The Manna June 2012 by Maranatha, Inc.

MM The Power of

Words

the Manna | June 2012

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the Manna | May 2012

Columns

19 | The Magic Words

07 | Signals 09 | On the Air

20 | Immutable

Features 12 | Power of Your Word How to recognize the voice of God.

14 | Words of Life What happens when God speaks.

17 | Thanks A Lot The power of appreciation.

Stay in Touch

Multi-faceted and mysterious.

Some things never change.

23 | Bathing (Sweat) Suit Covering up our imperfections.

24 | Songs of Life—Or Death? The message in the lyrics.

26 | Our Roofs

What does your “barbaric yawp” sound like?

29 | Embodied Truth Defining what is real.

30 | Unspoken Words From the inside out.

wolc.org | readthemanna.org | June 2012

the Manna | A Publication of Maranatha, Inc. Editor-In-Chief: Debbie Byrd Creative Director: Joe Willey Contributing Writers: Phil Bohaker, Keyanna Butts, Josh Millwood, Brittney Switala, B.A. Timmons & Karen Tull Media Client Liaisons: Janet Beckett, Lee Oxford & Randall Stapleton

Frequently Asked Questions Who We Are The Manna is published by Maranatha, Inc., a Christcentered ministry called to proclaim the Good News of faith and life in Jesus Christ through various forms of media, as God directs, until He returns. “Maranatha” (mer-a-nath´-a) is an Aramaic word found in I Corinthians 16:22. It is translated, “Our Lord, come!” Joy! 102.5 WOLC is also part of Maranatha, Inc. Its call letters stand for “Watch, Our Lord Cometh.” Maranatha!

Disclaimer Non-ministry advertisers are not required to subscribe to the “Statement of Faith” printed at right; nor are their businesses and products necessarily endorsed by the Manna, Joy! 102.5 WOLC, or Maranatha, Inc., whose viewpoints are not necessarily represented by the opinions or statements of persons interviewed in this magazine; nor are the viewpoints of its advertisers.

Statement of Faith We Believe… that the Holy Bible is the inspired, infallible and authoritative source of Christian doctrine and precept; that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; that the only hope for man is to believe in Jesus Christ, the virgin-born Son of God, who died to take upon Himself the punishment for the sin of mankind, and who rose from the dead so that by receiving Him as Savior and Lord, man is redeemed by His blood; that Jesus Christ in person will return to Earth in power and glory; that the Holy Spirit indwells those who have received Christ, for the purpose of enabling them to live righteous and godly lives; and that the Church is the Body of Christ and is comprised of all those who, through belief in Christ, have been spiritually regenerated by the indwelling Holy Spirit. The twin mission of the Church is worldwide evangelization, and nurture and discipline of Christians.

Manna and Joy! 102.5 WOLC P. O. Box 130, Princess Anne, MD 21853 Voice: 410-543-9652 Fax: 410-651-9652 Manna e-mail: info@readthemanna.org Joy! 102.5 e-mail: wolc@wolc.org ©2012 Maranatha, Inc. May not be reproduced without written consent of Maranatha, Inc. Photos: iStockphoto and Thinkstock

Maranatha Media | Home of Joy! 102.5 and the Manna

Signals Words Words. We depend on them. Words build and words tear down. Words calm and words enrage. Words speak of love and words speak of hate. Words clarify and words confuse. Words bless and words damn; those damned words! Scripture prompts us to teach Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Word to our children, in the home and on the road, when we awaken and when we retire for the day. It teaches us to practice self-control. It teaches us be an example in how we live and how we speak. But how in tune are we to the casual way in which most words are tossed about? People from other countries marvel at how often Americans proclaim their love: I love hot dogs; I love warm weather; I love a good book. We love everything. And in loving everything we cheapen the very notion of love. If a future civilization were to find remnants of our society in an archeological dig, what would they think of what they would find? We write and speak and sing words that have eternal ramifications, blessings or cursings. But do we even begin to comprehend that when we speak in anger or frustration, or pass up an opportunity to express encouragement and support? In this issue, Karen Tull encourages us to use the words thank you, and Keyanna Butts cautions us about taking care when passing along a word from the Lord. Phil Bohaker takes a deep look at the creation process and the responsibility of every Christian to verbally share the saving knowledge of Christ with others. Brent Timmons speaks to how living our words

is sometimes more powerful than speaking them, and Josh Millwood suggests that sometimes the best choice is not to speak at all. There is an inherent responsibility to every Christian to carefully consider how they live and speak their words. We are a reflection of Christ and we should be good representatives of Him. Perhaps even more sobering, would we take more care with each of our words if we were able to remember minute to minute that our choices either bring joy to our Lord - or grieve Him? Debbie Byrd is General Manager of Maranatha, Inc., a ministry that includes Joy! 102.5 and the Manna.

wolc.org | readthemanna.org | June 2012

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On the Air Amazing Lincoln Brewster was born and raised in a small town in Alaska. He grew up in what he calls a “broken” home, darkened by his stepfather’s violent behavior and alcohol addiction—an environment from which Lincoln and his mother sought solace in music. “My mom loved music and played with local bands,” he says. “She was the one who inspired my love for singing and playing instruments.” As Brewster bonded with his mom through music, he began mastering a variety of instruments, including the guitar. And it was his incredible talent that caught the attention of mainstream labels and landed Lincoln a gig playing with rocker Steve Perry (formerly of the band Journey) and earned him a mainstream record contract by age 19. But God had other plans. After attending church with his high school sweetheart and now wife, Laura, Lincoln yielded his life to Christ. Filled with a new passion and purpose, Lincoln walked away from the promise of rock stardom to take a job at his local church. This new path eventually led him to a recording partnership with praise and worship label Integrity Music.

Since that time, Lincoln has performed and crafted songs that have helped shape the sound of today’s modern worship while also climbing Christian radio charts. These include songs such as “Today Is The Day,” “God You Reign,” “Everlasting God,” “Salvation Is Here,” and “The Power of Your Name.” After six acclaimed albums and multiple hit songs, Lincoln’s latest album is titled Real Life, which is a dynamic worship collection that features his guitar expertise set against a backdrop of incredible songs of faith. On Joy! 102.5 this month we’re playing “More Than Amazing” from his new album. It has quickly become a favorite of mine because the lyrics are powerful—especially when we pause to think just how truly amazing Christ is. Rodney Baylous is Program Director of Joy! 102.5. Visit www.wolc.org.

Listen Now! Check out our Program Guide at wolc.org wolc.org | readthemanna.org | June 2012

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Power Of Your Word By Keyanna Butts

f you’ve ever had a person say to you, “The Lord said...”—you know how perplexing those three words can be. No matter how positive (or negative) this alleged word from God is, by the end of their statement you are often left with one question: Did God really say that? One of the many gifts of following Christ is the ability to hear God’s voice and then speak through the leading of the Holy Spirit. However, one of the quandaries of this gift is being able to accurately distinguish God’s voice. I’m sure we’ve all experienced a time when we felt led to say something to someone. For many, these unctions are typically followed by contemplation. Was that God? Maybe it was just me thinking. Am I really supposed to say this to them? I commend pastors and prophets who eagerly proclaim what “thus saith the Lord.” Personally, I’m quite apprehensive to give someone a word from the Lord. Once I finally work up enough boldness to speak what I hear, I preface my statements with I “think” or “feel” as a safeguard. “I think God would want you to know...” “I feel that God is saying...” This allows the statement to become more of a point of view than a direct quote from God. For some of us, the question of whose voice we are hearing intensifies when feeling led to do (or not do) something in our personal lives. Is God truly telling me to quit my job and start a ministry,

or is this just my own imagination? Did God really say to marry this person, or is that just my mind imposing its own wishes? Mistaking our own voice with God’s voice is a common concern for believers. There are three voices we may contend with: our own voice, Satan’s voice, and God’s voice. Though there may be many voices vying for our attention, God never intended for it to be difficult to decipher His voice. In John 10, Jesus explains that God’s

chosen people will not only hear His voice, but be able to recognize His voice from other voices: “…and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers” (John 10:4-5 KJV). The Word of God reveals practical applications to clearly hear and accurately distinguish God’s voice: Study- “I will study Your commandments and reflect on Your ways” (Psalm 119:15). The Bible is the living Word of God. The more we read God’s Word, the more we will understand how God

speaks, thinks, and feels. God will never lead us to do anything that contradicts His Word. Studying the characteristics of God and the attributes of how He communicates is the first step in becoming familiar with His voice. Meditate- “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act” (Psalm 37:7). Spend time in prayer and silence your own thoughts and emotions. Focus your heart on God instead of what is on your mind. This is easier said than done, but when you quiet your flesh you will hear God’s voice rather than your own thoughts. Test- “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God…” (1 John 4:1). The Holy Spirit within us can easily decipher what is of God and what is not of God. The Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s will for our lives (1 Corinthians 2). When you hear or receive a word and it does not settle with you, do not act on it until or unless the Holy Spirit brings more clarity. Confirm- “Ask the Lord your God for a sign of confirmation. Make it as difficult as you want— as high as heaven or as deep as the place of the dead” (Isaiah 7:11). Throughout Scripture, God confirms His Word through signs. If you really want to be sure you are hearing God’s voice, ask God to bring confirmation. Knowing God and applying His principles is key in deciphering between voices. Remember, God is not the author of confusion. He speaks clearly and will make His voice known to those who are listening.

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here are countless instructive symbols in Scripture, but few convey truth with the potency of the concept of the word of God. God did, after all, shape the earth as we know it by His spoken word. Ten times in the first chapter of Genesis, we find the phrase “God said.” God speaks, and something miraculous happens. Why did God speak the universe into existence? He could simply have thought about it and, “Poof!” There are the stars and moon and sun. “Poof!” The earth is covered with animals and vegetation. But God did not just think the world into existence. He did not snap His fingers or wave His hand or stomp His feet. He spoke. The importance of words does not end with the creation account. When God decides to issue the Ten Commandments, He writes them on stone tablets. When Jesus and His disciples are caught in the raging storm, He stands up in the boat and, with a word, brings an end to the storm. Most importantly, John describes Jesus as the eternal Word, who took on humanity. We find that the imagery surrounding words changes as we move chronologically through the Bible. This is what theologians call progressive revelation. God chose to reveal Himself and His works progressively over the centuries. Salvation has always come to God’s people by His grace, through the vehicle of faith. However, God

has related differently to His people at different times. Hence, we have the division between the Old and New Covenants. Under the Old Covenant, the children of God knew from the creation narrative that God spoke the world into existence. At the onset of the New Covenant, God revealed that His Son, before He became a man, was the agent of creation. As John relates to us, “Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made” (John 1:3). Paul elaborates further on this same truth, “For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:16). These descriptions of the Son beautifully recount the means by which God chose to reveal Himself to the world. Jesus is the perfect expression of God’s nature. So, when God chose to unveil His grand plan of salvation, He did not scribble on a scrap of paper, thrust the message into a bottle, and toss it in the ocean to wash up on a distant shore. He chose to send His Son, the only possible Word that could give us a comprehensive, flawless representation of God. The nature of God is written all over Jesus, and He came and “made His dwelling” among us. Picture the Israelites trekking through the wilderness and stopping periodically to pitch the tent, where

We all Scream!

Words of Life By Phil Bohaker

they would worship God and enjoy His presence. That’s the image that John has in mind. This has important implications for the way we approach evangelism. Years ago, Joe Aldrich wrote a book called Lifestyle Evangelism, which challenged the way many Christians approached evangelism. This approach is helpful in its emphasis on believers presenting a Christ-like witness to the world, with the hope that unbelievers will “want what we have.” However, lifestyle alone is insufficient as a witness to Christ. A balanced approach to evangelism recognizes that saving faith in Christ can only happen in connection with the proclamation of the gospel. The meat of evangelism is the proclamation of God’s gift of salvation through Jesus. As Paul questions, “How can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (Romans 10:14). I can think of a number of times when this has created a challenge for me. My attempts to articulate the gospel to someone have often been accompanied by fear and trepidation. But I can take heart in what God spoke through the prophet Isaiah. Like rain falling to the earth and causing vegetation to grow, Isaiah relates, “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for

which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11). God is in control of outcomes, and often He uses Scripture to bring about His purposes. We can rest in the fact that there is power in Scripture. Not that the words themselves contain some mystical power. Rather, the power is in that the Holy Spirit applies the truths of Scripture according to God’s design. Theologian Herman Bavinck observes that however the phrase “word of God” is used in Scripture, “It is always a word of God, that is, never just a sound, but a power, not mere information but also an accomplishment of His will.” If our words are faithful to the teaching of Scripture, God will use them to do what He has promised. There is nothing more heartening about evangelism than to know that God has no expectation for us to be eloquent, persuasive, or polished. He simply asks us to be faithful to recount the words He has already given us. The D.L. Moodys and Billy Grahams of the world do not have a monopoly on a clear and compelling gospel presentation. The Holy Spirit does. So, take heart when you feel as though you’ve bumbled your way through an opportunity to witness. You never know how God will use your words to soften hearts and bring sheep into the fold.

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Thanks A Lot By Karen Tull

y family is big on sending notes. As a kid, one of the things my mother drilled into my head was the importance of mailing a handwritten “thank you” to anyone who had given me a gift or done something nice for me. I used to grumble about it, but over the years, I’ve come to see the value in what seems like a lost practice in society today. “Thank you.” A simple phrase—but a potent one. When left unsaid, there is often hurt felt by the giver, even if the gesture was made out of a pure heart with no expectations. All you have to do is scan a “Dear Abby”-type of column to realize the meaning in even a simple acknowledgement of a kindness. Letters consistently come in from people heartsick over never hearing these two words. I can recall a discouraged grandmother who wrote in to say how she and her husband, year after year, would ship Christmas presents to their grandchildren in another state. Not once had they heard from them. Expressing our thanks to others, either verbally or in writing, says to that person, “You didn’t have to do that— but you did it anyway. And I appreciate it.” I once heard a comedian on television recount an evening when he had taken his children out to eat. As they were leaving the restaurant, he said to them, “Daddy just bought you a nice dinner. Aren’t you going to say ‘thanks’?” To which they replied in disgust, “We’re your kids—you’re supposed to feed us!” Sometimes, whether we realize it or not, we can begin to presume that people should do certain things for us. “It’s

my birthday—of course something special will be planned for me.” “We’re getting married—here’s the website for our registry.” “Men are supposed to be the breadwinners—my husband shouldn’t expect a ‘thank you.’” “All my wife has to worry about is straightening the house and fixing us dinner—that’s a pretty good deal.” This perspective creates a breeding ground for contempt. As humans, we have an intrinsic need to feel valued, both for who we are and what we contribute, which is why “thank you” can be so life-giving to our souls. Like a cool drink to a dry throat, many of us are almost gasping for validation. And we can bless each other by administering that pat on the back that we all need from time to time. On occasion, the hardworking husband needs to hear: “Thanks for all you do to provide for us.” The busy stayat-home mom needs to hear: “Thanks for taking good care of our home and family.” The young son or daughter needs to hear: “Thanks for cleaning up—you’re such a big help.” The steadfast pastor needs to hear: “Thanks for your sermon today—it spoke directly to where I am right now.” The diligent employee needs to hear: “We couldn’t have done this project without you.” The devoted teacher needs to hear: “My passion for learning began in your class.” When we take the opportunity to let those around us know that they matter, it spurs them on to keep going. And as we seek to adopt more of an attitude of gratitude in our lives, we should reserve our foremost and greatest offering of appreciation to God—who has and will always be the Giver “of every good and perfect gift.” wolc.org | readthemanna.org | June 2012

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The Magic Words By Josh Millwood

hat are the magic words? Thank you Abrakadabra - Presto! - just to name a few. Words have the power to transform and inspire, even the non-magical ones. Great literature has taken our imaginations on amazing journeys, and in some cases, inspired humanity to turn what was once imagined into reality. We were flying in literature long before the Wright brothers came along. This very day scientists study ways to travel through time, while H.G. Wells built the first Time Machine 117 years ago. The written word was the foundation of early civilization. The Code of Hammurabi and the Torah were essentially laws written down, but for the first time in the history of the world there was a physical record of where we had been and where we wanted to go. Words of dreamers and leaders, of people and nations - like magic, they transformed the world. Another set of magic words are called scripture. Every major religion has their set of scriptures. Sometimes they are words recorded by so-called prophets. Often scriptures are supposed messages from angels or little “g” gods. The Holy Bible is a different story all-together. Though written by flesh and blood people, the Bible is God-breathed, meaning these scriptures are actually holy words, direct from the one true God. The Bible is full of text designed for worship. It is full of stories about God’s people, first the Israelites, then Christ-followers. And some of the Bible’s most powerful words teach lowly humans how to properly communicate with God. Prayer. We treat those words with mystical reverence when hoping to sway God’s benevolence our way. We struggle to find the right combination, the right repetition or incantation to back God into a corner, forcing Him to come through for us. Prayer was designed to be worshipful. Prayer and Scripture is the way God opened up communication with us after our Fall to sin. Though for many, it is just a tool to get what they want, when they want it. For some prayer is a religious rite; a motion to go through that only hints at the peace that already belongs to those in Christ. Instead of recognizing that the power of prayer stems from God, some fall prey to believing the power is

actually in the words. Just as we hold some words up to be holy, we toss harmful words around as if they mean little. When we say something we know we shouldn’t—then they are just words. It’s a dichotomy. Words are holy and powerful, yet casual and easily dismissed. James 3:10 says, “And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!” Sticks and stones have nothing on the sting of a well-placed word. The human heart recognizes that the right words at the right time are indeed magical, just as the wrong words at the wrong time can destroy with greater effect than a nuclear bomb. One of the many names of God is actually the Word. In fact, it was through the Word that all of creation came to be. Creation was spoken into being. So there is a tremendous amount of power in words. At least in God’s Words. One of the ways we were made in God’s image is the capacity to speak. God walked and talked with his beloved humans in the Garden. One of the first tasks mankind had was to name the animals God created. We were created to join a conversation with God. But are we equipped to wield such power? Like Spider Man’s Uncle Ben said, “With great power, comes great responsibility.” Sadly, human beings don’t have the greatest track record when it comes to power. Early on, civilization was united and decided to build a tower that stretched all the way to the Heavens. God didn’t fancy that idea and confused the languages, ultimately dispersing a united humanity to the corners of the world. Yet here we are again, in a time where language barriers are breaking down with new technology making it possible to unite us like never before. And for the most part, it seems like the world is out to prove that either God doesn’t exist or we simply don’t need Him anymore. History proves that this attitude towards God never ends well. But once we start running our mouths, it inevitably puts us on a crash course with disaster. Perhaps the magic words the world needs now more than ever is silence. Proverbs 17:28 says, “Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.” wolc.org | readthemanna.org | June 2012

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Immutable By Debbie Byrd

’ve never been one easily offended by words. Every one of us uses words differently and, more often than not, when we think we’ve made ourselves as understood as possible, our basic choice of words can relay a message different than that intended. And we can use a word one day meaning one thing and turn around and use it again tomorrow intending something entirely different. Sometimes words and phrases become cliché and lose meaning. When that happens they can become redundant and shallow and have no real meaning. Sometimes words and phrases become so widely used cross-culturally and cross-generationally that they become confusing. “Groovy”: full of ruts or super-cool? “Cool”: chilly or nifty? “Nifty”: uniquely cool or bad?

“Bad”: poorly behaving or really cool? Sometimes words and phrases can be construed as offensive when there may be no intent to offend. “Whaaassssup?” “No problem.” One could study the Bible and associated commentaries for a lifetime and there would still be much to learn and understand about the truths and wisdom therein. A superficial reading might imply one thing. But in really seeking out God’s intent by, for example, turning to the original Greek or Hebrew, one can find incredible clarity in God’s word choice.

Every time we make a sincere effort to seek the Lord in His Word or try to better understand His Word by using a study guide or taking a class, we grow a little closer to God and in knowledge and understanding of Him. The breadth and depth of our God is incomprehensible from our human perspective. But because He is so infinite, we are still only scratching the surface. It’s very difficult to seek the will of the Lord unless we get ourselves out of the way. We can’t convince God that things ought to work out this way or that. God has His own plan, and who are we to think we are able to change the course of God’s will

to fit our own? It might, perhaps, be God’s will to allow us to follow our own will so that we might learning something Is it then a useless situation? What will be, will be? Absolutely not! By growing closer to God, we learn to set aside self. We learn that, regardless of our role in His plan, He gives us strength and wisdom. When sickness, financial woes, or some other tragedy strikes, we have a peace in it as we walk with Him. When we experience great success, He rejoices with us and reminds us that it isn’t really our success, but His, and that we are the vessels He uses to accomplish His plan. We learn that the purpose in all we do, in every situation, is to bring glory to Him! Through His Word, the Lord gives us peace and discernment, wisdom and patience. We can gain insights studying what other godly people have written about their experiences and revelations. Often we search only for what we like to call the deep truths of the Word. Well, the deep truths are far simpler than some imagine. God’s Word shares all the practical knowledge we need to live our daily lives as He would have us live—how to get along with family, neighbors, and co-workers; how to encourage a child whose feelings have been hurt by the cruel words of other children; how to manage a business or a home; how to remain focused on good in a bad world. The practicality of things is very important. If we only have a belief system versus a way-of-life system, we have nothing of practical value. We can sit and contemplate truth and love and peace and accomplish nothing. Or we can seek God’s direction for what He would have us do and then go do it, knowing He will provide the strength, wisdom, insight, and fortitude for us to do it. There is absolutely no situation in this life where we cannot apply God’s direction—knowing with confidence that His Word is the best guidance we can seek, and that His Word will never fail to direct our steps and never lead us in the wrong direction. God is His Word, and His Word is life to all who seek Him with a sincere heart. One thing is sure: God’s Word is unchanging. It doesn’t mean “cool” today and “phat” tomorrow. It is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. If you lay down the best-sellers of the day and pick up the bestseller of all time—the words don’t change, but they will change your life forever!

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Bathing (Sweat) Suit By Karen Tull

ummertime officially arrives this month. Teachers and students everywhere, rejoice! Time to put away the book bags and lunch boxes and break out the flip-flops and lawn chairs. Let’s roll down the windows and turn up The Beach Boys. Throw some meat on that grill and pass the watermelon. Each change of season brings with it new things to enjoy—and there’s a lot to enjoy about summer. Admittedly, however, I do not share in the collective love affair with it. Around my pre-teen years, summer began to mean only one dreaded reality: Less clothing. With sniffles, I am forced to pack away my beloved sweaters and hooded sweatshirts. Good-bye, security blanket. Hello, imperfect bod and ethereally-white limbs for all the world to see. (No, it’s not a ghost—just me wearing shorts.) I know I’m not alone in this. When temperatures are high, so is self-consciousness. And not exclusively among women—men feel it, too. Maybe we didn’t start dieting early enough this winter or spring, and we’re thinking, “Wait! I’m not ready yet! Give me another month to get to my goal weight!” Some of us may be so staunch that we refuse to give up the clothes that make us feel comfortable. Sure, it’s close to one million degrees outside and everyone else on the beach is wearing a bathing suit—but not us. We’re still rocking the long sleeves and pants. We try to pretend like the make-up isn’t running down our faces. Nope, we’re not hot at all. It’s quite pleasant out here, actually. In fact, there’s a chill in the air from the breeze coming off of the water. Can’t you feel it? (Riiiiiiight.) (Question: Why would a woman squeal and hide if she were seen wearing only her undergarments, but feels

perfectly at ease in public with a bikini on? It’s likely that she’s more covered up in the former situation. It’s these kinds of questions that can keep a person awake at night. But I digress...) We can try to pull this same cover-up stunt with God. When we sin, we feel keenly aware of our imperfections, and so we run and hide. We tell God, “No, don’t look! You won’t like what you see! Let me improve myself first and then I can come back to You!” Adam and Eve dealt with the same feelings after they had sinned. In their shame and embarrassment, they couldn’t bring themselves to face God. “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’ He answered, ‘I heard You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid’” (Genesis 3:8-10). The beautiful truth is that God has already seen everything we don’t want others to see—and He loves and accepts us anyway. Where else could we ever find that? Jesus Christ died for our sins, and when we come to Him asking for salvation, He clothes us with His righteousness. From that point on, when God looks at us, He no longer sees flaws, but the perfection of His Son. Yes, we’re still going to struggle with sin. But when we do, we don’t need a self-imposed wait period or some “good” deeds under our belt to make ourselves appealing again. We can run toward God right away, assured of His mercy and forgiveness. And whenever we feel insecure about who we are—inside or out—let’s just say to ourselves, “Hey, I’m a work in progress.”

wolc.org | readthemanna.org | June 2012

Songs of Lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; Or Death By Brittney Switala

t’s amazing what you can learn in a matter of seconds when kids walk in the door. A tumble of words…Bug bite. Band-aid. Throw-up. He’s cute. She’s mean. But on one of those days, the kids bursting in the door had a different air. My daughter Lindsey seemed anxious and upset. She had just had a conflict with a parent over the music on her iPod, and Lindsey is never one to invite conflict. The parent who drove her and several other students home that day heard Lindsey’s Christian hiphop music and confronted her about it. Even as Lindsey explained it was Christian artist TobyMac, that knowledge did not sway his opinion. He said, “The sound of the music did not glorify God.” His conclusion left Lindsey—as well as me—puzzled. A few days later, I found myself at the grocery store when a fun, 1960s-throwback pop song came over the speakers. It was the style of song parents would typically find innocuous (or at least more harmless than most rap or hip-hop music.) I typed the words from the song’s chorus into my search engine with disturbing results. I wanted to be able to enjoy the song, but I couldn’t in good conscience. The words—not the retro tune—had made the decision for me. My view on the power of words in music was solidified years ago while reading Rick Warren’s influential bestseller, The Purpose Driven Life, in which he writes: “There is no such thing as ‘Christian’ music; there are only Christian lyrics. It is the words that make a song sacred, not the tune. There are no spiritual tunes. If I played a song for you without the words, you’d have no way of knowing if it were a ‘Christian’ song.” I know of a band that plays a rather comical game while traveling on their tour bus. One person will play the first few notes of a song and the others will have to answer whether the song is “Christian” or “secular.” One member claims the game is fairly simple—because Christian music is almost always produced with the vocals “hot.” Being able to actually hear and understand the words to a Christian song allows the listener the opportunity to join in worship. I have seen firsthand how the words to music can bring life, both physical and spiritual. A woman who was ready

to make an irreversible choice instead pulled over in her car and gave her heart to Jesus after flipping through radio stations and finding “God So Loved” by Jaci Velasquez. She called the station to say how the simple childhood verse (John 3:16) in the song had saved her life—in more than one way. Another woman wrote me a letter to thank me for playing uplifting music that “pulled her through” the time of day when she felt most tempted to fall back into her old habit of alcohol abuse. In both cases, these lives were enriched by the hope-filled words found on Christian radio. On the flip-side, songs can just as easily promote a lifestyle of hatred and death. Just within the last few weeks, rap artist Lil Boosie was charged and then acquitted of murder. Eight minutes after a shooting, Lil Boosie recorded lines for a song called “Body Bag,” rapping the words, “Curtain call. Put that [expletive] brains on the wall.” In February, another rapper tweeted hints to his involvement in a murder and was charged. One of the most notorious cases of lyrics inspiring violence is the connection between Marilyn Manson and the 1999 Columbine massacre in Colorado. More recently, influence from the band Slipknot’s music was tied to a double murder in Oklahoma. Lyrics are written out of the beliefs and emotions of a passionate person, and when we sing them we are, in a sense, agreeing with their sentiment—for life or death. That is one of the reasons why James writes so passionately in the Bible about what comes out of the mouth: “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be” (James 3:9-10). A father and daughter were riding together when she asked her dad to turn up a song on the radio. She asked, “Do you like this song?” Unbeknownst to her, he knew the words and said, “Why don’t you sing it for me.” They were coming up to a part of the song with ungodly lyrics and she sheepishly whispered the words. Dad responded wisely, “If you can sing a song to me without shame, it’s a pretty good test you can sing it before God without shame. If not, it’s probably not a song worth listening to.”

wolc.org | readthemanna.org | June 2012

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Our Roof

By Joe Willey

Replay | This article first appeared in the May 2010 edition

alt Whitman is the only poet who ever made me cry. I don’t mean to say I was on the floor weeping, but tears trickled down my cheeks as I read Song of Myself. I used to read aloud just to hear the words bounce off the bare walls and wonder if Whitman also liked the sound of his own words bouncing back. I have, for a while now, thought about what exactly it was that caused me to be so stirred by the words of Walt Whitman. It was the fire in his poetry that got my attention first. His works are like a throttle stuck wide open. They move down a road fast, never out of control or exactly dangerous, but wild enough to keep you attentive to the trip, the beads of perspiration cooling on your forehead. There is confidence seeping from almost every word, too. I’m sure it wasn’t always that way, but by the time I had found Leaves of Grass, he had been dead for 98 years. The photo on the cover shows him with long unruly grey hair blasted back and a wiry, unmovable grey beard. He didn’t look unsure. Whitman’s words had a confidence like nothing else I had ever read. I’ve come to see that the confidence he had was rooted in purpose. He was writing what he wanted to write. It all just spilled out in great poetic shouts and swells. It was still exciting to read his poems all those years later. To me anyone who could wield that kind of mastery with his life’s work was profoundly important. In Song of Myself Whitman wrote, “I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world.” I didn’t think he was kidding. That line, which seemed to shake the walls I was reading to, is the bone that gets stuck in my throat now. I know now, that it really isn’t Walt Whitman’s “barbaric yawp” that mat-

ters. That’s not really purpose, only pride. Screaming over everyone’s head to celebrate your existence may sound fine, but it is celebrating in word, not deed. I think I understand what Walt Whitman was getting at though, or at least why he felt that way. Really, doesn’t it boil down to wanting your life to amount to something and being successful in what matters to you? That seems to be the way we are all naturally bent. We want to be great at something, floating above the crush of monotony that surrounds everyone. It sounds good. But, what if there is a problem with the way we are naturally bent? What if our inclinations are damning instead of redeeming? Isn’t there the possibility that our value lies not in our self-worth, but in our worth to another? If there is a God and this God sent His one-of-a-kind Son, Jesus Christ, to blot out our natural bent, then we better pay attention to Him. It is not a debate, or a joke. Our desire to hear what He has to say should be unrelenting. By following after Christ, I can be free from my damning inclinations, but there is a cost. Following Christ means giving up my meager ideas of self-worth and putting my worth in the value that comes from following Him. No celebrations or shouts can compare to His suffering. So, I ask myself what Jesus Christ’s “barbaric yawp” sounds like. It sounds like silence, instead of a boast. It sounds like the crack of a whip, instead of a pat on the back. Whitman’s “barbaric yawp” is only a squeak echoing through the halls of heaven, but Christ’s silence is the music of eternity. What I hear from Christ’s sufferings is not the success of selfishness, but a purpose that is profound and eternal. A purpose that Whitman’s writing never had and the only purpose that matters.

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Embodied Truth By Ravi Zacharias

he first and most important step to understanding the nature of truth is exemplified in a conversation between Jesus and Pilate. The conversation began with Pilate asking Jesus if indeed he was a king. The very surprising answer of Jesus was, “Are you asking this of your own, or has someone else set you up for this?” In effect, Jesus was asking Pilate if this was a genuine question or purely an academic one. He was not merely checking on Pilate’s sincerity. He was opening up Pilate’s heart to himself, to reveal to Pilate his unwillingness to deal with the implications of Jesus’s answer. In the pursuit of truth, intent is prior to content, or to the availability of it. The love of truth and the willingness to submit to its demands is the first step. But second, Jesus said something even more extraordinary. After claiming his lordship was rooted in a kingdom that was not of this world, he said, “They that are on the side of truth, listen to me” (John 18:37). Jesus was not merely establishing the existence of truth, but his pristine embodiment of it. He was identical with the truth. This meant that everything he said and did, and the life he lived in the flesh, represented that which was in keeping with ultimate reality. And therefore, to reject him is to choose to govern one’s self with a lie. God’s answers to life’s questions of origin, meaning, morality, and destiny are not just proven by the process of abstract reasoning, but are also sustained by the rigors of experience. And in the reality of history, God has demonstrated empirically the living out of truth in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of his Son, recently celebrated. In short, the intimations of truth come in multisensory fashion. The Guardian of Reason leads us to check the correspondence of his word with reality and to ascertain the coherence of the assertions. But our experience in life proves those truths in concrete reality. Our grand privilege is to know God, to bring our lives into conformity with truth, which leads us to that coherence within. Christ has said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” In a world increasingly enslaved by error and alienation and seduced by images to believe a lie, how wonderful to be freed by the truth to Christ’s peace. The Scriptures tell us that the enemy of our souls is the father of

all lies. He will do anything to keep us from coming to the truth because it is the most valuable thing in the world, and leads us to the source of all truth, to God alone. To all of this the skeptic might say that such conclusions may be drawn only if the God of the Bible exists. To that I heartily answer, Absolutely! And on numerous campuses around the world it has been my thrilling privilege to present a defense for the existence of God, the reality of the resurrection, and the authority of the Scriptures unique in their splendor and convincing in the truth they proclaim. But let us not miss what the skeptic unwittingly surrenders by saying that all this could be true only if God exists. For implicit in that concession is the Law of Non-contradiction and the Law of Rational Inference, which exist only if truth exists. Truth, in turn, can exist only if there is an objective standard by which to measure it. That objective, unchanging absolute is God. I heard a cute little story, growing up in India. It is the story of a little boy who had lots of pretty marbles. But he was constantly eyeing his sister’s bagful of candy. One day he said to her, “If you give me all your candy, I’ll give you all of my marbles.” She gave it much thought, and agreed to the trade. He took all her candy and went back to his room to get his marbles. But the more he admired them the more reluctant he became to give them all up. So he hid the best of them under his pillow and took the rest to her. That night, she slept soundly, while he tossed and turned restlessly, unable to sleep and thinking, “I wonder if she gave me all the candy?” I have often wondered, when I see our angry culture claiming that God has not given us enough evidence, if it is not the veiled restlessness of lives that live in doubt because of their own duplicity. The battle in our time is posed as one of the intellect, in the assertion that truth is unknowable. But that may be only a veneer for the real battle, that of the heart. Ravi Zacharias is founder and chairman of the board of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia. Embodied Truth by Ravi Zacharias, A Slice of Infinity, No. 2699, originally printed April 11, 2012 (www.rzim. org). Used by permission of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. wolc.org | readthemanna.org | June 2012

Unspoken Words By B.A. Timmons

he was about seven months along and carried her baby gracefully, without apparent effort or discomfort. Her body seemed built to accommodate an extra little being, like a gift to her. At the risk of venturing into the world of a pregnant woman’s emotions, I couldn’t resist the urge to voice an observation. She was a good friend, so it felt relatively safe to do so. “I hope this isn’t inappropriate, but I wanted to tell you how good you look carrying your baby. You seem content.” She thanked me for the compliment, and it was clear that she was open to a discussion about her appearance. “I’m not just complimenting you,” I said. “It’s as if when God thought of the idea of women carrying children, He pictured a woman like you. Your whole body says, ‘A new life is coming, I’m getting ready for it, and everything is good.’” I was patting myself on the back for encouraging this sister. Surely the words did great justice to her condition. But the satisfaction was short-lived, because in a few moments she responded with these words, which could only come from one who has been there: “I cannot even describe how I feel inside. You hear people say how blessed they are and you think to yourself that we are all blessed in so many ways, which we are. However, I feel for the first time that He has opened my

eyes and my heart to the true meaning (of being blessed). I feel like I am experiencing life like I never have.” It was the perfect response. She confirmed that what she looked like to me on the outside was one and the same with what was going on inside, but to an even greater degree. That was the beauty of the conversation. She didn’t have to say one word to me about how she felt. It was completely apparent. Perhaps for the first time I understood clearly, without doubt, what people mean when they say a woman is “glowing.” This is the best kind of testimony. It isn’t one based on what the person says they are experiencing. Rather, it is happening before our eyes. The best evidence of an inner work is not in the words; it is in the actions. And the power of those actions is indisputable. It is why, sometimes, the best testimony is to just live.

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