in other media, or mirrored at other sites without written permission from Baker Publishing Group.” http://www.BakerPublishingGroup.com Excerpt from “I Became a Christian And All I Got Was This Lousy T-shirt”

by Vince Antonucci. © 2008 Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

ISBN 978-0-8010-6818-8. Used by permission.

RETHINKMONTHLY.COM_17

father to the fatherless One day, an Australian seminary student met a teenager living on the streets of Melbourne and struck up a conversation. As he tried to share the Gospel, he asked pointedly, “What is God like?”

What a loaded question! The seminary student had one chance to share the Good News and felt pressured to come up with just the right answer. His mind raced. Reflecting on what he’d learned in his recent studies, he replied, “God is like a father.”

Without hesitation, the teenager snapped, “Well, if he’s anything like my old man, you can have him,” and walked away. Later, the student learned from a social worker that the boy’s father had repeatedly beaten his mother and raped his sister. The word “father” had dredged up all kinds of emotions and terrible memories, and the door to sharing the Gospel had been slammed shut.

This story vividly illustrates the relationship between the impressions left on us by our earthly fathers and our perceptions of God. Because this teenager had a bad experience with his own father, he was unable to grasp the goodness, kindness, and loving nature of the heavenly Father.

Ideally, our experiences with our fathers should point us to the heart of a greater Father who loves us more than any earthly father ever could. Unfortunately, this is not usually the case. Maybe you’ve felt the sting of a clenched fist or recall the haunting, cruel words of a childhood incident. Maybe you never heard your father say, “I love you.” Countless people have told me, “I have no problem believing Jesus loves me, but I can’t seem to relate to God as my Father.” More often 18_RETHINK MONTHLY

By SJ Hill

than not, they were emotionally or physically abused while growing up, or their fathers were never there for them. If you’ve had a bad experience with your father, it may not be easy to relate—consciously or subconsciously—to God as your Father.

What do you think God is like?

How do you perceive Him? The Affirming Father Many of us grew up in homes that were performancedriven. Our fathers may have only expressed approval after he thought we’d accomplished something of significance.

The pat on the back, the words “Well done!” or an extra long embrace were only given after we had excelled in something like education, sports, music, or employment. While our achievements should have been recognized and celebrated, they should never have been a prerequisite for receiving our father’s love and affirmation.

This performance-oriented mentality eventually spills over into our Christian lives. Initially as young believers, we may sense God’s unconditional love and enjoy the simplicity of relationship with Christ, but it’s not long before we think we aren’t doing enough. This mindset ingrained in us from childhood rears its ugly head and starts haunting us again. It suggests to us that we can’t run hard enough, chase God fast enough, pray enough, serve enough, or be in church enough.

But our heavenly Father never bases His love and affirmation of us on what we do for Him—His acceptance is completely unconditional. You can’t do anything to win His

approval. He loves you fully, and that will never change because you are in Christ. And grace can never be repaid. It carries no price tag – not because it’s worthless, but because it’s priceless.

Merely disciplining ourselves in Christian practices will never produce lasting joy in our lives. Too many of us are doing things out of duty rather than delight. We’re praying and reading our Bibles out of routine rather than enjoying our relationship with God. We live with continual guilt, feeling that we aren’t doing enough for Him. We try to get up early every morning and spend quality time with Him, but it’s never enough. We memorize Scripture and witness to everything that breathes, but always come away feeling we haven’t accomplished enough. We’re consumed with a fear of punishment for not measuring up.

We have been programmed to believe that our success in life is based on what we do.

But what is our Father’s view of success? The Scriptures clearly reveal that what makes a man or woman successful is not what they do; true success is being loved by God and being lovers of God. Psalm 18:35 says, “You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great” (NIV).

What makes our lives valuable? It’s God’s extravagant love for us—not our accomplishments. Our worth is defined by the fact that He created us for Himself; He doesn’t want our efforts as much as He wants us. He certainly does enjoy what we do for Him. But most of all, He enjoys us!

The Approachable Father Some of us also had fathers who were overly strict and stern. They placed demands on us that often broke our spirits, ruling the home with a mixture of fear and guilt. Instead of offering love and affirmation, they may have continually pointed out our faults and mistakes—perhaps thinking they would motivate us to “try harder.”

If you grew up with a dad who was demanding or abusive, you may have difficulty receiving your heavenly Father’s love; you may tend to think He’s always looking for some fault in you. As a result, it may be hard for you to picture Him smiling over you in loving approval and acceptance.

Like a beaten puppy, you may actually be afraid of God, assuming He’s just like the other authority figures in your life.

But you must realize that He is different from any other authority figure you’ve ever known. He isn’t perpetually angry with you or just putting up with you; He enjoys you even in your struggles.

I’ve been blessed with two sons. When they were babies, they couldn’t communicate with me. They couldn’t even play golf with me. All they did was eat, sleep, and make messes.

But I loved them intensely! Now that they are adults, I don’t love them any more than I did when they were babies. They were just in a different season of their lives.

1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.

The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (NIV). Do you get the message? God is not an authoritarian Father. He doesn’t want you shrinking back in fear or apprehension of Him. The true fear of the Lord is not a tormenting fear or an emotional fear. It’s not even a fear of punishment in this life or the life to come. The fear of God is the sense of awe we experience when we’re brought face to face with the transcendent (unequaled, surpassing, matchless) splendor and beauty

of who He is and the incredible love that He has for us. It is this awe and reverence that can bring us close to the Father’s heart and lead us into a life of spiritual and emotional wholeness.

Because of our past experiences, many mistake divine correction for divine rejection. But the Father’s correction is deeply rooted in His affections for us. While He may be displeased with a certain area in our lives, He is not displeased with us as individuals—as Proverbs 3:12 says, “the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in” (NIV). Although He sees the undeveloped areas of our character, He also hears the willing cry of our spirits. As we set our hearts on loving and obeying Him, He will make adjustments in our lives until we come to maturity.

The Affectionate Father In 1996, Christopher Robin Milne died in England. You may recognize the name. His father was the famed children’s author A. A. Milne, who named the lead human character in his Winnie-thePooh books after his son.

But according to Milne’s tragic obituary, his father spent little time with him. He was too busy making other children laugh and smile through his writings to take time for his own son. Christopher died in his 70s, hating his world-renowned father because he failed to live the kind of life he depicted in his books.

Like the younger Milne, a lot of us grew up with passive fathers. They seemed distant and rarely got involved in our personal lives. They weren’t very affectionate and rarely showed any emotion. So we have difficulty understanding God as our Father, because we view Him as distant and aloof. Our earthly fathers never expressed their love and affection for us or spent quality time with us. They didn’t seem to notice our joys, our sorrows, our struggles, or our successes. This has led us to believe that God doesn’t care about the details of our lives. We then find ourselves running to Him only in an emergency. Our relationship with Him never deepens or becomes intimate because, in the back of our minds, we fear that God is not really interested in us.

But just the opposite! You are special to Him. There has never been another human being quite like you, and there never will be.

You make Him smile. You make Him laugh. The Bible even says you make Him sing for joy. Whether you understand that or not doesn’t stop God from responding to you in this way.

He looks at you and grins. You are your Father’s unique boy or girl, bringing Him pleasure and delight in a way no one else ever could. He loves your freckles and funky-shaped toes—and He loves your heart. He loves you when you’re awake, vibrant, and full of life. And He loves you just as much when you’re down, struggling, and lethargic. He even loves you when you’re sleeping. He loves you when wake up—even with morning breath and “sleep” tucked in the corners of your eyes. He can’t wait to hear your first thoughts. He looks forward to accompanying you throughout the day and talking with you. He loves watching you enjoy His creation. He smiles when you look at the mountains, sea, or sky and think of Him. Just being with you is enough.

The truth is, God really likes you. In fact, He enjoys you.

You may not think you measure up, but He does. He isn’t tolerating you. He isn’t waiting for you to become more mature in your Christian walk; He loves you right where you are, even in your weakness and immaturity. He’s not keeping a record of your mistakes or the times you blew it. Thanks to the gracious act of His Son, He sees you perfectly redeemed!

S.J. Hill is a gifted teacher and leader in the Body of Christ with over 37 years of experience in the ministry. S.J. has authored four books: BURNING DESIRE, ENJOYING GOD, PERSONAL REVIVAL, and GOD’S COVENANT OF HEALING. He and his wife, Pam, are the parents of two sons, Jonathan and Lance.

RETHINKMONTHLY.COM_19

IN THE MOVIES

Fireproof is a product of the team who brought us Facing the Giants, a film produced with a budget of merely $100,000 that went on to gross $15,000,000.

In this new film Kirk Cameron plays Caleb Holt, a fire chief in Albany, Georgia. While he is loved by the men who work for him and regarded as a hero in his town, Caleb struggles in his relationship with his wife, Catherine. After seven years of marriage it seems that the relationship is growing cold. Caleb finds solace in looking at pornography on the Internet while Catherine finds herself in a growing relationship with a colleague. As the couple begins to steel themselves for a divorce, and as they begin the process of ending their marriage, Caleb’s father presents him with a book and challenges him to begin a 40-day experiment he calls “The Love Dare.” Caleb decides to give it a shot, though he does so more to respect his father than to salvage his failing marriage. Struggling to show love for his wife even as she continually rejects him, Caleb calls his father and asks, “How am I supposed to show love to someone who constantly rejects me?”

This gives his father an opportunity to share the gospel with him and, armed with the reality of a new love, Caleb sets out to win back his wife’s heart.

I can be excused, I think, for entering the theater somewhat apprehensively. After all, Christians do not have the greatest track record when it comes to combining great spiritual truths with sound art. But in the case of Fireproof I was pleasantly surprised. The film, though produced with a limited budget compared to most of what we see on the big screen, is very well put together. There are really no occasions where I feel a bigger budget might have improved the film, and this despite a couple of extended action sequences where I would almost expect to see quality compromised by budget restrictions. This is clearly not the case.

This is not to say the movie is without blemish. There are a few occasions when the dialog becomes just a bit stiff or stilted and this is especially true in the film’s opening moments. There are a couple of 20_RETHINK MONTHLY

FIREPROOF

times when I feel that portions of the script could have done with just a little bit more tweaking or when a scene could have benefited from just one more take. Also, I feel that a handful of the minor characters are too weak, either through lack of development or through sub-par acting. But these are really the only downsides worth mentioning. (Is it worth mentioning that everyone in the town has a good Georgia accent except for Caleb? How is it that his father and mother both have that southern drawl and he doesn’t?)

Kirk Cameron is very solid in the lead role and was a great choice for it. He is strong throughout and at key moments, when given the chance to shine, is outstanding. Erin Bethea, who plays opposite Cameron as Catherine Holt is also very good, and this despite Fireproof being her first major movie role (and only her second role overall).

Caleb’s father is excellent as a wise, loving, pastoral father. The prominent characters develop well and I found myself genuinely drawn into the story. While the movie deals with difficult and serious themes, it does not take itself so seriously that it cannot pause for a few laughs now and again.

One thing I like to evaluate in Christian movies is whether the film inserts faith themes subtly or blatantly. In the case of Fireproof the person who watches this film will walk away with absolutely no doubt that it is a Christian movie. Faith figures prominently and the gospel is clearly presented. Sinful actions and decisions are shown to have negative consequences and are eventually rebuked. While “The Love Dare” is used to draw Caleb back to his wife, it is clear that this is merely an instrument used by God to do His work. This movie is Christian by any measure. It sweeps to an ending that is powerful and emotional, stirring to tears at least several of the people in the theater with us.

I enjoyed Fireproof and am excited to know that a film with such a good message will be debuting on hundreds or thousands of screens across America. It is a refreshing film with a refreshing message that speaks boldly to a culture infatuated with immorality and convinced that divorce is freedom. I am grateful for this film and pray for its success.

Tim Challies, a self-employed web designer, is a pioneer in the Christian blogosphere, having one of the most widely read and recognized Christian blogs. He is also editor of Discerning Reader, a site dedicated to offering thoughtful reviews of books that are of interest to Christians.

COMING SOON TO DVD THE HAPPENING Releases October 7

It begins with no clear warning. It seems to come out of nowhere. In a matter of minutes, episodes of strange, chilling deaths that defy reason and boggle the mind in their shocking destructiveness, erupt in major American cities. What is causing this sudden, total breakdown of human behavior? Is it some kind of new terrorist attack, an experiment gone wrong, a diabolical toxic weapon, an out-of-control virus? Is it being transmitted by air, by water... how?

THE VISITOR

Releases October 7 In a world of six billion people, it only takes one to change your life. In actor and filmmaker Tom McCarthy’s follow-up to his award winning directorial debut “The Station Agent,” Richard Jenkins stars as Walter Vale, a disillusioned Connecticut economics professor whose life is transformed by a chance encounter in New York City. Through new found connections with virtual strangers, Walter is awakened to a new world and a new life.

THE PIRATES WHO DON’T DO ANYTHING Releases October 14 A beloved VeggieTales pals embarks on a fun and fresh pirate adventure! Larry the Cucumber, Mr. Lunt and Pa Grape find themselves on the ride of their lives when they are mysteriously whisked back to the time when pirates ruled the high seas. As they help a brave princess rescue her brother from a dastardly pirate villain, they battle evil Cheese Curls, giant rock monsters and their own fears and become the most unlikely heroes you’ve ever seen. It’s a swashbuckling good time for the whole family!

INDIANA JONES / CRYSTAL SKULL Releases October 14

When we last saw Indiana Jones on screen, it was 1938, and the world stood on the brink of war as Dr. Jones chased down evildoers to find the Holy Grail.

Nineteen years later, he’s cracking his whip again, and many things have changed but some have remained the same. Again, the world is at a precipice, this time caused by the specter of nuclear annihilation, and Indy’s struggle is once again to ensure that a precious, mysterious object remains safe from those bent on destroying humanity.

SHREK THE THIRD Releases November 4

When Fiona’s father and King of Far Far Away passes away, the clumsy Shrek becomes the immediate successor of the throne. However, Shrek decides to find the legitimate heir Artie in a distant kingdom with his friends Donkey and Puss in Boots to be able return to his beloved house in the swamp with the pregnant Fiona.

Meanwhile, the envious and ambitious Prince Charming joins the villains of the fairytales plotting a coup d’état to become the new king.

We mean business.

Advertise right here.

www.rethinkmonthly.com

It’s my job to finance the house you want.

THE OMEGA

THE SAFETY DANCE Fear seems to be all around us and it’s a very powerful thing.

It can convince someone to give up their money, their possessions–even their rights. Whether it’s the threat of terrorism, a break-in during the night or injuries from a car accident, people want to feel they are safe.

In the name of security, people will pay tremendously high prices and do some extraordinary things. We look to alarm companies to protect our homes, car manufacturers for the latest safety devices, the government to protect us from subway bombings and anthrax and our stock portfolios to protect us from economic collapse. Some people even buy guns in an attempt to feel safer. But in the end, do these things really make us feel better? Sometimes they do for a little while, but ultimately, even the toughest security measures can’t provide absolute protection. We simply live in a dangerous world.

Psalm 18:2 says, “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (TNIV).

If you check a concordance, you’ll find that the Bible refers to God as a “rock” several times. A rock is so simple, yet it’s one of the main ways God has chosen to reveal Himself to us. And this is great theology. People may scratch their heads when you say God is omnipotent or that He exists in three Persons, but everyone understands rocks.

A good rock doesn’t move; it’s strong and secure. It provides protection from the elements and can be used as a defense against potential enemies. By identifying Himself as a rock, God is saying that true security can only be found in Him; everything else is just an illusion. Why, then, do we still worry? And why does it seem that God sometimes allows harm to come to those who are under His protection?

I think of Stephen in the book of Acts. We read that he was “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5) and that he was chosen as one of the first deacons in the early Church.

He was a man of incredible wisdom and he performed many 22_RETHINK MONTHLY

By John Greco

signs and miracles. So, here’s a guy that was completely sold out for Jesus, yet God allowed him to be stoned to death as one of the first Christian martyrs.

Most people would look at his story and ask where God’s protection went. Where was the Rock when Stephen was being killed? Yet, when I read his story, I am struck by the fact that Stephen was a man without fear. His peace was so firm that his last words were a prayer for those who were stoning him!

I think Stephen had peace because he understood the true nature of God’s security. God did not say that He would provide a rock of protection that we could hide behind, that would keep us out of harm’s way. No, He said that He is the very Rock to which we are to cling, even in the middle of a tragedy. Security is not something God offers; it is part of God’s very nature. And if we are resting in Him, we have that security no matter what happens to us. That’s because nothing–not even death–can separate us from God’s love.

This is not what most people want to hear, though. We’d like to think that God will keep us from hardship, from injury and from death. And I think He does. In fact, I don’t think we’ll truly know just how many times God has provided for us and protected us from earthly dangers until we are in His presence. Still, this doesn’t change the fact that God sometimes allows bad things to happen to His people.

Our peace comes from where our security lies. There’s nothing wrong with taking common-sense measures to be safe–that’s just part of godly wisdom–but true peace can be found only when we are resting in God’s love and nothing else seems to matter.

A graduate of Gordon College, John Greco is currently pursuing an M.Div. from GordonConwell Theological Seminary. He also teaches a high-school Bible course part time. Connect with John on his website, www.john-greco.blogspot.com.

MORE YOM

We caught up with the band More Yom, straight from Oregon’s beautiful but not so sunny coast. Their passion for music is so strong that, after listening, it’ll make you a believer.

CONNECT @ WWW.MOREYOM.COM

RETHINK MONTHLY: HOW DID MORE YOM COME TOGETHER? MORE YOM: Christian musicians living on the Oregon coast are a paltry and heterogeneous breed. Thus, band members consisted of whoever was interested and could play. So, More Yom has had quite a few members along the way and has evolved into what it is.

Help with the move?

YOU GUYS DO A GREAT JOB OF INFUSING RAGGAE AND ROCK - SOMETHING THAT TAKES A SPECIAL TALENT. IS THIS INTENTIONAL OR DOES IT JUST COME NATURAL? Actually I think raggae is just one sound that came out because we listen to a lot of it. We also lend our ears to jazz and be-bop, funk, punk, new wave, folk and hip-hop music. I think that when Chris played with us he added a lot to the raggae vibe with his happy guitar lines.

Well, that’s another story.

HOW DOES YOUR MUSIC COLLIDE WITH YOUR FAITH? With the exception of two songs (Beautiful & My Angel), the works of More Yom so far are concerned with working out our own salvation with fear and trembling (and sometimes whining).

As such, it may not always adhere to most folk's view of praise or worship music, or even make sense to everyone, but it is our way of praising, worshiping, ministering and hopefully galvanizing our audience to action in their own lives. These things, however, are not why we play but a byproduct of our playing. We play because the Lord has planted it in us and we are drawn to play the music we love.

IF THERE WAS AN OVERALL THEME YOU’D LIKE TO PORTRAY THROUGH YOUR MUSIC, WHAT DO YOU WANT IT TO BE? Given the last statement, I think we just want to play music that challenges us and that makes others look at things in a different light.

YOUR LATEST SINGLE, ONE GRAIN, ENDS WITH THE QUESTION: "CAN ONE GRAIN OF SAND CHANGE THE OCEAN?" AS WE LISTEN, WHAT MESSAGE WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEAVE US WITH? If you actually do what the Lord asks of you, and I actually do what the Lord asks of me, then...?

WHAT’S THE NEXT STEP FOR MORE YOM? Mike and I (Aaron) feel that we are supposed to move our music into a greater roll in our lives. We have had an amazingly hard year that, though physically and emotionally crushing, has brought about a surfeit of new music. We have enough new material for at least two albums, and are looking for the right producer to help us form the next project.

Nathan Knottingham 503-581-8100

ML-167

“Let’s Go to Work For You.”

Building Bridges.

Building Bridges. www.salemlf.org

Building Bridges. www.salemlf.org

www.salemlf.org sam@salemlf.org