Salt Magazine theSaltMag.com
the orphan heart Issue 4 | 2013
Contents 4 | Living Life Up, In, and Out Waypoint Church 11 | Rejuvenating Women Julie Shrader
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14 | Omaha Insurance Services Doug Finley 15 | Robinson's Reflections Atlantis 17 | Omaha City Life Live Life Right
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18 | The Orphan Heart Epidemic Cover Story 23 | Book Reviews Language of Blessing The Way of Jacob 26 | God, Father to the Fatherless GodsWordAlive.org 30 | On the Defensive Dave Gehrls of CFCI
11 The Salt Vision Salt Magazine focuses on 7 spheres of influence that span across all areas of the society we live in.
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Our mission is to bring a new perspective, the "Salt" and "Light" of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to YOUR sphere of influence right now! You will notice the symbol
Letter from the Editors Dear Readers of Salt Magazine, You did not accidently find this magazine; this is an appointment to hear from the Father heart of God! The theme of this issue is one rarely talked about, but it is running wild in every sphere of influence we live in. Our cover story explains what this "orphan heart" epidemic is, and it will open your eyes to how we all fall into this serious condition in some form. In this issue, our main local authority on the "orphan heart" is Pastor Matthew Anderson of Waypoint Church, our home church. His series on this subject inspired our entire church to see our lives in a completely new light.
Salt Magazine
Founder & CEO Allan Pettit Editor In Chief
Read the Waypoint Church article to ignite your faith! Encourage the family unit with Rejuvenating Women and Linda Robinson's column. Find Christian entertainment with Omaha City Life. Educate yourself with our two book reviews. See our government's agendas in light of our entire country's "orphan heart" from the perspective of Dave Gehrls of CFCI, and more!
Nicole Pettit
We pray you enjoy this issue, post it to your social media, and help us get the word out while loving your neighbor as yourself.
Velma Sanders
In Christ, Allan & Nicole Pettit
Angela Ramos
Content Manager Nicole Pettit Contributing Writer
Contributing Writer
Contributing Writer Linda Robinson Graphic Artist and the highlighted sphere in the initial margin of each story. These spheres are: Faith, Family, Education, Government, Arts & Entertainment, Business, and Media. We believe that if everyone focuses on influencing all these spheres for Jesus Christ, long-lasting revival will break out for generations!
Allan Pettit
Faith
Matthew Anderson: Senior Pastor of Waypoint Church
UPIN
Living Life
and
OUT by Angela Ramos
Pastor Matthew Anderson of Waypoint Church in Omaha, Nebraska shares an inspirational testimony of God working in his life, his city, and the world! He also sheds light on what the "orphan heart" is. Tell us about yourself. I am Matthew Anderson, senior
pastor of Waypoint Church. Who I feel like I am, though, is a son first, then a husband, then a father, and then I'm the leader of a church. I gave my life to Jesus when I was five. Since then, I have been doing all I can to live for the Lord. However, that led to an attitude of pride and arrogance. In my younger years, www.thesaltmag.com | 5
I remember thinking God would benefit from me being on His team. I remember one day, in college, I was reading Hebrews chapter 13, where it specifically talks about Jesus going outside the city gates and dying. I didn’t know what that meant. I was puzzled, so I began to study it. I began to get out commentaries and research it to figure out what it meant that Jesus went
Son, if I wouldn’t have gone outside the city gates, I couldn’t have gotten you.
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outside the city gates. I discovered that it was talking about how Hebrews lived in the Old Testament.
As the Israelites came out of Egypt, they set up camps with the Tabernacle in the center. Outside the community were the lepers, criminals, and foreigners. The sacrificial remains also were burned there. The image of the area outside the camp became very clear: it was a place full of disease and crime, people who did not belong. Out of pride and arrogance, I began to ask Jesus why He went outside the gates to die. I heard Him say, "Son, if I wouldn’t have gone outside the city gates, I couldn’t have gotten you." He also began to reveal my heart to me. He exposed the sin there, the hatred and lust. I was broken and began to weep. Amazingly, as He was revealing my state apart from Him, He was calling me His son. I was 19 then; now I'm almost 42. It has been a tremendous journey, discovering what it is to be a son, and living in relationship with Him.
Tell us about the journey that God has for you and Waypoint. Shortly after that encounter with God, I had another encounter with Him. He spoke to me and said, "You are going to plant churches." I didn't really know what that meant; I had never been part of a church that planted churches. Then, about the same time, I was in my room studying the Bible and praying around this same scripture, Hebrews 13. It goes on to say "Therefore, let us go out bearing the same disgrace he bore" (Hebrews 13:13, paraphrase). Basically, what He began to speak to me about was His heart for the lepers of our day, the criminals and sincursed of our day, the foreigners of our day. He began to speak to me about His heart for the poor and our responsibility as believers. I tried to fit all of these together: His heart for the poor, a call to plant churches, and sonship. It was all beginning to weave itself together. I started working for a small organization after college, called Word Made Flesh. I was seeing street children rescued off the street in India. It was an amazing experience. Yet, as I did that, the Lord continued to speak to me about planting churches. As I moved on from there, I met my wife, which was another story. She is amazing, so I'm so thankful for her--we're a team. www.thesaltmag.com | 6
Then I moved on to doing youth ministry, and from there into the inner city of Omaha with a ministry called Fusion through Trinity Church, which is now Lifegate. All along, the Lord continued saying, "I want you to plant churches." So, I moved from the inner city work to becoming the young adult pastor of Trinity with the intention there of planting churches and raising people up to plant churches. That ministry was called Terra Nova, and we did raise up people to plant churches. However, because of different calls on our lives, Trinity and I both decided it was best that they release me to plant a church. In 2007, Waypoint Church was planted, with the vision to plant churches all over the world. Currently, we have 11 people in the field, in Scotland, Sicily, and Thailand. The team in Scotland ministers to university students and has sent missionaries to East Asia. In Thailand, we are working with girls who have been sexually abused. The team in Sicily works with homeless refugees. There is a definite influence of God's heart for the poor on Waypoint. We believe God called us to be here, transforming this city and other nations around the world. Honestly, that is only part of the story. In 2000, my wife and I had a team of six other people come around us and commit to
Pastor Matthew Anderson of Waypoint Church delivering a passionate message go with us to plant a church. We were thinking of a third world country, or the undeveloped world; we had 13 cities in mind, such as Calcutta, India; Manila in the Philippines; Jakarta, Indonesia; Madras (now called Chennai), India, etc. We were praying and entered into a 40day fast, saying, "Lord, where do You want us to go? We have six people." We had two doctors, a lawyer, and a couple of administrators. We were going to plant a church somewhere in one of those cities.
I was fasting and praying, and the Lord grabbed my heart and began to speak to me. First of all, He showed me some of the things in my heart that needed to change, and I was broken. Then, He began to speak to me about my generation, and I wept for an hour. He "downloaded" things to me during that hour about my generation and myself, and I remember saying, "Lord, I'm scared to ask what this means." When the Lord breaks in and does something significant in your life, it is sometimes an invitation into something He is doing. Long www.thesaltmag.com | 7
story short, over the next two weeks, as we prayed and fasted, we sensed the Lord saying, "You can plant a church in the nations and I will bless it, but if you stay in Omaha and invest in this generation, I will plant multiple churches through it." So, we said "done deal," and that is why we are here. How can people plug into Waypoint? Lately, we feel like the Lord has been saying it is time to develop the local thrust, so we are really working on that now. We have
Plugging into Waypoint Church...
Intensive 8-month discipleship program about 20 small groups that meet regularly throughout the city. So we are community and outreach driven; not only that, but we have training schools that people can get involved in. One training school is Ignite, a discipleship school. We want people to go deep with God, and we are giving them the tools they need to do that. Then, we have our church-planting school. We do outreaches in our city, and those are going to increase and become recurring. We believe God has given us a target place in our city that will lead to many more opportunities for people to be plugged in. Other programs include the children's ministry, the youth ministry, and a prophetic prayer team ministry. You mentioned being a son of God. Can you explain how this relates to the orphan heart?
Young Adult Gathering A person with an orphan heart does not understand they are a son or a daughter of the Most High God. According to the book Spiritual Slavery to Spiritual Sonship by Jack Frost, many people do not know how it is to have a good father or a good mother. It may leave them with a hole in their heart. God has created us to have parents-good parents. Often, an orphanhearted individual feels he or she has to grab anything they can get, creating jealousy, envy, and an inability to celebrate the victory of others. It can produce a victim mentality. Such individuals tend to prefer to do things on their own. That's being an orphan. This dynamic may even occur among church leaders. They may get nervous when someone else succeeds. A leader's goal should be to help sons and daughters do their best--to see them step into all www.thesaltmag.com | 8
that God has for them. Therefore, the orphan heart is not only about orphans leaving church, it may be about leaders in the church not being good leaders. Jack Frost says you can't cast an orphan spirit out--you displace it, and replace it with the heart of a son. The antidote is coming under the Father, submitting fully and letting him reconstruct and rebuild you. He is not going to demolish you; He is here to take you and make you new, to build you back up. God wants to bring healing and wholeness. Our Heavenly Father wants to bring orphans into the family. What we can do is yield and submit to Him. Jack Frost provides readers with a practical resource about this.
Waypoint's Harvest Fest 2013 reached hundreds in the community sharing the Gospel and the love of Jesus Christ.
Interdependent. The orphan is very independent; they are just an independent spirit. They do things on their own, whereas the heart of a son is interdependent. We don’t do it on our own, in a vacuum. We are interdependent upon each other. We lock arms together and submit to one another. The motivation of an orphan is fear--fear of what they are going to lose, how they are going to get hurt. A son's motivation is love and faith. What are some prayer requests for Waypoint Church? We recently purchased a building, so we need prayer as we renovate it and transition to the new location. We really believe the building is not an end, it is a means to ministry.
Now, we believe God is saying it is time for us to have a place where we can really dig into the community. So, please pray for that.
Body of Christ; it is about loving the church, loving one another, being involved with one another's lives, and serving one another.
Secondly, we understand that we need to be "Up, In, and Out" and love God with all of our hearts. "Up, In, and Out" is the DNA of Waypoint. It is a synopsis of the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.
The "Out" part is going to the nations, as well as having a transformational impact on our society right here in Omaha. I think where we could really use prayer is on the "In" part; we want to become a church where it is very clear how people can become involved and have impact. Right now, we are working on bringing
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What would a submitted heart look like?
We believe everyone should be intimate with Jesus, and have a personal devotional life. We want people to know and understand worship. We want people to encounter God and the supernatural, and be intimate with the Father. He is our Daddy, and we need to be able to know that. That is "Up." The "In" is all about life in the www.thesaltmag.com | 9
We want people to encounter God and the supernatural, and be intimate with the Father. He is our Daddy
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tangibility to the "In" part of our structure. Please pray for wisdom during this process.
never left, and He is never going to leave you. He will work through that with you.
What are some practical things you wish you knew when you were younger?
Visit Waypoint this week!
It's all worth it--seeking Jesus, laying down your life, working through the disappointments in life. Don’t give up; don’t ever give up. Don’t ever turn your back, even when you do not know if He's there. Keep going after Him, keep getting on your knees, worshiping, keep doing it--no matter how you feel or don’t feel. Don’t give up; work through the gap between what you think should be and what is. Know without a shadow of a doubt that God is good, period. There might be circumstances in your life where you are just bummed out, or disappointed. Maybe something didn't come through, whatever it may be: maybe someone died before their time. Perhaps it is the loss of a job, or death of a vision, or it took 20 years to get where you are now instead of five. Every disappointment and all those times where you wonder, Can I hope again? I would say, "Hope again." Let your motto be "No regrets." If you lose hope or let the disappointments take over you, you will have regrets. Jesus is amazing! He's good; He will always come through. He will always be faithful. Of Course, there will be disappointments, but He has
Waypoint holds Sunday service at 10 a.m. at Norris Middle School, 2235 S 46th Street (near 46th and Bancroft, about two blocks south of Center Street). There are also small groups (Lifegroups) throughout the week. Podcast resources are available on the website under the Media section, including the sermon series about the orphan's heart.
ealry 2013, Pastor Ty Shenzel of The Hope Center has joined Waypoint Church as their youth pastor. For more information on Lifegroups, podcasts, location change information, and any other questions, please visit: www.waypointomaha.com.
Click Here to listen to Pastor Matthew's entire series on the orphan heart. It is anticipated that Waypoint will move to their new location at 1313 N 48th Ave. (the former Kelley's Hiltop Lanes, near 48th and Hamilton) in late 2014. Since this interview back in
Pastor Matthew Anderson and his family www.thesaltmag.com | 10
by Angela Ramos
Family
Julie Shrader says she was "hired by God for this job" and when God hires a worker, you can be assured it will be no small task! So, what is Julie's job? Julie Shrader is a ministry. She hosts a radio show, provides online resources, and facilitates a support group-and that's after work! Julie had "the desire to start something for hurting women" and indeed, God worked overtime to fulfill that desire. Almost immediately after Julie turned her life over to Christ spiritually, she gave her life to Him physically as well. The women's group meets every other Thursday. The radio program, which features women's testimonies, airs every Saturday. There is also a Facebook page called
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Heaven is hiring: meet Julie Shrader of Rejuvenating Women.
Shame No More. Further, Julie maintains a Rejuvenating Women website, and takes calls or texts at 402-522-6811. How's that for a job description? All of this is accomplished in addition to her career and somehow, Julie finds time for the recreational activities she also enjoys, such as boating, exercise, spending time with her grandson, and spending time with God.
Shame
Julie says she feels very personal about her time alone with God. She suggests we should open our Bible and read every day, even if it is just one verse. For Julie, this is part of her relationship with Him--a relationship she never thought she would have. She most enjoys reading about the various www.thesaltmag.com | 11
No More! people in the Bible and understanding how their lives are intertwined with our lives today. That Julie is a woman rejuvenated is crystal clear. However, before Julie came to know Christ, she says she made some "unhealthy choices." Julie was raised by a single mother after her dad left her mother, along with her and her brother and sister, when Julie was five years old. The family struggled, receiving welfare assistance to get by. Julie's mom, herself a Christian, did her best to keep the children on the right track.
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Julie was saved when she was 13 years old. However, Julie says she "stagnated," showing no "fruit" or growth. She dropped out of high school with only two credits left to earn. After this, she became pregnant. Julie spent her free time drinking alcohol, had an abortion, and was abused by her daughter's father--even during her pregnancy. For a time, it appeared Julie was finally getting her life back on track. She returned to school, earning her degree in medical assisting. Julie also got married. Unfortunately, even our best intentions are carried out at our own hands. After Julie married, she and her husband both became unfaithful. Ultimately, the two divorced. Julie says she needed the love of a father she did not get. Julie spent time with many men, but did not find fulfillment. Ultimately, Julie did re-marry. Her husband of 10 years, formerly an unsaved Catholic, recently also gave his life to Christ, shortly after Julie herself re-committed to the Lord. Today, Julie says she is grateful
to be alive. She recognizes the unhealthy choices she made in her past and understands what the ramifications may have been, had God not interceded. She knows He healed her. Julie prayed diligently to find a way to share that message with other women who were living in similar pain.
women, but fail to provide the opportunity to delve into such feelings. Such emotions require discussion. Women need to air their pain in order to heal. Pain is something we need to work our way through. Sweeping it under a rug serves little purpose in terms of recovery. "If you feel distraught," Julie says, "you feel like you don't deserve to have a better life. If you're in that position, get on your knees and talk to God." That is prayer: talking to God. "Tell Him how you feel, where you're at." Julie has personally experienced God's healing power. "God takes you to a different place…a place you have never been in your life." Yes, it is that dramatic. God transforms us into entirely new people, literally. We become new creations in Christ.
For a long time, Julie felt the pain of shame and guilt. She initially operated her Facebook page anonymously, concerned over what her co-workers would think of her. Such feelings often are the topic of discussion in her Rejuvenating Women groups. The women discuss shame, guilt, self-worth, forgiveness, and other subjects as the Lord leads, intended to promote healing. Oftentimes, Julie points out, organizations strive to help www.thesaltmag.com | 12
"He can do anything and everything," Julie says. Even if one is homeless, or facing the life-long scar of abortion, God can renew and rejuvenate us; hence the name, Rejuvenating Women. By speaking about the change God has wrought in her, she hopes to help other women who are "in the same boat." She herself found it helpful to know that if another can come from such a dark place and have a full, rich life, the same is possible for any of us--through
Christ. We are changed by His love for us. We are blessed. "We need to assure women and let them know there is a better way," says Julie. "The Lord provides‌[He is] Jehovah Jireh." One verse that has been a definite source of comfort for Julie is Isaiah 1:18, which tells us that though our sins may be red as crimson, Jesus makes them white as snow. For women who have walked a path similar to Julie's, there often is a feeling of being stained red as crimson. "When you take that verse and you own that verse, you feel Him cleanse you," Julie confirms. Another apt verse is 2 Corinthians 5:17, which lets us know we indeed are a new creation through Christ. To future generations, Julie offers this advice: "always seek Him. Pick up the Bible and read it every day. Ask Him to reveal what He wants you to see." This, Julie says, will "keep Him flowing." "Praising keeps you in Him, even when you want to run the other direction. It keeps Him walking with you every day." She explains that, once we are finally with the Lord, there will be joy and happiness. Life will be completely free of guilt and pain. She desires that for other people. In the here and now, she also is anxious to help others.
groups." She truly wants to minister to women in need and be the hands and feet of Jesus. Initially, Julie was concerned about accepting donations. Yes, she was grateful, but she wasn't motivated by donations. Ultimately, friends showed her that she could not singlehandedly fund the ministry with her own paychecks. Given the cost of rent, marketing, and other supplies and needs, it was difficult to keep the ministry going. Today, Julie looks forward to the possibilities that come with growth. On March 20, 2013, Rejuvenating Women officially became a certified non-profit ministry. If you are interested in tuning in to Julie's radio program, it runs from 3:30 to 3:55 p.m. Saturdays, on KCRO or 660 on the AM dial. The programs also are available on the website.
The group meets every Thursday from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. at the Salem Communications Building, just 1 block north of 120th and Dodge Streets (11717 Burt St. Suite 202 Omaha, NE 68154). For more information, visit www.rejuvenatingwomen.com or call/text 402-522-6811. Be blessed.
Julie prays for more women to connect with. "I know there are a lot more women out there that are afraid to call or come to Julie Shrader recording her radio show on KCRO www.thesaltmag.com | 13
Business
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Robinson's Reflections by Linda Robinson
Atlantis
Family
I
was excited on that special day with the thought of my brother, sister-inlaw and I driving to the city of Atlantis, located about a twoand-a-half hours away by car. It was early March, so the scenery out of the car window was more like winter. The flowers were still sleeping for the winter as the new buds had not yet appeared. Even so, a lot of details were floating through my mind as the scenery quickly passed by.
Upon arrival in Atlantis, there were many details and arrangements to make, in addition to spending time visiting my parents. It was wonderful to have time together with my mother and father, as they weren’t getting any younger. Earlier I’d thought about moving far away, but changed my plans as I didn’t want to be so far away as they were in their older years. My parents had always lived an interesting life and been kind, loving, and encouraging to me, just the way a person hoped that parents would be. They had always been my biggest cheerleaders and my heroes throughout of my lifetime. Upon arriving at the hotel and checking into my room, I found that the rooms were much different that I had anticipated. After putting my suitcase into my room and freshening up, I thought I would check out the recreation area. Walking into the Rec Hall, I heard the music over the sound system and I spotted several pool www.thesaltmag.com | 15
tables, ping pong tables, several magazine racks, along with a variety of fun things to do, in addition to offering couches, tables and chairs. As I walked towards the pool tables, there was a rather handsome, dark-haired young man in his early 20’s. He asked me if I would join him in playing a game of pool, and I said, “That would be fun,” as I located a pool cue. So, he set up the cue balls for a game and I asked him to break. I hadn’t played a game of pool in several years, but my rustiness was starting to wear off a little. My newfound friend remarked about the song on the radio, as his parents liked that style of music. I replied that I knew this singer’s brother, and we started a conversation. Since the conversation mentioned his mother and father, I asked him about them, and pretty soon we were in conversation about a close relationship that he had
with his parents, especially his mother. I’m not sure if it was because of our age difference, but he seemed very trusting. He mentioned that he was trying to work out some things in his life that he’d been going through, and I guess he could sense the genuine concern that I showed. He said that he would like to learn to play the guitar, and I mentioned a website that my son had started called Guitars Players for God, or, http:// christian-guitar.webs.com/. I told him that he should be sure to look up the website. He asked if we could sit down on the nearby couch and talk for a few minutes, if this was not being too forward, and I agreed. Then, the subject returned to some things that were on his mind. He told me that he had been to a church service recently and how he had heard that he could ask Jesus into his heart. He went on to say that lately he had been trying to read the Bible in an attempt to find the way to finding peace with God. Then, he asked me if I knew how he could find Jesus, and I told him that I did. I told him about how in Acts 16:31 the Bible says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (KJV). There is a song that many churches sing called "Come Into My Heart, Lord
Jesus." The words were as follows: "Into my heart, into my heart; Come into my heart, Lord Jesus." I asked if this was what he wanted and he assured me that yes, he wanted to pray now. So, we prayed. I asked him to repeat after me. “Dear Lord Jesus, I confess my sins and wrongdoing to you, and I ask that you forgive me and take it away from me. I ask you to come into my life and lead me and guide me in your ways in all things now and in the future. Help me to learn about you, and instruct and lead me in my life each day. Help me to learn more about you, and that I would be open to the leading of your Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.” My new friend looked up at me with a big smile on his face, with a sparkle in his dark eyes. He thanked me for praying and gave me a hug. We talked for a few minutes and then I noticed that I needed leave to go to my parent’s house for supper. I told him that I needed to go and told him that I hoped to run into him again. The next day, I was at the hotel and I decided to stop by the Rec Room for a few minutes, in case my new friend was there. Yes, he was there standing by the pool table and he called out to me. I walked over to him and asked how he www.thesaltmag.com | 16
was doing; he had a big smile on his face and said he was doing great. He went on to tell me that he that since we prayed, that he felt different inside. He said that he had this new happiness inside and that he had never felt such joy and happiness. He said that he felt a very special love inside that he had never experienced before. He felt very peaceful, and the worry and concern he had been carrying didn’t seem to bother him as it had. He said that he had some questions he would like to ask me. He told me that he wondered if he should prepare to be a priest or minister. I mentioned that I didn’t happen to be of the Catholic faith, although I had some friends that were Catholic. I told him that as he continued to pray and learn about Jesus, once he returned home, the Lord should give him instruction on what type of church he should join. I asked if he had plans to attend school, and I mentioned to him that the Lord could use education and that this would help to prepare him for future ministry. He asked more questions, and we talked for awhile. Then, he thanked me and said he hoped that we would run into each other again. I happened to run into him the next day and answered a few more questions. I felt that he
was well on his way to a committed relationship with the Lord. I knew that soon he would soon be going back to his home, where his parents and others that he met would help to lead, guide and nurture him in his faith. Soon I would be returning to my home, job, and loved ones.
John 16:33 (ESV) says, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Arts & Entertainment
As we run into those that need encouragement or guidance, trust in the Lord, and He will help to provide the right encouragement to share. As you live your own life and throughout your day with the many places that you travel to, try to be open for the divine appointments set by our Lord and Savior. Remember how Romans 1:16 (KJV) says, "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
Also, Mark 16:15 (NIV) says, “He said to them, ‘Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to all creation.” This could mean going to the grocery store, the library, the motel, or wherever your day happens to take you.
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Faith & Family
the orphan heart EPIDEMIC
by Angela Ramos A huge epidemic is sweeping across the United States and the world. It affects all ages, all races, and both genders. Many factors contribute to its severity. It is called the orphan heart. Simply put, a person afflicted with an "orphan heart" will behave as if he or she is an orphan. This outward behavior stems from much deeper issues. Even if you have living parents, this does not completely exempt you from being infected with an orphan heart. Salt Magazine will attempt to explain what this "orphan heart" is and how you can find its cure.
How do you measure up? Can you relate to any orphan-like attributes listed in the Bible? 2 Timothy 3:2-4, is one example that states, “for men will be lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to
parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God." This is just one list from the Bible. We will continue to share and expose more characterstics of this disease. Where does this orphan heart come from?
An Orphan is Born Pastor Matthew Anderson of Waypoint Church in Omaha, Nebraska has preached on this issue and uncovered truth on its cure. Drawing on information from Jack Frost’s book Spiritual Slavery to Spiritual Sonship, Pastor Matthew Anderson explains that the orphan heart goes back to when Adam and Eve sinned. Rather than viewing themselves as children of an all-knowing and wise God, the
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serpent convinced them that they were in competition with God, promising to give them the knowledge and status of God. For the orphan-hearted individual, the dynamic is the same. They are not truly part of a family, but instead are in direct competition with the other members of the family. Often, an orphan heart stems from a dysfunctional childhood. So, while the person is not necessarily an orphan in the literal sense, they may have been deprived of love and nurturing. “A lot of people don’t know what it is to have a good father or mother,” says Pastor Anderson. “It has left them with a hole, because God has created us to have good parents.” Because of the dysfunctionality within a family, the child loses trust in the parents. They may still turn to the parents for physical needs, but intimacy is withdrawn. This is a defense mechanism
better,” he points out. Pastor Anderson offers the example of Saul and David. Saul would not place himself under authority. He ignored the instruction he was given--and was constantly afraid that David would take his place as king. David, on the other hand, understood he was a son. He understood who God was and who he was in God. He was not afraid to submit. Most orphans do not submit. triggered by hurt. Children actually may develop a fear of love along with the fear of admonition. This is called a "closed spirit." The young person closes themself off to love and becomes isolated from meaningful, healthy relationships. They feel no option but to be self-reliant, creating even greater independence. Independence and self-reliance are cherished in our culture, Pastor Anderson points out, but are deadly in relationships, family, and community. The orphan-hearted person may begin to control others. They may have a belief that other people do not truly care and must be manipulated and forced to stay. Orphan thinking opens the door for a spirit of fear, thus the person is an orphan spiritually, as well. The person will seek satisfaction in substitutes. In his book, Jack Frost calls these the seven P’s: passion, possessions, position, performance, people, place, and power. God created us to interrelate with others. Thus, in the absence of a close bond with another person, the orphan heart may seek comfort from food, drugs, or illicit behaviors. They
may develop a focus on material gain, status, or wealth. When an orphan-hearted person does seek out another to find comfort, that person is viewed to be responsible for the orphan's every need, with no consideration of God’s provisions or the other individual’s needs.
The Full-Grown Orphan The orphan-hearted person believes he or she must grab anything they can get, says Pastor Anderson. Orphan thinking leaves one filled with jealousy, envy, and a victim mentality. The person is unable to be supportive of others and feels bitterness rather than joy when loved ones or people around them succeed. As such, orphan-hearted people cannot successfully lead a family; there is no encouragement or guidance. The same holds true with orphan-hearted leaders in any aspect, whether it be in business or church or some other position. There exists in such "leaders" a tendency to “grab control and squash what’s happening,” Pastor Anderson says. “We feel like someone is going to take our place or do
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How is the family affected? The sad truth is, having living parents does not exempt you from this orphan heart epidemic. Watching the nightly news proves it has a dangerous impact on the family unit. God instructs spouses in Ephesians 5 to love and respect each other, being “submitted” and giving up one’s own life. What is essentially commanded is that each spouse attempts to meet the needs of the other, rather than their own. This is a perfect model. Each has their needs met. However, if either partner is orphan-hearted and solely focuses on their own needs, the whole thing falls apart. And what about the children? The world would say we must put ourselves ahead of our children, that we must be happy to be capable parents. However, young children are unable to meet their own needs. As any parent knows, we care for our children--even when tired, ill, or emotionally drained. Likewise, we must do so with our husbands or wives. God has entrusted not only our spouse to our care, but our children as well. The command to seek the
good of others is not limited to other adults but especially our own family. When we engage in orphan-hearted behavior, we fail to follow the Biblical model for families.
The Cure God wants to bring healing and to bring all orphans into the family (John 14:2-3 and 14:18; Romans 8:14-17, Galatians 4:4-7). He wants to replace orphan hearts with hearts of sons and daughters. God sent Jesus to be our Lord and Savior, but He is also our role model. He clearly showed us how to be a son and relate to His Father. He lived for others just as He died for others. He acted in God’s will. Jesus came and lived a perfect life, free of sin, in perfect love with His Father. He died for our sins, taking the punishment we deserve, so that we may live! He restored our relationship to Father God! Thus, if you are struggling with orphanheartedness and not living as a true child of God (even if you are already a Christian) you should look to Christ, and the example of His relationship to His Father. So, you may ask, how do we create this kind of relationship with Father God? According to Jack Frost, you cannot cast an orphan spirit out-you displace it, and replace it with the heart of a son. “The antidote is coming under the Father, submitting fully, and letting him reconstruct and rebuild you,” says Pastor Anderson. “He's not going to demolish you. He's here to take you and make you new; to build you back up. That’s what our
Father does. What we can do is yield, and submit, to Him.”
The antidote is coming under the Father, submitting fully and letting him reconstruct and rebuild you.
As we submit ourselves fully to Father God, asking Him to give us the hearts of sons and daughters, it may also be helpful to take some proactive steps in our relationships with other people. We must forgive our parents for misrepresenting the Father’s love. There may have been abuse, or perhaps your parents were great people, but they did not know how to express affection or provide encouragement. There may be other authority figures we need to forgive as well, such as a boss or teacher. We must realize no one is perfect, and forgive as God forgives us. We need to focus on Jesus and follow His example.
A True Child of God When the walls of bitterness and resentment come down, we are better able to love as we are commanded to do. When we experience real genuine love, we achieve the ability to submit without fear. We step into our identity, the identity of children of God. We desire to live according to our Father God’s will, as Jesus did. We may also need to seek the forgiveness of those we have wronged. There is no guarantee this will sufficiently repair the relationship. Forgiveness does not amend broken trust. However, God promises blessings to us when we honor others in this way.
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"
Honoring parent begets long life (Ephesian 6:1-3). Answered prayers are the reward when one honors his or her spouse (1Peter 3:7). Honor is love in action. Honor is rooted in respect. It values others and speaks graciously, without condemnation. This also closes the door on our own condemnation and guilt. God provides not only our physical needs, but emotional needs as well. He can help us gain humility and submission. Do not buy into the lies and fears. Resist the devil and he will flee (James 4:7)!
As we take our place in God's family, our orphan thinking and tendencies can be overcome. We become part of a family, an orphan no longer. We cease to be controlling or independent and become interdependent. We submit to one another and work as a team. We love one another with the love of God.
Vital ISSue
Orphan heart response
IMAGE OF GOD
See God as Master
DEPENDENCY
Independence/self-reliant
THEOLOGY
Live by the Love of Law
SECURITY
Insecure/lack peace
NEED FOR APPROVAL
Strive for praise, approval, and acceptance of people.
GOD'S PRESENCE SEEMS
Conditional and distant
POSITION
Feel like a servant/slave
FUTURE
Fight for what you can get
VIEW OF AUTHORITY
See authority as a source of pain; distrust them and lack a heart attitude of submission
MOTIVE FOR SERVICE
Duty, personal achievement, earning God's favor, impress others
VISION
Spiritual ambition; the earnest desire for spiritual achievement and willing to strive for it; desire to be counted among mature
EXPRESSION OF LOVE
Guarded and conditional; based upon others' performance as you seek to get your own needs met
HANDLING OTHER'S
Accusation and exposure in order to make yourself look good by making others look bad
PEER RELATIONSHIPS
Competition, rivalry, and jealousy toward others' success and position
VIEW OF ADMONITION
Difficulty receiving admonition; you must be right so you easily get your feeling hurt and close your spirit to discipline
SOURCE OF COMFORT
Seek comfort in counterfeit affections: addictions, compulsions, escapism, busyness, hyper-religious activity
SELF-IMAGE
Self-rejection from comparing yourself with others
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se Heart of Sonship Respon
See God as loving Father Interdependent/acknowledges need Live by the Law of Love Rest and peace Totally accepted in God's love and justified by grace Close and intimate Feel like a son/daughter Sonship releases your inheritance Respectful, honoring; you see authorities as ministers of God for good in your life Pleasure and delight motivated by a deep gratitude for being unconditionally loved and accepted by God
To daily experience the Father's unconditional love and acceptance and then be sent out as a representative Open, patient, and affectionate as you lay your life and agendas down in order to meet the needs of others Love covers as you seek to restore others in a spirit of love and gentleness Humilty and unity as you value others and are able to rejoice in their blessings and succes Receiving admonition is a blessing and need in your life so that your faults and weaknesses are exposed and put to death
Seek times of quietness and solitude to rest in the Father's presence and love Positive and affirmed because you know you have value to God
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The Way of Jacob What does God require of us? A tithe on your net or gross income? Can you tithe to charities or only to your church? Will God punish or curse you if you don't tithe?? What is the way of Jacob? Instead of trying to appease an angry God, preventing punishment, or giving out of duty, C.R. Kuhns takes a close look at the scriptures on tithing and suggests a different approach. You will be surprised to learn what the Bible says about tithing, and other subjects! www.thesaltmag.com | 25
Faith
In light of whom God is as Father to the fatherless, and a defender of widows, the Psalmist David exhorts us to praise God with singing and to extol Him who rides on the clouds. We are summoned to celebrate gloriously with praises and acknowledge with joy and gladness the goodness of the Lord. The love of God is extended to all mankind, regardless of what state of life they may be in. But, the Bible reveals that God has a special concern for the weak, the poor, the homeless, the forgotten, the lonely, the abandoned and the outcast. This is amazing when we consider just who God is. David says, “He rides on the clouds and that He dwells in holiness; His name is the LORD.” After reading these words, the farthest thing that we would think would come to His mind are weak and feeble creatures of the earth; humanity. God, who is the creator, possessor and sustainer of all things; God, who knows everything; has all
power; and, works all things after the counsel of His own will. God, the great I AM; who requires nothing or no one to sustain Him. And yet, the Bible has revealed to us that this Almighty God is Father to the fatherless, and a defender of widows; helper of the lonely and company to the prisoner. These are special graces of mercy that God has divinely willed to aid and assist those who are in some type of relational lack. In each of these groups of people, we notice that there is someone important lacking in their lives. Some are destitute of fathers; others of spouse; some have no friends, and others are isolated from society altogether. God cares for those who are alone, and He upholds those who are isolated and cut off from others. In Psalm 68, we notice that it is to the fatherless that God’s care is first extended. The name and title given to God in this verse is, “Father of the Fatherless.”
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God, Father of the Fatherless. by Velma Sanders
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Psalm 68:4 – 6 (NIV): Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the LORD. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious
"
live in a sun-scorched land.
GOD, THE PERFECT FATHER The family institution is the oldest earthly institution created by God. Immediately after creating Adam as the first man, God creates a wife for him. And, soon thereafter, children were born to this union. When we read the Bible, we can see that because of sin, the image of father was marred, and Adam does not have much to show us about being a good father. But, the Bible reveals in both the Old and New Testaments that God is the perfect Father. He is first of all, the Father of Jesus Christ. Secondly, He is Father in relationship to Israel. Thirdly, He is Father to those who have trusted Him through faith in His Son and have been redeemed through His blood. Lastly, in His mercy, He becomes also a Father to the fatherless. Psalm 68:4-6 (NIV): Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the LORD. A
father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. He is a loving, kind, compassionate Father who nourishes, protects, chastises, defends, guides, and upholds His children. WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE FATHER?
Because the role of a father is eternal in its being and its nature, it is like no other position on earth. I believe that it is the highest position that can be granted to a man. The reason is because father and fatherhood (the role and responsibilities of a father) is before time and reaches into the eternal realm. Isaiah reveals this truth when He spoke of the Mighty God and called Him the "Everlasting Father." Earthly, human fathers are meant to be a
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reflection of who God is as Father. The role of a father is to nourish, protect, and uphold children; spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Father and fatherhood is an office, a position, a privilege, a responsibility, and it is a calling. It has spiritual obligations and responsibilities as a prophet, priest, and a king. The father was made by God to provide structure, dignity, and as a vehicle to bring about opportunities for grace, growth, and glory in children.
longing and the emptiness of a fatherless heart.
THE SAD TRUTH OF FATHERLESSNESS
• Those who have been abandoned (through rejection, irresponsibility and neglect). • Those whose father has passed through death (accidental, natural causes, murder and war). • Those whose father has been separated (through fractured families). • Those children who have been stolen from their parents and are being exploited (e.g., missing children). • And then, there are those who physically and biologically have and know their fathers. However, for various reasons, they have no substantial relationship with them, and may even have suffered some type of abuse and blatant neglect from them.
One of the many results of Adam’s disobedience to God is fatherlessness. If it had not been for sin, everyone would have a perfect father, and the family structure would have remained intact (with husband/father; wife/mother; children). Everyone would, of course, walk in the way of righteousness and in full fellowship with God. But, as we sadly know, sin entered into the world through Adam’s disobedience. And, its result has been deadly and devastating; shattering, fracturing, distorting and counterfeiting the Godordained family structure. One of its sorrowful effects is fatherlessness. Fatherlessness is nothing new. It is something that has existed since the fall of man. So deep was the fall of man that occurred thousands of years ago, and here we are in the 21st century, and the problem of fatherlessness has not lessoned; instead it has increased and made its presence known in every aspect of society. Unfortunately, fatherlessness has not disappeared. As long as there is mankind and humanity, there will be this social and even spiritual problem. Perhaps someone reading this article may be in the state of fatherlessness. Maybe you have been abandoned. To you, there is hope in God. God’s Word is a source of comfort and strength, hope and guidance. It is God’s desire that you be healed and whole. And, for that reason, God has undertaken to become a father to everyone who yields to Him through faith. God can fill the
We know that everyone is not fatherless. There are many who are blessed to have good and strong fathers. That is a blessing. But, there is a significant number of people within our society, and an even larger number in the world, who are without fathers. Some of the categories of fatherless children are:
God created children to have both a mother and a father. Although single family homes can be successful in many ways, there is still some lack without the father being in the home or actively involved in the lives of the children. If we are not careful, we may think fatherlessness is natural and normal. But, it is not; fatherlessness is a result of sin. There is much fruit on the tree of fatherlessness: stunted psychological and emotional growth, poverty; bitterness, unresolved emotional issues; the inability to form long-lasting quality relationships; being unable to trust others; an improper view of God; aimlessness; violence; and a burden upon society. Fatherlessness is a root cause of so many ills of society. GOD’S CARE FOR THE FATHERLESS However, God is able to take the devastation of
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fatherlessness and manifest his presence, provision, and peace in the midst of that situation. God undertakes and takes on the responsibility of being a Father to the fatherless. And, there are many fatherless children, both young and old, who are a living testimony of the power of God. God defends the cause of the fatherless through His Word. In the Old Testament, He gave many laws for their protection. Laws were given so that they would be provided for, and strong warnings were there to warn those would harm or mistreat them. For example: Exodus 22:22 (NKJV): You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child. Deuteronomy 24:19-21 (NKJV): When you reap your harvest in your field, and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not glean it afterward; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. Deuteronomy 27:19 (NKJV): Cursed is the one who perverts the justice due the stranger, the fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen!
widow; but the way of the wicked He turns upside down. Isaiah 1:17 (NKJV): Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow. Jeremiah 22:3 (NKJV): Thus says the Lord: Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong and do no violence to the stranger [foreigner], the fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place. In closing, oftentimes God uses people to be an expression and an extension of His love. There is an obvious need in our day for those who are able to step-up-to-the-plate and be a father to the fatherless. This, too, is a reflection of God's merciful care for hurting humanity. God wants to use many good men to be a blessing to someone who desperately needs to see an expression of God’s love and to be a means of His protection and provision.
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Velma Sanders
4 weekly chances to hear Velma Sander's Radio Show:
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Government
Culture Wars Wisdom from Dave Gehrls by Angela Ramos
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Dave Gehrls of Christ for the City International (CFCI) has led over 300 various kinds of PrayerWalks all over Omaha since 1995. This is a transcript of Dave sharing informally with Salt Magazine in February of 2013. He warns of troubling times that are already upon us and how we need to prepare to engage not run and hide. The conversation jumps around to a number of his insights in no special order. It is transcribed in the first person as if Dave were interacting with a group or the reader.
physically and spiritually. We hopefully don’t take a shower once a week either physically or spiritually. I had a dream in which the "cares of this world" were like amoeba like creatures on our backs trying to prevent us from moving forward, from worshiping God. We can't analyze ourselves. We need to take a spiritual shower like David did when he prayed, “Search me O God and know my heart. See if there be any wicked [hurtful] way in me…” We need to take spiritual showers daily because we will get
is very much like the days of Noah and Today perhaps Abraham and Lot. "We're living in a polluted culture," "We have to continue living in it." In John 17:15, Jesus did not pray for us to be taken out of the world, but for God to protect us from the evil one while we are in the world. We are to be lights in this world. Every day we get some contamination both
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contaminated daily in this world. We are living in a "post-church culture," Our culture has become pagan and hedonistic. Christianity is under spiritual attack on many fronts; some are very direct, some very subtle. We must separate the individual gay person from the Gay Agenda. We must defend their freedom to live the gay lifestyle because that same freedom lets us live our lifestyle. But the Gay Agenda is part of a larger agenda that intends to destroy religious freedoms. “We are not attacking anyone, we are simply defending our religious freedoms.” Currently, there is legislation in Nebraska that will affect our First Amendment religious freedoms. November 1st, a Nebraska Judiciary hearing will be held on DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act). Other Legislative Bills coming up in the Spring of 2014 are (LBs) 380, 385, and 485, with an important positive one protecting families from international law, LR 42. LB 380 would allow two unmarried people (including homosexuals) to adopt a child together, while LB 385 addresses the issue in regards to foster parenting. LB 485 addresses discrimination against homosexuals in the workplace; even if churches are excluded from the legislation, Christian business owners and businesses with a Christian mission would still be required to hire employees whose personal values differ from their own. On a more positive note, LR 42 would create an amendment to the US Constitution so that UN and international law would not overrule US law in issues of the family. There is a strong
movement to bring international law into US courts. Many states are ratifying a version of LR 42 and sending it to the US Congress. To battle such legislation, everyone needs to pick up the phone and call their legislators. "We have to literally come out and say, “You will not be elected again if you pass anti-family or antiChristian legislation.” Here is where this type of legislation is going: in a university, a grown man was found walking naked through the girl’s locker room that was also used by younger girls from the community. There were girls, ages six and seven, present. A coach chased him out and summoned police. The individual notified officials he was transgender. As a result, the coach was made to apologize to the man, and he is allowed access to the girls locker room. In another recent story, preachers were witnessing at a fair type event in Duluth, Minnesota. The city put up "first amendment zone" signs in a parking lot some distance from the fair, and the preachers were told to exercise their First Amendment freedoms there or be arrested. A district court reversed this city legislation, but this is where things are going. The supposed religious exemptions to these bills are "Trojan horses." For example, if a church hires someone to serve in a nonleadership capacity, say perhaps as the custodian, the church must not discriminate. In business, how can the state ask the owner to leave his faith at the church door? One does not cease to be a Christian after church lets out. How can they exempt the church and not the
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individual members? First Amendment freedoms are individual freedoms. First Amendment freedom of the press is not to the World Hearld but to the individual reporter. In the same way, freedom of religion is an individual freedom. It is important to separate Civil Rights from First Amendment rights. The 1964 Civil Rights Act was about race, not morality. Sexual orientation does not meet the legal definition of a civil rights issue. If this legislation passes there will be affirmative action for homosexuals. People who believe homosexuality is harmful are labeled as hateful and fearful. "You can disagree, but it is not hate." There is a strong spirit of intimidation in the LGBT agenda, but we are defending our freedoms, not trying to attack others. "If we don’t stand up now we will be choked out." "We're just trying to keep our own freedoms for ourselves and our families," "The state--and even the school system-- will have more authority than the parents." Various UN resolutions exist which are harmful to families. One example of this is Agenda 21. As many play the discrimination card, the goal appears to be to make the abnormal appear normal. This is yet another reason we must protect our constitution. There are two great wrongs in history. One is when the church takes over the state, and the second is when the state takes over the church. We are seeing a campaign by the state to take over the church.
In every crisis there is always an opportunity for the gospel. Ministering to the family of murder victim
However, there is an upside. "In every crisis, there is always an opportunity for the gospel." We need to change how we do church and shift to a "missionary model," as America is now a mission field. God is allowing certain things to happen, to begin separating the "sheep" from the "goats." This is also illustrated in parable of the wheat and the tares. In Matthew 13:30, God allows the two to grow together until the harvest. In the coming days, you cannot be neutral or “lukewarm,” you must be hot or cold. Many churches have become "glorified POW camps," and people are simply "hunkering down," waiting for Jesus to come and rescue them after the war. My goal is not to simply survive the war but accomplish God’s purposes in my life. Like Peter walking on the water, our eyes need to be on Jesus, not the waves (world). God does not give us a spirit of fear. We need to be out preaching and teaching, rather than taking shelter within the church walls. We need to be shining lights in this lost and dying world. The greatest harvest of all the ages is soon before us, but some churches, even good Biblebelieving churches, might miss the harvest because they are too busy "playing church." Christians begin
to position themselves for this great harvest. The church can be a light at the front lines of darkness, without being contaminated. As we read in the Bible, one must first trust in God and that He knows what is best for us. We must not flirt with the sinful and pagan practices of those around us. When God says these things are wrong, do we really believe that He knows best? Will we let Him be God or will we decide we know best and be our own God? In Sodom and Gomorrah homosexual behavior abounded, just as it does today. But God ultimately did not bring judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah because of homosexuality, but because He could not find enough righteous people there. The future of our nation is not in the hands of gays, liberals, gangs, or our armies. Our future is in the hands of the church. Will we be righteous before God? Sin abounds when good people choose to do nothing. "Don't beat people over the head with your Bible." We must separate those with an agenda from the average person living a pagan/ hedonistic lifestyle. Some want to confine our faith within the church walls and then close the doors. The church must step outside its walls and wisely engage our now pagan/
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hedonistic culture.
"
God never judges an unfinished work. He brings everything to its harvest then judges like the parable of the wheat and the tares. We are going to see evil come to harvest, and as the tares come to harvest, so does the wheat. We can get anxious and fearful or we can get our eyes on the wheat, the greatest Kingdom harvest of all time…and be workers in His Harvest. Our freedoms are dwindling before our very eyes. God has chosen us and our children to be here now, at this time in history. It is entirely possible that the younger generation will see Jesus' return before they die. Each generation has a Divine destiny, and we each need to know what we were created for. We learn an important lesson from Joshua chapter 5. As Joshua stood before this angel, this heavenly messenger with sword drawn, who accepted Joshua’s worship, who declared that He was the “Captain of the host of the Lord” Joshua realized that this was no ordinary angel but Jesus. Joshua asks an important question. “Lord, are you with us or against us?” But, Jesus himself was there with a host of angels to take Jericho. The question to Joshua and us is not "Is He with us?" but
To survive the days ahead, we really need to know who our God is. We need to know His attributes and how they work. Is He really Sovereign, all powerful, all knowing? Secondly, we need to really know and be secure in our relationship to our Heavenly Father. When we really know without a doubt that God is sovereign and we
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are His sons and daughters, we have nothing to fear. God indeed is our fortress and our strength. "We need to be worshiping God for who He is, not for what we want Him to do." When the Israelites began to praise God’s attribute as their deliverer, God delivered them. This is God's nature, one of His attributes. To prepare for the days ahead, pastors should help their congregations fully know the attributes of God, how they function, our relationship to God, and how to recognize Christ's voice for themselves. One way that can help you to better hear from God and see with the eyes of Christ what the Father is doing is PrayerWalking. Dave has been organizing people to meet at the scenes of homicides shortly
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"Are we with Him?" Like Elijah taking on the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel in 1 Kings 18:20-38, we must rise up, confront sin, and be ready for God to show Himself as God before the nations.
We need to be worshiping God for who He is, not for what we want Him to do.
2013 South Omaha PrayerWalk for Peace. Mayor Stothert participated.
after they happen to pray for God's impact on that neighborhood. You can send an email to dave@cfci.org and ask to be added to his PrayerWalking Dist List. Dave’s new PrayerWalking QuickStart Guide is been well received, and a number of churches are using it in various ways in both English and Spanish. Click here to see it. It is designed to fit in your Bible for quick reference. Copies are available on request, and various styles of PrayerWalking Workshops are available where we learn by interactive training.
has more documentation and resources that are available. To keep up on the latest in Nebraska, Dave recommends the Nebraska Family Alliance (of which he is a board member) at nebraskafamilyalliance.org For the national level, defendthefamily.com and massresistance.org
For more reading on this topic, one can find an interesting article, "Church Concerns" in Issue #2 (February 2013) of Salt Magazine. The article gives additional great insight on how we can get out into the streets and start doing what God wants us to do. Be blessed.
For more information about Dave Gehrls, Christ for the City International, or Prayer Walking the Heartland, visit: gehrlsministry.blogspot.com prayerwalkingtheheartland.blogspo t.com/ This transcription is Dave talking informally and not a formal document on these issues; Dave
Dave and Sheryl Gehrls of Christ for the City International www.thesaltmag.com | 35
God's hand is on every The of Salt Vision sphere influence
There are 7 spheres of influence that span across all areas of the society. They are: Faith, Family, Education, Government, Arts & Entertainment, Business, and Media. Our mission is to bring a new perspective, the "Salt" and "Light" of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to YOUR sphere of influence right now!We believe that, if we all focus on influencing these spheres for Jesus Christ, long-lasting revival will break out for generations! Do you feel the Lord leading you to help us on this mission? Here are some ways to volunteer:
- Prayer Warriors - Graphic Artists - Writers - Web Designers - IT Specialists - Social Media - Marketing - Editors - Sales
Thank you for obeying God's call in advance to make an eternal difference to win back these spheres for Jesus Christ! Contact us today at: info@thesaltmag.com or 402-585-SALT.