I Still Believe
LOVE AND LOSS P.25
Help for Angie
A SAFE PLACE P.10
Fighting Addiction
ARMY HELPS P.12
Faith&Friends I N S P I R AT I O N F O R L I V I N G
faithandfriends.ca
APRIL 2020
Who Is This Man?
JESUS HAS BEEN DEPICTED IN EVERY CULTURE AND CORNER OF THE EARTH. BUT WHO IS HE? P.16
Need a Hand? Take a look at this hand. It’s the hand of a teacher, a healer, a saviour. It’s a gentle hand, calloused and a bit rough from working with wood perhaps, but a gentle hand nevertheless. But what sets it apart is the hole in it, made with thick nails and a heavy hammer. The hole was made in violence and hate, but was not received in kind. The hand isn’t balled up in a fist of
anger. Instead, it’s reaching out in forgiveness and love. To those who did this, who watched and jeered. To His followers and disciples, to the lost, the searching, those in need of hope. Reaching out to you. “ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”—Mark 10:45
To learn more about Jesus’ promise, visit our website at www.faithandfriends.ca or contact us at: The Salvation Army Editorial Department, 2 Overlea Blvd., Toronto ON M4H 1P4
April 2020
VOLUME 23 NUMBER 4
BEYOND BORDERS 5 Hope Among the Ashes
When bushfires in Australia forced Lauren Martin to evacuate, she witnessed how The Salvation Army helped and healed. GOD IN MY LIFE 8 Just the Way We Are
Diane Stark saw Jesus’ Easter message through the eyes of her son.
FEATURES
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COVER STORY
16
22
25
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SOMEONE CARES 10 A Safe Place
The Salvation Army helped Angie overcome her anxiety disorder.
“What’s Holding You Back?”
Addiction was destroying George Preston’s life, until an Army pastor posed a simple question.
Who Is This Man?
Jesus has been depicted in every culture and corner of the earth. But who is He?
Rocky’s Road
When all seemed dark, Sylvester Stallone’s faith helped him go the distance. FAITH BUILDERS 25 I Still Believe
In this new movie, a couple discover a faith worth living and dying for. LITE STUFF 28 Eating Healthy With Erin
Sudoku, Quick Quiz, Word Search. NIFTY THRIFTY 31 Egg-cellent Fun
Make your Easter extra special with a thrifted basket. faithandfriends.ca I APRIL 2020
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FROM THE EDITOR
Do You Know Him?
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esearching I Still Believe, the new movie about Christian musician and megastar Jeremy Camp, was more than an assignment for Jeanette Levellie. It built her own faith. “Reading and listening to interviews about how Jeremy struggled through loss, never shoving his pain under the rug but obeying God (writing songs and worshipping the Lord) in the midst of his pain, helped me see how all of us—famous or unknown—are in the same boat,” Jeanette says. “Sometimes when things go terribly wrong in my life,” Jeanette continues, “it’s tempting to think that God is punishing me for past sins. Then I look at Jeremy and his wife, Melissa. They put their trust—and their future—so fully in God’s hands that they believed He could use even the most horrible experience as a way to draw others to Him.” Jeanette needs this reminder when she goes through dark times. “God isn’t mad at me,” she says. “God is walking through it with me. That encourages me to stay faithful to Him and hope for a brighter future.” Read Jeanette’s review of I Still Believe on page 25. Easter is in April this year and our cover story is particularly apt. As the cover shows, we all have an idea of what Jesus looks like, but who was He, really? Writer Ingrid Barratt attempts to peel back the layers by showing that “the ability of Jesus to transcend culture, and yet fit within every culture, shows us that God really is with us.” Ingrid’s story is on page 16. Ken Ramstead
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Mission Statement To show Christ at work in the lives of real people, and to provide spiritual resources for those who are new to the Christian faith.
Faith & Friends is published monthly by: The Salvation Army 2 Overlea Blvd, Toronto Ontario, M4H 1P4 International Headquarters 101 Queen Victoria Street, London, EC4P 4EP, England William and Catherine Booth FOUNDERS
Brian Peddle, GENERAL Commissioner Floyd Tidd TERRITORIAL COMMANDER
Lt-Colonel John P. Murray SECRETARY FOR COMMUNICATIONS Geoff Moulton, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ken Ramstead, EDITOR
Brandon Laird SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Hannah Saley DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST Pamela Richardson, COPY EDITOR, PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR
Ada Leung CIRCULATION CO-ORDINATOR
Kristin Ostensen STAFF WRITER, PROOFREADER
Giselle Randall STAFF WRITER Scripture Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture references are taken from New International Version Contact Us P. (416) 467-3188, F. (416) 422-6217 Websites faithandfriends.ca, salvationist.ca, salvationarmy.ca Email faithandfriends@can.salvationarmy.org Subscription for one year: Canada $17 (includes GST/HST); U.S. $22; foreign $24 P. (416) 422-6119 circulation@can.salvationarmy.org All articles are copyright The Salvation Army Canada & Bermuda and cannot be reproduced without permission. Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064794 ISSN 1702-0131
Faith&Friends
BEYOND BORDERS
Finding Hope Among the Ashes When bushfires in Australia forced me to evacuate, I saw how The Salvation Army helped and healed. by Lauren Martin
God's Love in Action Salvation Army Emergency Services teams put their lives (and sleep) on hold
As a writer for The Salvation Army in Australia, Lauren Martin has spent many years reporting on the work that the organization does during emergencies and disasters. She’s visited fire-staging areas and evacuation centres and interviewed Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) crews feeding emergency services personnel and members of the public affected by floods, fires and other catastrophes. She writes with ease and confidence about how
Salvation Army personnel serve in times of crisis. But when she was personally impacted by the bushfire crisis on the South Coast of New South Wales, her awe and respect for the Salvation Army members who serve in these situations grew exponentially.
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n New Year’s Eve, my two children and I were staying at my parents’ home in the Batemans Bay region of New South
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BEYOND BORDERS
We saw water bombers intensify their efforts, the sky turned red ... and then black. Black as night. Wales. I woke in the early hours of the morning to the sound of howling winds and sticks and tree branches hitting the roof. A quick look at the New South Wales Rural Fire Service “Fires Near Me” app revealed a huge increase in fire activity that had pushed the blaze across the highway at Mogo to the south. Immediately, images of houses owned by friends in that area sprang to mind and a knot of dread began to form in the base of my stomach. Things escalated quickly. The sound of the fire and the highpitched whistle of the wind was unnerving. Sirens—lots of sirens— in every direction. Water-bombing aircraft and the constant calling and beeping of every mobile phone and device in the house. We decided to leave for a safer location. Four Simple Words Apart from the noise, the mental chatter was also deafening. Thoughts twitching every which way, as erratic as the wind on a fireground. What do I need to pack? I wonder how so-and-so is doing. How much food will we need to
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take? Gosh, those sirens sound close. Should we take bedding, or will we be back? The noise seemed intolerable, but the silence that followed was more unnerving. The wind stopped, then started to shift and do funny things. We saw a column of smoke charge across the Clyde River, like a wave. Phones were no longer going off. The streets became deserted, except for fire trucks with lights and sirens blaring. The sky started turning a strange colour. We saw water bombers intensify their efforts, the sky turned red ... and then black. Black as night. My kids were scared. What seemed like hours lasted only minutes and the sky began to clear again. Later that morning, convinced of my family’s safety, I got in my car and drove to the Batemans Bay evacuation centre to offer my assistance as a Salvation Army volunteer. The centre was overflowing with tension and heartache but, above all, goodwill. Ambulance personnel treated people, the Red Cross and government agencies were hard at work and the SAES volunteers
were serving lunch. With four simple words—“I’m here to help”—I was soon given a task. Help in the Darkest Hours I unloaded boxes of water and buttered bread, and listened to people’s stories of how the day had unfolded for them. Over the following two days, I watched the seasoned veterans of the SAES arrange meals and provide help for hundreds of people in a centre that at one stage had no power. I was overwhelmed by the sheer enormity of what the Army people juggle in such testing circumstances. And they do it with smiles, compassion and grace.
The community support kept rolling in. Different churches united in the relief efforts. Individuals and businesses emptied their freezers and donated meat. Chefs offered assistance and, at one stage, a man was handing out free ice cream to all the kids. The journalist in me took photos. I posted to Facebook and received numerous comments of support. But I’m just a bit-player in this scenario—the real heroes are the SAES teams that have been hard at it for months now, putting their lives (and sleep) on hold to support people in their darkest hours. Reprinted from Warcry (Australia), January 25, 2020
Help From Above A waterbomber helicopter helps smother the advancing flames
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GOD IN MY LIFE
Just the Way We Are I saw Jesus’ Easter message through the eyes of my son. by Diane Stark
Deal or No Deal? Diane Stark wasn’t buying what her son, Nathan, was selling
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“
om, can you help me make an eBay account?” my 10-year-old son, Nathan, asked. “Why do you want to get on eBay?” “I want to sell some of the toys I’ve outgrown.” I went into his room so he could show me the items he wanted to sell, but I quickly realized his plan was not a viable one. “Honey, this isn’t going to work,” I said. “These toys would cost more to ship than anyone is going to pay for them.” “Mom, this stuff is really valuable. It’s worth a lot of money.”
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“Nate, something is only worth as much as you can get someone to pay for it. I don’t think people are going to pay a lot for your used stuffed animals and puzzles.” Mirror, Mirror His shoulders slumped. “I’m so dumb. Why did I think this was a good idea?” “Nathan, you’re not dumb. I don’t want to hear you say that again.” “Why?” “Because the way we talk to ourselves is important. If we always tell ourselves we’re dumb, we start to believe it, and that impacts how we
feel about ourselves.” “But, Mom, yesterday when you forgot your keys, I heard you say, ‘Ugh, I’m such an airhead.’ Doesn’t that mean you think you’re dumb?” “I shouldn’t have said that.” “And a few days ago, I heard you say the word ‘fat’ when you looked in the mirror.”
wonderful, and He wouldn’t want us to talk to ourselves in a bad way.” “How do you know how God sees you?” “Remember what I said before about something only being worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it? Think about how much God paid for us.”
“If we always tell ourselves we’re dumb, we start to believe it, and that impacts how we feel about ourselves.” DIANE STARK Through His Eyes I sat down on the bed and patted the spot next to me. “I think we both need to work on how we talk to ourselves,” I said. “How do we do that?” “A good rule is not to say anything to yourself that you wouldn’t say to someone else. I would never tell someone else that they are fat or dumb, so I shouldn’t say that to myself, either. It’s a bad habit, and I need to break it to be a better example for you.” Nathan nodded. “I think it’s easy to think bad things about ourselves though.” “I agree. Maybe we need to see ourselves the way God sees us. He created us and He loves us so much. He doesn’t think we’re dumb.” “Does He think we’re fat?” I chuckled. “No, He thinks we’re
“He paid everything. He sent Jesus so we could go to heaven.” I nodded. “We have that much value in God’s eyes. He wanted to save us from our sin so badly that He was willing to sacrifice His Son for us. We’re worth that much to God.” “He must love us a lot.” “He does, and He doesn’t want us to feel bad about ourselves. If we can see ourselves through His eyes, we’ll treat ourselves more kindly.” Nathan was quiet for a minute. “So instead of not saying anything to ourselves that we wouldn’t say to someone else, let’s not say anything to ourselves that God wouldn’t say to us.” I nodded again. “I like that, Bud. Let’s talk to ourselves the way God would.” “Because He loves us just the way we are.”
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SOMEONE CARES
Photo: Antonioguillem/stock.Adobe.com
Faith&Friends
A Safe Place The Salvation Army helped Angie overcome her anxiety disorder. by Linda Leigh
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hen Angie’s husband left her for her best friend, she moved out and shut herself away from society for 12 years. “I couldn’t handle the hurt and devastation from my marriage breakup,” she says. “My home was the only place I felt safe until I walked through the doors of The Salvation Army.” “How Are You Doing?” For years, Angie suffered with ago-
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raphobia, an anxiety disorder that usually begins with a stressful event. As time passes, the extreme fear of being in public confines the person to their home, and they can’t live a normal life. “I felt unsafe and had panic attacks in any type of crowd,” says Angie. “I only left my house once a month to get groceries. Friends ran errands for me and my medications were delivered. I couldn’t do my job as a personal support worker. I’d hit
“ My home was the only place I felt safe until I walked through the doors of The Salvation Army.” ANGIE rock bottom.” Bills and lack of food became a constant stress for Angie. One day, she ventured across the street to The Salvation Army’s Manna Café in Gananoque, Ont., for a meal. The café is a bistro-style environment that allows the hungry to dine with dignity. “When I walked through the doors I was in a small space, surrounded by lots of people,” says Angie. “Sweat poured off my brow and tears trickled down my cheek. My heart was racing and I was breathless. I can’t do this, I thought. I turned to leave when a voice said, ‘How are you doing?’ ” A New Self-Confidence The voice belonged to Dave Harvey, executive director of the café. “I told Dave I was OK, but panicky,” Angie recalls. “You are in a safe place,” Dave
replied. “That meant everything to me,” she says. Angie continued to receive daily lunches at the café. After a month had passed, she was asked if she’d be interested in volunteering, serving tea, coffee and meals. “I wanted to volunteer but was embarrassed by my tattered clothes, worn boots and rotting teeth,” says Angie. “The Salvation Army provided me with clothes and shoes and helped me get my teeth fixed. I went from being broken and hopeless to feeling self-confident, safe and energized. “Finding, going to and volunteering at the café changed everything for me. When I get fully better I’m going to work in the Army’s family services. I have a soft spot for struggling people.” Reprinted from The Salvation Army Canada & Bermuda Annual Report 2018-19
(left) Linda Leigh is manager of communications at The Salvation Army’s territorial headquarters in Toronto.
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FEATURE
“ What’s Holding You Back?” ALCOHOL AND GAMBLING WERE DESTROYING GEORGE PRESTON’S LIFE, UNTIL A SALVATION ARMY PASTOR POSED A SIMPLE QUESTION. by Diane Stark
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eorge Preston and his wife, Robina, walked into the casino they visited all too often. They’d already agreed to only gamble a certain amount of money and then leave. But like most visits, after the predetermined amount was gone, George wanted to keep gambling, convinced he’d win back 12 • APRIL 2020 I faithandfriends.ca
everything he’d lost and more with just one last spin. However hard he tried, George couldn’t seem to stop gambling. And he feared it was going to cost him everything he cared about. Down a Dangerous Path George was born in Trinity,
Bonavista Bay, N.L. As a child, he attended church with his mother, but he didn’t enjoy it. “I never got into church as a young person,” he remembers. “I didn’t think it was important.” After high school, George got a job at the local fish plants in Marystown and Fortune, N.L. But as an adult, George decided to move to Toronto with his uncle. “We had almost no money to pay for travel,” he recalls. “The Salvation Army helped us along the way with food and a place to stay. Even then, I
stupid things back then.” While George’s drinking was a problem, his gambling was an even bigger one. “The casinos were like a magnet to me,” he says. “I had no willpower when it came to gambling.” Every time George and Robina went to the casinos, they saw the same people. “Those people were trapped, just like I was,” he says. “I don’t believe they actually wanted to be there, but they had no control over it. Gambling is a powerful addiction.”
“ I often drank so much that I didn’t remember what I’d done the next day. I did a lot of stupid things back then.” GEORGE PRESTON was grateful to them.” Now in Ontario, George became a truck driver. In 1971, he married Robina, and the couple had two sons. George thought he was living the good life but, in reality, he’d started down a dangerous path. Agent of Change “I started drinking on the weekends,” he says. “I often drank so much that I didn’t remember what I’d done the next day. I did a lot of
At the time, George didn’t realize how much his addictions affected his wife. Robina loved and supported him, but neither she nor George were happy. Many times, Robina suggested they start attending church, but George wasn’t interested in doing that. In 1978, George’s mother was critically ill with cancer, so he returned to Newfoundland and Labrador. “It was heartbreaking to see her like that,” he says. “She’d lost so much weight. She was only 55, faithandfriends.ca I APRIL 2020
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but I knew she was dying.” During that last visit before her passing, George’s mother reminded him that having a relationship with God was important. She told George that she prayed for him regularly, wanted him to make things right with God and begged him to return to church. “But I just couldn’t make that promise to her,” George says. “I
ina to attend church at The Salvation Army in Glencairn, Ont. Desperate for a change, they decided to go. “It was a small congregation, but I really liked it there,” George says. “People at the church knew about my problems, and they were kind and helpful. The pastors shared their faith, but they never pressured me to change. At the church, I saw other men who I knew had
“ I was fighting it, but I knew I needed to commit my life to God.” GEORGE PRESTON
was so far from God at that time. I was more concerned with what my friends thought of me. I wasn’t ready to give up my bad habits and go to church.” George bought his own truck, which helped curb his drinking. “I was on the road a lot, so I couldn’t drink as often,” he says. The longer George stayed in his gambling addiction, the worse his situation grew. “We never went bankrupt or anything, but my visits to the casino definitely made our finances more difficult,” he says. “I needed to make a change.” Life-Changing Question Then a friend invited him and Rob14 • APRIL 2020 I faithandfriends.ca
had drinking problems in the past, but they were clean now. I wanted that, too.” One Sunday morning in 2009, the pastor asked a life-changing question during his sermon: “What’s holding you back?” “I was fighting it, but I knew I needed to commit my life to God,” George says. He and Robina had been attending church for about a year, and they knew it was time. George and Robina knelt at the front of the church that morning. George immediately felt freer. “I was forgiven and, with God’s help, I quit drinking. The gambling had a stronger hold on me, but I’m happy
Photos: LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS/stock.Adobe.com
to say that I’ve been free of that addiction for 10 years now.” Letting God In In 2017, George and Robina made the decision to move back to Newfoundland and Labrador, and settled in Conception Bay South. Some of their relatives attended services at the Salvation Army church there and invited them to go. “We felt comfortable right away,” George says. “Everyone knows everyone else. Our church family is right there to help us if we need them. We love it.” Robina attends the home league, a fellowship for women, and George
enjoys the men’s fellowship group. George is grateful for the life he has now. “If I hadn’t stopped drinking and gambling, I think Robina and I probably would’ve separated,” he reflects. “But now, we spend time together, having fun. We go on long drives and enjoy the beauty God created. And I don’t spend money on alcohol and gambling. We’re so much happier.” George’s desire is to help others escape their addictions, as he has. “Gambling is a sickness, but God will help you overcome it,” George believes. “You just have to let Him into your life.”
(left) Diane Stark is a wife, mother of five and freelance writer from rural Indiana. She loves to write about the important things in life: her family and her faith. faithandfriends.ca I APRIL 2020
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COVER STORY
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Who Is This Man? JESUS HAS BEEN DEPICTED IN EVERY CULTURE AND CORNER OF THE EARTH. BUT WHO IS HE? by Ingrid Barratt
JESUS IS THE MOST depicted person who ever lived. We all know what He looked like—the long hair, beard, tall slender frame. So when Richard Neave, a medical artist and forensic anthropologist, created a realistic depiction of what Jesus may have looked like, the results were shocking: Jesus seemed to resemble a New York City taxi driver. Jesus’ facial features were gleaned from first-century Jewish skulls and other archaeological data. Neave reasoned that Jesus would have been about five and a half feet tall. His lifestyle would have made Him
muscular but slight. According to cultural data, His black, curly hair would have been short, and His beard closely cropped. All depictions of Jesus are imaginative, of course. The way we’ve depicted Jesus over the ages says a lot more about us than it says about Him. The fact that biblical accounts are stubbornly silent about what Jesus actually looked like is God’s first clue to us: He does not judge by human standards. In Jesus, He was about to turn all our expectations about power, success and even divinity inside out. faithandfriends.ca I APRIL 2020
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How different are we to those firstcentury followers who wanted a king of power? We try to fit Jesus into our self-built values of consumerism, wealth, power and success. Knowing the Unknowable Depictions of Jesus often show Him calm and emotionless, above the fray—the “Prozac Jesus,” as author Philip Yancey calls him. But this is not the Jesus we find in the Bible. In fact, it’s surprising to discover how much Jesus was a people person. Jesus seemed to build rapport almost instantly. He was easily moved by others. He was generous with His compliments: “Your faith has healed you!” He declared, deflecting credit away from Himself. But He also got angry and impatient. “Are you still so dull?” an exasperated Jesus snapped at the disciples—which, quite frankly, doesn’t seem very “Christian.” He cried openly and relished public displays of affection. He was an incredibly vulnerable man: Would you ever ask your friend straight up, “Do you love me?” Well, Jesus did! He was not play acting at being human. Jesus felt things fully, He lived life deeply. 18 • APRIL 2020 I faithandfriends.ca
In Jesus, the impenetrable distance between heaven and earth collapsed into nothing. Through Jesus, God is saying: “Here I am. I am with you.” Because of Jesus, we can know the unknowable. We see the invisible God. The Architect It’s important we understand Jesus as a fully-fledged Jew, because there is no doubt that His followers believed He would be the Jewish king—the Messiah who had been prophesied. It was only a matter of time before an army would rise up to overturn the Roman Empire. Then, just as Jesus was reaching the height of His fame and popularity, He presented His manifesto. This time He spoke plainly, not in parables. The people were expecting a declaration of war. Instead, they got one of meekness: “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3). Quite frankly, it was confusing.
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Weird. Offensive, even. “They were looking for a builder to construct the sort of home they thought they wanted, but Jesus was the architect, coming with a new plan that would give them everything they needed, but within quite a new framework,” says Tom Wright in Simply Jesus.
Jesus was revealed as the longedfor king—the Messiah. But not in any way we would recognize. He would not rule in time and space, but through an unseen kingdom. He did not overcome with power, He infiltrated us with love. He did not stake out His greatness, He subverted us with grace. These truths
The ability of Jesus to transcend culture, and yet fit within every culture, shows us that God really is with us. Many complex influences collided to culminate in Jesus’ death. The Romans were determined to stamp out any threat to their rule. But Jesus also failed to meet the Jewish expectations of the Messiah—so they concluded He must be an imposter. He was crucified as a traitor to Rome and blasphemer before God. But the Bible claims the impossible—that Jesus very thoroughly, very bodily, came back to life again. Wright makes the point that this story was as strange then as it is today—it had never happened before; it has never happened since. “The stories don’t fit. They seem to be about a person who is equally at home ‘on earth’ and ‘in heaven.’ And that is, in fact, exactly what they are.” 20 • APRIL 2020 I faithandfriends.ca
continue to upend us today. How different are we to those first-century followers who wanted a king of power? We try to fit Jesus into our self-built values of consumerism, wealth, power and success. And Jesus is still refusing to enter that building. He is still insisting on being the architect of a whole new way. For All People There is a joke that the greatest miracle Jesus ever performed was being a white man in first-century Israel. As the dominant culture became European, images of Jesus became blue-eyed and pale-skinned. Yet every culture in the world has appropriated Jesus for themselves. Artists have portrayed Jesus as
black, as Asian, with dreadlocks, and with Celtic red hair. There is even an image of Jesus as a woman— and why not? Why shouldn’t I, as a woman, be able to relate to Jesus through my feminine identity? The ability of Jesus to transcend culture, and yet fit within every culture, shows us that God really is with us. The idea that Jesus can be “my best friend” is often mocked. But, actually, isn’t that the miracle of Easter? The divide between us and God was shattered. We can know God, and even call Him friend. God and humanity were never meant to be separate. In Jesus, we were brought back into intimate relationship with each other. Jesus Is Everything But that was just the beginning. The reverberations of Jesus’ life and death and life again, can be felt through the cosmos. Wright argues that the Bible sees heaven and earth not as separate, but as interlocking and connecting. During His lifetime, Jesus’ constant refrain was, “The kingdom of heaven is near!” In truth, it’s so
close, we can almost touch it! When Jesus taught us to pray, He said: “Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” He showed us heaven— through His miracles, His healing, His compassion and grace. The defining moment in history, when Jesus rose from the dead, was the beginning of a whole new creation that is still revealing itself today. Within three decades of Jesus’ death and Resurrection, Paul—who had been an orthodox Jew until he discovered Jesus—described how “God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything ... who fills everything in every way” (Ephesians 1:22-23). This vision of Jesus is not just as a personal Saviour, although that is important. It goes further. He brings salvation to the universe— He is restoring the whole world to its original and perfect creation. Whenever we act according to the kingdom of Jesus—when we bring healing, love, grace and peace—we become active participants in this new creation. Who is Jesus? He is everything. Reprinted from Others (Australia), April 2019
(left) Ingrid Barratt was the editor of the War Cry (New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory). faithandfriends.ca I APRIL 2020
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Rocky’s Road
WHEN ALL SEEMED DARK, SYLVESTER STALLONE’S FAITH HELPED HIM GO THE DISTANCE.
Illustration: Dennis Jones
by Phil Callaway
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I
’m not a big fan of boxing, or any sport that requires two contestants to beat the stuffing out of each other. Oh wait. I like hockey, so forget that. Boxers are seldom known for their humility. After delivering a knock-out punch, Mike Tyson said, “It’s ludicrous these mortals even attempt to enter my realm.”
underdog. A troubled kid, he was expelled from school and spent time in foster homes. Moving to New York City to pursue an acting career, he scored only minor roles. He slept at a bus station, stayed at a flophouse, later joking that it had “hot and cold running roaches.” But when he watched the Ali/Wepner match, Sylvester Stallone had an
“ After 12 years of a downward spiral, I realized I had to get back to basics and take things out of my own hands and put them in God’s hands.” SYLVESTER STALLONE “There’s not a man alive who can whup me,” said the great Muhammad Ali. “I’m too fast. I’m too smart. I’m too pretty. I should be a postage stamp. That’s the only way I’ll ever get licked.” But in his prime, Ali faced a relatively unknown boxer named Chuck Wepner. Nobody thought Wepner would last two rounds. But he took the world by surprise by knocking the champ down in the ninth round. Ali got back up and won the fight, but Wepner did the unthinkable, lasting 15 rounds against the greatest boxer in the world. Fateful Call A young man watched that match and was inspired. He, too, was an
idea. Back in his apartment, he began writing. In just three days, a finished script sat on his desk, the story of a down-and-out boxer without a chance, Rocky Balboa. Stallone sent his script to producers. Nobody wanted it. To complicate things, his wife was pregnant and they had $107 in the bank. Unable to feed his dog, Butkus, Stallone sold him for $40. Then came the call. Butkus, Come Home “We’ll give you $125,000 for the Rocky script.” Stallone was ecstatic. But Rocky was his story. He couldn’t just sell it and walk away. “Let me play the lead role in the film,” he said, “and faithandfriends.ca I APRIL 2020
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FEATURE
you’ve got yourself a deal.” “No,” they said. A big-name actor would play the part. The producers offered him $250,000, then $360,000—a small fortune in the 1970s. When Stallone held his ground, they finally agreed, but gave him a small slice of their original offer. When they did, Stallone tracked down the man who purchased his dog and bought Butkus back for $15,000. Going the Distance Rocky went into production on a shoestring budget, using handheld cameras, and family and friends in the cast—including Stallone’s dog, Butkus. Rocky grossed $200 million, won three Academy Awards including Best Picture, became one of the most beloved underdog stories of our time and launched one of the most successful sports movie franchises ever. But “Sly” Stallone’s personal life was a rocky road. “I was raised in a Christian home,” he said. “Then I was presented with temptation, lost my way and made a lot of bad choices. After 12 years of a downward spiral, I realized it had to
stop. I had to get back to basics and take things out of my own hands and put them in God’s hands.” Following the release of the latest Rocky film, he said, “This is a story of faith, integrity and victory. Jesus is the inspiration for anyone to go the distance.” Sticking With It Few things inspire us more than an underdog story. Think of Moses, Esther and Joseph. When the prophet Samuel came looking for Israel’s next king, David the shepherd boy was overlooked by his father. But David was God’s choice to lead the people. And, of course, there’s Jesus, who became a man to deliver death the ultimate knock-out punch and reconcile us to God. Have you been knocked down? Think of those who have faced overwhelming odds with courage, persistence and faith. Romans 8:37 says, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Let’s be a little more like a postage stamp. And stick with it until we reach our destination.
(left) Phil Callaway’s Laugh Again radio program airs 700 times a week in Canada. Visit him at laughagain.org.
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Faith&Friends
FAITH BUILDERS
Photos: Courtesy of Lionsgate
Duet The story of Jeremy Camp (KJ Apa) and Melissa Lynn Henning (Britt Robertson) is a remarkable journey of love and loss
I Still Believe When the love of two young people is tested by a terminal illness, they discover a faith worth living and dying for. by Jeanette Levellie
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rammy-nominated Christian megastar Jeremy Camp has 32 No. 1 singles, sold more five million albums and won five GMA Dove awards. In spite of this sparkling list of honours, Jeremy’s early career was marked by a time of anguish. I Still Believe, in theatres now, gives us a glimpse into some of that anguish, as well as his journey of love, heartbreak and redemption.
Worth It The movie opens as Jeremy, played by KJ Apa (Riverdale, A Dog’s Purpose), asks the audience at a concert to pray for his fiancée, Melissa (Britt Robertson, The Space Between Us). As Melissa chokes back tears, Jeremy tells the crowd that they’ve recently received some hard news— Melissa has ovarian cancer. In an interview with Way Nation, Jeremy recalled the first time he
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met Melissa, at a Bible study where he was leading worship songs. “I looked over while we were singing and there she was, lifting up her hands with abandon, worshipping Jesus,” he said. Jeremy was immediately attracted to Melissa’s devotion to Jesus. They began dating but shortly afterward, Melissa broke up with him. “I was devastated,” Jeremy continued. “I thought she was the one.”
Doctors inform the couple that the cancer has spread throughout Melissa’s body. She has only months, maybe weeks, to live. A few weeks later, Jeremy received a call from a friend that Melissa was in the hospital with cancer. When he walked into her room, he wondered why, instead of having a pity party, she was smiling. “Jeremy,” she told him, “I’ve been thinking: if I were to die from this cancer and even one person accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, it will all be worth it.” God’s Faithfulness As the movie portrays, the couple decide to marry, in spite of bleak pre-
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dictions for their future together and misgivings on the part of Jeremy’s mother (Shania Twain) and father (Gary Sinise). After a storybook wedding and honeymoon, doctors inform them that the cancer has spread throughout Melissa’s body. She has only months, maybe weeks, to live. The following days are a mix of painful medical treatments, worshipping God, laughter and tears. Through it all, the couple makes the most of their time together. Melissa died on February 5, 2001, four months after their wedding. She was 21. After his wife’s death, Jeremy experienced a dark period of questioning God. He told Way Nation, “I had moments of feeling angry, of thinking, I can’t do this, Lord. But then you get to the point where you say, ‘Where else am I going to turn? He’s my only source of hope.’ ” Jeremy admitted it wasn’t easy: “A lot of anger. A lot of grieving. A lot of confusion. But God was there every single step. And I think that is the beauty of His faithfulness. He’s the only source of hope in life. He never said we won’t go through trials. He said He’ll be with us in the trials.” The movie ends with Jeremy on stage singing I Still Believe, a song he wrote two weeks after Melissa died. “I didn’t feel like singing or playing music, but after a few times of arguing with the Lord, I picked my guitar up and all I
Did You Know? The real-life Jeremy Camp is an ordained minister
could sing was I Still Believe.” In an interview with CBN, Jeremy said, “I have seen story after story of God using this whole thing to show His faithfulness to encourage people. That blows my mind, realizing that Melissa made that statement, that if even one person accepts Christ, it will be worth it. I hear thousands and thousands of stories. When I get distracted, when I lose sight of what is going on, God will say, ‘Look at how many thousands!’ ” Hope for Tomorrow Just as Jeremy said, believers in Jesus Christ aren’t immune to tragedy. Some deal with sickness. Others struggle with relationship issues. Many grieve the death of a loved one. During these times of suffering, God doesn’t expect us to simply “tough it out” alone. His Spirit comforts, encourages and helps us cling to the hope of a better tomorrow, and a bright forever.
I Still Believe says it well: Scattered words and empty thoughts Seem to pour from my heart I’ve never felt so torn before Seems I don’t know where to start But it’s now that I feel Your grace falls like rain From every fingertip, washing away my pain I still believe in Your faithfulness I still believe in Your truth I still believe in Your holy Word Even when I don’t see, I still believe Jesus said it best when He told His followers, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). We never walk through the pain alone. Jesus is for us, with us and in us every step of the way. Faith in Him is the only kind of faith worth living—and dying—for.
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LITE STUFF
Eating Healthy With Erin FRESH HERB FALAFEL TIME 35-40 min MAKES 3 servings SERVE WITH tzatziki
250 ml (1 cup) chickpeas, canned 60 ml (¼ cup) red onion 45 ml (3 tbsp) fresh dill 45 ml (3 tbsp) fresh parsley 2 ml (½ tsp) paprika 5 ml (1 tsp) lemon juice 5 ml (1 tsp) cumin 2 garlic cloves 75 ml (5 tbsp) flour 5 ml (1 tsp) baking powder 60 ml (¼ cup) olive oil 3 pitas 125 ml (½ cup) diced tomato 125 ml (½ cup) diced cucumber 125 ml (½ cup) lettuce 60 ml (¼ cup) olives 60 ml (¼ cup) crumbled feta
1. Preheat oven to 190 C (375 F). 2. Rinse and drain chickpeas. Pat dry. 3. Mash chickpeas, onion, dill, parsley, paprika, lemon juice, cumin and garlic together until blended. 4. Sprinkle in flour and baking powder and mix until absorbed. 5. Pour olive oil onto baking sheet. Take out 30 ml (2 tbsp) at a time of falafel mixture and make a ball. Space 50 mm (2 in.) apart and bake for 25 minutes, flipping every 5 minutes so that each side becomes golden. 6. Assemble in pita with tomato, cucumber, lettuce, olives and tzatziki.
TZATZIKI
Recipe photos: Erin Stanley
TIME 5 min MAKES 3-4 servings SERVE WITH falafel
175 ml (¾ cup) Greek yogurt 250 ml (1 cup) cucumber 5 ml (1 tsp) lemon 1 garlic clove 15 ml (3 tsp) fresh dill 5 ml (1 tsp) fresh parsley salt and pepper to taste
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1. Grate cucumber and salt lightly to help drain. Pat dry. 2. Mix cucumber and remaining ingredients together.
Fine-Feathered Rescue
BYE-BYE BIRDIE P.5
Gig Economy’s
DARK SIDE P.9
Salvation Army Helps
BLESSING’S STORY P.12
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MARCH 2020
Working His Magic SAWYER BULLOCK HAS SOMETHING UP HIS SLEEVE HE WANTS EVERYONE TO KNOW ABOUT: HIS FAITH. P.16
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Sudoku Puzzle
9
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3 × 3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.
5 9 3
1. What is the value of the Roman numeral CMXIX? 2. What is the capital of Belgium? 3. What is a group of bears called?
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© www.kevinfrank.net
HEAVEN’S LOVE THRIFT SHOP by Kevin Frank
Answers on next page.
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QUICK QUIZ
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Word Search National Library Week S A U D I O R K Z F P M O I I E Y V F R O N T D E S K O O B E F P P H O L C E T G N R S D L O H H V L E X X C H S T A C K S W I Q M P J U O Y U I I M O U Z U E Z O S F J P L F C V M V L A E P P I H S R E B M E M N V V E E B G P M V R F P B H R A D F X I S X P U A N O I T A L U C R I C V A E R B N P Z M C W N T O A N Y H Y T V X X R E V I E W A L C E L A C W S L D W D Q F Z N R L Y S I U I R Y B E V O L U N T E E R Q T T D P A B D H S R R B P T C A S E H D S K E W Q S T R D G I T R P R O G R A M S U I L L O E L I B R A R I A N S E E F N D S B N O I T C I F N O N N J R F X T M W N L I Y O Y U R N O V G C C S P H Y F G E C L P A F N J H C D Y ARCHIVES AUDIO AUTHOR BOOKS BORROW BRANCH BROWSE CIRCULATION COLLECTION COMPUTERS EBOOK FEES
FICTION FINES FOLIOS FRONT DESK HOLDS LEARN LIBRARIANS LIBRARY CARD LITERACY LITERATURE LOAN MAGAZINES
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MEMBERSHIP MOVIES NONFICTION PROGRAMS PUBLIC READ RESEARCH REVIEW ROWS SHELVES STACKS VOLUNTEER
Quick Quiz Answers: 1. 949; 2. Brussels; 3. A sleuth or sloth. 1
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Faith&Friends
NIFTY THRIFTY
Egg-cellent Fun Make your Easter extra special with a thrifted basket. Easter baskets are a lovely way to celebrate the holiday. This simple DIY will turn a boring basket into a super-sweet carrier for all your goodies. Supplies Needed: Wicker basket, paper or felt flowers, pliers, jute and Easter items. Step 1 Buy a wicker basket from your local Salvation Army thrift store. Step 2 Separate your flower bunches into individual flowers. Pliers will make the job go easier and faster, but scissors can also be used. Step 3 Add the flowers to the sides of your basket handle one at a time. Use the spaces in the wicker to pull your flowers through and bend the wire to help keep them in place. Step 4 Wrap jute around the handle, covering the flower ends, and then knot off. Step 5 Add grass, eggs, chocolate and stuffed animals and your Easter basket is ready to go!
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(left) Denise Corcoran (aka Thrifty By Design) is an author, upcycler, community builder and workshop facilitator based in North Vancouver. She shares her enthusiasm for crafting and upcycling by facilitating “Crafternoons” throughout Vancouver. She is also a creative expert for The Salvation Army’s thrift stores. Find a thrift store near you at thriftstore.ca.
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For address changes or subscription information contact (416) 422-6119 or circulation@can.salvationarmy.org. Allow 4-6 weeks for changes.
