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index
JANUARY 2017
Vol. 7 / Issue 10
On The Cover
To submit story ideas, events, or comments: info@ValleyChristianMagazine.com
New Year Blessings from your friends at Valley Christian Magazine
what you’ll find inside:
CONNECT WITH US: Twitter: @vcmagazine
8
Lysa Terkeurst
A Gut-Honest Look at Love
10 Financial Article
Tax Deductible donations can be mailed to:
Provided by Armondo Brennan
Texas Christian Publications c/o Valley Christian Magazine 3827 North 10th Street, 301 McAllen, TX 78501
12 Bekah Jane Pogue
Celebrating When Life Doesn’t....
956-314-O161
14 James MacDonald Whatever It Takes
Valley Christian Magazine is a free monthly magazine published by
16 Luis Palau
Orando en la voluntad de Dios
Valley Christian Magazine is a publication of Texas Christian Publications (a 501c3 organization). Texas Christian Publications reserves the right to edit, modify, revise, rewrite and reject editorial materials and assumes no responsibility for accuracy, errors, omissions or consequences arising from it. All correspondence to this publication becomes the property of Texas Christian Publications. Texas Christian Publications shall be held harmless indemnified against any third-party claims. Texas Christian Publications accepts no claims made by photographers, agents or contributors. Writers’ and columnists’ opinions are not necessarily those of Texas Christian Publications or its publishers. Advertisements appearing in Texas Christian Publications present only the viewpoint of the advertisers. We assume no responsibility for advertising claims made in this publication. Valley Christian Magazine is printed in Mexico. Reproduction without the expressed written permission prohibited. Copyright 2017
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17 Ruben Martinez
Spiritual Bytes - Psalm 90:12
18 FCA - Victory Banquet 20 Greg Laurie
What God Can Do
Printed in Mexico.
21 Miguel Paredes
Book Review: Charis
22 Louder than the Music: Chris Quilala - Split the Sky
23 Kids Talk About God 24 Dave Ramsey 25 New Reads 26 Mark Driscoll
Christian Torres
Do You Want To Improve Your Prayer Life
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About Lysa: Lysa Terkeurst is a New York Times best selling author and speaker who helps everyday women live an adventure of faith through following Jesus Christ. As president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, Lysa has lead thousands over the past 15 years to help make their walk with God an invigorating journey. In the midst of her ministry, though, Lysa is a real, everyday woman who simply seeks to glorify God through her life and family. Used by Permission Proverbs 31 Ministry www.proverbs31.org Copyright 2017
T
oday I’m feeling so challenged to look at love a little differently. Sometimes in the gut-honest quietness of my heart, I look at love through the eyes of what it will offer me.
I hold out the little cup of my heart to the people I love, “Will you fill my empty spaces? Today will you do that one really thoughtful thing and make me feel like I’m the most noticed and special woman in the world?” Then I hold it out to my children, “Will you fill up my empty spaces? Will you do something today that makes me look really good as a mom so I’ll feel a little more validated?” Then I hold it out to my ministry, “Will you fill up my empty spaces? Will you provide something today that makes me feel more significant?” Maybe a Wednesday morning is an odd time to consider such things. But as we get closer to a new year I think this Wednesday morning is the perfect time to hit the reset button on my sometimes frail heart. Love is a tricky thing. Our hearts were created to crave it. God proclaims that love is greater than hope and greater than faith.
I can choose that my love will protect and persevere. And I can choose to lay the cup of my heart at Jesus’ feet and stop twirling, twirling, twirling, hoping — no, demanding — that those around me do things for me they were never meant to do. Love isn’t what I have the opportunity to get from this world. Love is what I have the opportunity to give. Dear Lord, thank You so much for Your love. I know that because I am abundantly loved by You, I have an abundance of love to give. Help me today to live loved and to give love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
TRUTH FOR TODAY: John 13:34-35, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (NIV)
Amazing.
Matthew 22:37-39, “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (NIV)
God also proclaims that love never fails. And in the quietness of my heart that verse from 1 Corinthians 13 makes me squirm a bit. I see love failing all the time. Or do I?
Ephesians 3:17b-18, “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” (NIV)
If my only view of love is what it will give me, love from others will fail me every time. It’s not that love fails. It’s that other people were never meant to be my God. Even a wonderful family and a thriving ministry can never truly fill me up, right all my wrongs and soothe those deep insecurities. No, I can’t read 1 Corinthians chapter 13 with eyes hungry to see what love should give me, and then demand it from those around me. I should read those steadfast Scriptures with the realization: This is the kind of love I can choose to give. I can choose that my love will be patient. My love will be kind. My love won’t keep a record of wrongs. (Ouch — that’s a hard one, right?)
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REFLECT AND RESPOND: Is there anyone or anything you have been looking to other than God to fill your empty places? Spend some time in prayer asking the Lord to help you start looking to Him and Him alone to fill your heart with love and security. What is one specific way you can intentionally “give” love to someone else today? © 2016 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.
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Whatever happened to the ‘three-legged stool’ of retirement?
Key Message: Help your clients build, protect and manage their retirement savings. Audience: Pre-retirees and retirees Form Number: AR06049.RB SMRU Approval: 1666499 (exp. 9/22/17) Word Count: 403
Have you ever heard of the ‘three-‐legged stool’ of retirement? If you have, it’s probably been a while. Once considered the ideal retirement model, the three-‐legged stool has fallen out of favor because two of the three legs—Social Security and defined benefit pensions—are not as stable as they once were. Consider the following: —According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, just 18% of private sector workers have a defined benefit pension,1 thereby eliminating a guaranteed source of lifetime income. —In 2015, Social Security benefits replace just 40% of the average workers salary.2 What’s more, the Social Security trust fund is expected to deplete its reserves by 2034, and will be able to fund approximately 75% of benefits after that.3 Fortunately, there are ways to reinforce the third leg of the stool—retirement savings and other personal assets—so that you can still enjoy a long and fulfilling retirement. Here are two proven funding sources you may want to consider if you need to compensate for any shortcomings: —With people living longer than ever, it’s important to make sure the money you have set aside will last the rest of your life. While Social Security provides a lifetime supply of income, it may not be enough to support your desired lifestyle. If you think you’ll need additional income and do not have a pension, a lifetime income annuity can be an excellent way to make up the difference. —Although the primary purpose of life insurance is to deliver death benefit protection, many permanent life policies accumulate cash value. If your need for protection decreases over time, you can borrow against this cash value—tax-‐free in most cases— and use the money to supplement your retirement lifestyle.4 While the three-‐legged stool of retirement may be a bit wobbly, the good news is a secure future is still within reach. The main difference these days is that you will most likely have to build it yourself. This educational third-party article is provided as a courtesy by Armondo Brennan, Financial Adviser for Eagle Strategies LLC, a Registered Investment Adviser, New York Life Insurance Company Agent. To learn more about the information or topics discussed, please contact Armondo Brennan at (956) 630-9129.
1
Economic Policy Institute, “Private-‐Sector Pension Coverage Fell by Half over Two Decades,” January 11, 2013 @ http://www.epi.org/blog/private-‐sector-‐pension-‐coverage-‐decline/ 2 Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “Policy Basics: Top Ten Facts about Social Security,” August 13, 2015 @ http://www.cbpp.org/research/social-‐security/policy-‐basics-‐top-‐ten-‐facts-‐about-‐social-‐security 3 U.S. Department of the Treasury, “Fact Sheet: Social Security and Medicare Trustees Report,” July 22, 2015 @ http://www.treasury.gov/press-‐center/press-‐releases/Pages/jl0127.aspx 4 Loans against your policy accrue interest and decrease the death benefit and cash value by the amount of the outstanding loan and interest.
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Celebrating When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned by Bekah Jane Pogue
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21 (NIV) I was the girl who got by with planning, a.k.a. controlling. I hosted. Invited. Decorated and opened my homes to friends and strangers. Yet I mistook intimacy with God as my responsibility. Like a party I was in charge of orchestrating. Do you know this feeling? Try harder. Be peppier. Keep smiling. Keep giving. Keep controlling. Go. Encourage. Perform. Maybe along the way my faith will go as planned, too. Deep in my soul, I wanted to release myself to an authentic relationship with my Creator. To allow God Himself to be the inviter, the host, the planner, but I wasn’t quite sure how to let go. Can someone please tell me how I can know God to be real in the middle of moves, job changes, mommy meltdowns and busyness? Is there such a thing as responding and celebrating with an everyday faith? Vibrant faith, I assumed, was for people in full-time ministry. You know, the super-spiritual: those who have a Master of Divinity degree, or go to Israel in their spare time or tell supermarket strangers about Jesus. Bless. I somehow couldn’t erase the childhood illusion of faith being compared to running through the daisies with Jesus, donned in an eyelet dress. I’m sorry, but this gal just can’t pull off eyelet dresses these days. Tell me, how does faith fit in with bills and cancer and feeling too much? How does God manifest through social media, the routine and loneliness? For the kind of people like me, who have kids who whine, a marriage that demands work and crazy passionate dreams? Is there space for that type of faith? Then suddenly, my life shifted. My sweet dad had a stroke, and seven days later he passed away. I was numb. Unable to muster up energy to control, let alone do anything else. But his passing became the freeing catalyst to notice how Jesus is more authentic than I’d ever experienced. As I stepped into the pain of loss, into foggy weeks of numbness and standing outside of my body, I recognized self-made habits I’d built around control. Sitting outside on our weathered patio bench, for the first time, I simply was. I didn’t do. I only existed. I’m done, God, I cried. I have nothing to give anyone, especially You. These feeble confessions changed my dependency on control. I released all my people-pleaser, perfection-aspiring goals, the todo lists and faces I strove to make happy, and I got real down-anddirty with my Lord. Getting real with God saved my life. He drew
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me into safe corners I hadn’t known were tangible. Into foreign spaces I’d ignored all my life. Suddenly I was keenly aware that every pain, relationship and detour is an invitation to see God’s genuine heart in the middle of it. This is where choosing “Real” began for me. Before, I tried to will circumstances into submission, but now I’m opting to celebrate a dependent faith relationship in the middle of the unexpected. Do you desire to see how present Jesus is in real-life circumstances? Are you exhausted from putting on your big girl panties, being strong, pep talking or reciting, “Let’s do this!”? Do you hope to see how God has a beautiful plan in the mess, in the scary, in the unknown, in the tears and in not feeling enough? My new agenda is holding my hands open and asking, “God, help me not miss You today. However You invite.” I’m finding this open-handed way of living is more abundant and peace-offering than anything I can create. And I pray you, too, want to put down the party-planning faith perspective and join me as together we opt to experience a genuine right-here-in-themiddle-of real-life Jesus. Dear God, thank You for inviting me into an intimately real relationship with You today. Right here. In the messes and unknowns and relationships. Help me notice Your invitations in the tiny, grand and unplanned moments. Thank You for displaying Your peace where I want to control. I praise You for revealing Yourself in out-of-thebox, personal ways. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (NIV)
CONNECT:
Bekah would love to connect with you at bekahpogue.com.
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“When you get CREATIVE you can say Buenos Noches to Roaches!” Complete Business, Home & Yard Pest Control
REFLECT AND RESPOND:
What if life doesn’t have to be a ginormous party you are responsible for planning, but an invitation to see how God’s manifestations can exceed your expectations? How will you choose to respond and celebrate how Real He truly is?
Call L.J. at 956-239-1995
© 2016 by Bekah Jane Pogue. All rights reserved. Used by permission Proverbs 31 Ministries. www.proverbs31.org ABOUT BEKAH: I’m Bekah, an “everyday Jane.” I write from my heart about connection, faith, parenting, marriage, books, identity, my obsession with desserts, and all things real. If you’re looking for vulnerability, down with talking about hard things, and choosing to see genuine beauty every. single. day, consider yourself invited, friend. I love communicating with women, whether in small groups or large conferences, as if you were sitting on my couch and catching up as old friends. You can find me at the beach, reading, baking, rearranging furniture or flea-marketing. My creative hubs, Bryan and I have been married a dozen years. We have two energetic boys, and reside at The Pogue Cottage in Huntington Beach, where dance parties are a regular occurrence. www.upcycledjane.com www.proverbs31.org
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whatever it takes by james macdonald
James MacDonald is founding and Senior Pastor at Harvest Bible Chapel in northwest Chicago. James’ teachings can be heard on Walk in the Word, a daily radio program reaching more than 3 million people across North America.
H
ave you ever been misunderstood and then found yourself unable to correct the false impression?
Perhaps a look came off as insensitivity toward someone’s feelings when it was actually your own frustration with yourself over a totally unrelated matter. Maybe the tone of voice they interpreted as irritation was actually concern. You might have been embarrassed or feeling insecure, but they internalized it as standoffishness. Yet by the time you realized what the other person was thinking, they’d become so hurt, angry, or avoidant that they wouldn’t listen to your expla-
When we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith 1 Thessalonians 3:1–2, ESV
taking the situation lightly. Strong bonds in a marriage, family, friendship, or church are not built on weak, casual apologies. “Sorry about that” or “Sorry you got upset” aren’t going to cut it. And wherever hope is kept alive in any relationship, someone is continually sacrificing—willing to suffer or be inconvenienced; doing things they’d rather not do in order to correct any misunderstanding. As we learn in 1 Thessalonians, the apostle Paul had found himself separated from friends through circumstances beyond his control. The chance that they could misunderstand his reasons for needing to leave abruptly was high. Yet instead of just figuring they’d get over it—being more worried about his own needs and getting on with surrounding himself with people strategic to his mission—Paul sent one of his leading ministry partners to communicate his heart to them. He gave up what he needed so they could get what they needed.
“WHENEVER YOUR ACTIONS ARE COMMUNICATING SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN YOUR HEART, YOU NEED TO RUSH TO CORRECT THE FALSE IMPRESSION.” nation. They didn’t believe you were telling them the truth. Suddenly, the misunderstanding had become the biggest thing. Commonly in situations like these, we end up backing away from the problem, weary of the effort involved in trying to set the record straight, mainly just wanting to avoid more conflict. But whenever your actions are communicating something different than your heart—to your child, to your spouse, to a parent or sibling—you need to rush to correct the false impression. You need to do something—even something that costs you— and you need to make sure they know you’re not
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That’s what brings hope back into the picture again, for all of us. That’s what makes healing happen in a hurry. Which of your strained relationships would be on the path to restoration if instead of holding on to what you wanted and expected, you bypassed what came easily and did what was hard? What if you rearranged your whole schedule for Friday afternoon, just to spend time with them? Maybe you need to get rid of some supplies for a hobby that’s become
January 2017
a point of contention, or make a phone call you know could be awkward. Whatever you do, you want them to know you value them more than you value your own comfort—that you’d do anything and make any sacrifice to clear the air and make amends. Many experiences of heartache, strife, and offense never really needed to happen and could be stamped out in the course of one evening, if only someone would take the first step—making the kind of personal sacrifice that would start the dismantling of a misunderstanding.
j ou r n a l
What’s an extreme you haven’t tried yet in an attempt to break through a misunderstanding? Even if the other person won’t listen, what’s a personal, unseen sacrifice you could make that would help keep you prayerful and spiritually sensitive to restoring the relationship?
P r ay
Father, You went to the farthest extremes to communicate Your heart toward me when You sacrificed Your Son for my rebellion and sin. You went beyond what anyone could have expected of You, to ensure we understood Your true intentions and heart toward us. Help me model Your example by being willing to suffer and sacrifice to mend any kind of breakage in my relationships with others. Use me to heal and restore, at whatever cost to myself. In Jesus’ worthy name, amen.
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Orando en la voluntad de Dios -Luis Palau ¿Cuál es su versículo favorito en la Biblia? ¿Es una promesa de que Dios le dará fortaleza, valor o seguridad? Permítame compartirle una de mis promesas predilectas de la Palabra de Dios. “Esta es la confianza que tenemos en él, que si pedimos alguna cosa conforme a su voluntad, él nos oye. Y si sabemos que él nos oye en cualquier cosa que pidamos, sabemos que tenemos las peticiones que le hayamos hecho” (1 Juan 5:14,15). Dios ha prometido que si pedimos cualquier cosa que está de acuerdo a su voluntad, El nos la da. Pero Luis, hay un problema--dice usted--. No sé cuál es la voluntad de Dios. ¿De qué me sirve esta promesa si sólo puedo hacer conjeturas en cuanto a la voluntad divina? Afortunadamente, Dios nos ha revelado gran parte de su voluntad en la Biblia. Al ir familiarizándonos más con la Palabra de Dios, iremos aprendiendo mucho acerca de la voluntad divina, la cual no es secreta; ha sido revelada y está escrita. En lugar de especular en cuanto a la voluntad soberana de Dios para mañana, debiéramos centrar nuestra atención en obedecer su voluntad revelada hoy. 1 Juan 5:14-15 promete que Dios nos dará cualquier cosa que pidamos--incluyendo sabiduría divina (Santiago 1:5) y fortaleza (Isaías 40:29-31)--si pedimos a fin de hacer Su voluntad. Si usted no está seguro que determinada petición esté dentro de la voluntad de Dios, pregúntele. El puede decirle. No se preocupe si comete errores al orar. ¿Se va a derribar el trono de Dios acaso? ¿Cree que la sabiduría de Dios menguará si usted se equivoca en lo que pide? ¿No le parece que el hecho de no orar es un error aun más grande? Si la respuesta de Dios a su petición es “No”, el Señor pronto hará clara esa respuesta por el testimonio interno del Espíritu Santo. Si usted camina con Dios y lleva una vida de oración consistente, habrá una innegable y continua comunicación entre usted y su Padre celestial. Si Dios dice que no a un pedido que usted hace, entonces El tiene algo mejor para usted. Jesús dice: “Y si un hombre de corazón endurecido sólo da buenas cosas a sus hijos, ¿no crees que tu Padre que está en los cielos dará aun mejores cosas a los que se las pidan?” (Mateo 7:11 BD). Si pedimos una piedra sin valor alguno, El dice “No” y en su lugar nos da un nutritivo pan. Dios siempre da lo que es bueno. ¿No es una promesa digna de recordar? Es sólo al reclamar las promesas…promesas de Dios a través de la oración, que comenzamos a experimentar el entusiasmo, el gozo y la emoción de la vida cristiana. ¿Por qué no empezar ya mismo? Luis Palau
Luis Palau ya entró en la historia moderna como uno de los contados hombres que le hablaron a más personas en el mundo. Su mensaje fue, y es escuchado por más de 800 millones de personas en 112 países a través de la radio y la televisión, y tiene el privilegio de haberle hablado a más de 22 millones de personas cara a cara en 80 países del mundo, organizando, junto a un selecto grupos de colaboradores internacionales y con el apoyo de invitaciones locales, congresos, seminarios, charlas informales, conferencias y recitales-conferencia llamados “Festivales”.
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“So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 Fighting off strong urges that we know are not good is everyone’s reality. We may want to deny it or shrug it off as no big deal but that fight just doesn’t go away! Gaining wisdom and strength is the best way to move into our future. But there has to be a strong enough motivation so that good decisions/commitments/resolutions we make will actually become a part of lives and not just fizzle out! There is nothing or no one who will provide such a powerful motivation than God and His work/kingdom. Especially His work in and through us. Moses, that great prophet/priest leader of Israel, lived long and saw much wasted human life! In Psalm 90:12 he gives us great advice for life. “So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” The whole Psalm is a must read as we live out our new year! About RUBEN MARTINEZ: Born in 1954 into a migrant family who worked the fields together every summer. He holds a Masters degree in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Westminster Theological Seminary. He started Living Word Evangelical Free Church in 1987. Ruben and his wife, Nancy, have 5 children; Stefanie (25), Gabriel (22), Grant (19), David (18) and Desiree (16). Ruben has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Rio Grande Bible Institute (6 years) and the EFCA National Board of Directors (3 years).
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Our
society doesn’t really have answers for all the problems we are facing in our country today. Ironically, our society seems to do everything it can to undermine the only one who can help us, and that is Jesus Christ. There are people caught in our legal system as repeat offenders. There are judges who make the wrong decisions. There is the breakdown of the family. And all of these elements combined produce a society that can do very little to change a person’s heart, if anything at all. Rehabilitation efforts largely fail. In fact, the only real programs that seem to produce lasting change are faith-based, and more specifically, are being operated by Christians who are calling people to faith in Jesus Christ. Society doesn’t have the answers. Jesus met two men whose lives had been controlled and ruined by Satan. Society didn’t have the answers. Enter the Savior, Jesus. What did He do? He sought them out in their graveyard and offered them hope. In fact, Luke’s account of the story tells us what happened to one of the men who was delivered: “Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid” (Luke 8:35). Why were people afraid? They didn’t know what to make of it. He was so transformed it frightened the people. They couldn’t even imagine a guy like him could be changed in such a dramatic way. It is such a glorious thing when Christ so transforms someone that you can’t even imagine that person being what he or she used to be. You realize that it is the power of a changed life. And that is what God can do.
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Greg Laurie is Senior Pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, Calif. He began his pastoral ministry at 19 by leading a Bible study of 30 people. Since then, God has transformed the small group into a church of 15,000 plus, one of the largest churches in America. for more, visit www.greglaurie.com. used by permission from Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie, PO Box 4000 Riverside, CA 92514 Copyright © 2016 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Title:
CHARIS
Author: PRESTON SPRINKLE Publisher: David C. Cook Publishing
Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin!
In summary, Sprinkle describes grace this way: “Grace isn’t a term. It’s not a doctrine. It’s not a buzzword. It’s not the words of a song, a prayer before meals, a name plastered on our churches. It’s not leniency or niceness. It’s not something that can be domesticated or completely understood. And it’s something that can never grow old or stale. Grace is what flows through the veins of Jesus, whose heart stubbornly beats for you, . . .”
Many wonderful songs and books have been written about the grace of God. Charis (karis), written by Preston Sprinkle is a welcome addition to the list of the books. Charis is the Greek word for grace.
Charis is a worthwhile book that sheds light on God’s grace as it is interwoven throughout Scripture. This book will help the reader reflect upon God’s grace in a personal way. We never want to take God’s grace for granted, and when we do, His grace is sufficient.
Grace is commonly defined as the free, undeserved, unmerited favor of God. Grace is most often connected with the New Testament and the wonderful work of Jesus on behalf of sinners.
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see.
Preston Sprinkle demonstrates that the grace of God is not simply a new revelation in the New Testament. God is the same throughout all of Scripture. Yes! He is the same God of grace in the Old Testament as He is in the New Testament. Beginning in the first chapter of Genesis, the first book of the Old Testament, Sprinkle argues that the very act of creating humanity in the image of God is an act of divine grace. Even when Adam and Eve rebel against God, God’s grace is evident as death is not an immediate penalty, especially considering that God said, “for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”
Bookw Revie by
Miguel Paredes Is a teacher at Edinburg North and earned his Masters in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. He is married to Brenda and has four children: Diego, 14, Karla & Andrea, 11, and Charis, 7 .
Sprinkle continues to show that Genesis, particularly in the life of the Patriarchs, is showered with God’s grace among the family that God chooses to bestow His blessing upon. This chosen family God begins with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. How is God’s grace evident among them? Genesis has the stuff that telenovelas are made of: lying, stealing, inappropriate sexual relations, jealously, etc. Despite the human junk, God’s relentless grace is extended to this family. In Charis, Sprinkle shows that “God is in the business of using unusable people . . . social outcasts, slaves, prostitutes, and thugs.” Even King David is a conduit of grace as he tumbles down the hill of iniquity. David’s son, Solomon stacks marriage alliances that lead him down the road of idolatry. Yet, this is the very family from which the Messiah is destined to reign. Grace! In the chapter entitled “Whore,” Sprinkle takes time to display that “most female fornicators in the Bible, however, are depicted as trophies of charis— objects of God’s shameless delight.” Sprinkle’s uses Ezekiel 16 and Hosea to illustrate how deep God’s grace is with those who would prostitute themselves. Even though women are the used in the text, the concept of prostitution is used to refer to Israel’s unfaithfulness in much of the Old Testament. Even though God’s people prostituted themselves by allying with other nations and by worshipping foreign idols (putting their faith in anything but God), God aggressively pursues His obstinate and rebellious children with His unwavering grace. January
2017
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Louder than the Music Music Review by Carolyn Aldis
CHRIS QUILALA SPLIT THE SKY
Jesus Culture Music’s worship leader Chris Quilala releases his solo debut project, Split the Sky.
Oh my days, what a refreshing, funky worship album, Chris Quilala may look like a member of a boy band, but his voice and approach to his songs take him well out of this category; there’s no cheesy sounds, cheeky wink or overpriced film that I have to endure for the sake of my children… he is going in another direction and takes us with him. The first song “Welcome Here” was mellow and yet pop, as someone who likes a great voice with a kicking drum and bass under it, this was a delight to listen to. “After My Heart” had some great guitar riffs, with dancing around notes from a keyboard, a little 80’s sound to take me back. “Because of your Love” initially reminded me of an old music lesson in school, when the Casio keyboards were taken out and somebody accidently hit the bossa nova sound, but don’t be put off the song overlaying this beat was classy, with hints of The Blue Nile, an awesome band. “Won My Heart” - the lyrics are incredible: “I was a wasteland where nothing could grow, but everything changed when you called it your home”, sung in an ethereal, breathy voice with elements of surrender, love and the winning of hearts; imagery of a Holy God pursuing us. “Encounter” starts like a David Gray song and then bursts forth into the chorus of “Holy Spirit fall on us”, a soul-soaking experience. “Surrendered” is stripped back, allowing the purity of Chris’s voice to come through, beautifully crafted alongside Kari Jobe. The lyrics remind us of Gods kindness and giving everything to God.
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“The Length of the Cross” is such a cool song, with sounds like Prince, breathy high singing over a running beat and clever lyrics, “How long will you wait for me, how vast is your love for me, how far would you run for me? The length of the cross.” “Reign” reveals the strength of Chris’s voice and has an epic guitar solo midway. “Hearts Cry” is another beautiful stripped back song, revealing another quality to his voice, it was like listening to Chris Martin from Coldplay singing a worship song, nice. “All To You” and “Heaven Came For Me” are great chilled songs to finish this album, aptly named “Split The Sky”; listening to it gives you the sense of connecting with God on a whole new level… its worship to sing along to, to listen to on headphones and reflect and it also works as background songs that usher in the presence of God anywhere. If you want to be “down with the kids” and let’s be honest, who doesn’t, then you can buy this album and finally be able to say that you own a super-cool set of songs with the added bonus that they also provide you with some sounds from the past. But don’t go dusting off your shell suit in celebration, some things are best left in the past.
Why Does the Bible Say, “Honor Your Father and Mother”?
“Insanity is hereditary. You get it from your kids,” read a sign in Brussels, Belgium. Or, as author Jean Kerr wrote, “The real menace in dealing with a 5-year-old is that in no time at all you begin to sound like one.” The fifth commandment is designed to keep parents sane by giving children a principle to guide their behavior and attitudes toward their parents. I asked my friends to tell me how they honor their parents. If their behavior matches their answers, their parents are not only sane but very happy. “I honor my parents by giving them hugs and kisses. I also honor them by buying them TCBY treats,” says Angela, age 10. Frozen yogurt with hugs and kisses! If TCBY could package this combination, its stock would soar. “I obey my mother and father by getting up in the mornings as sweet as pie,” says Kaitlin, 7. I’m still working on this one. When I wake up, I’m grateful if I don’t hurt myself by tripping over the furniture. Kaitlin also said, “When the Bible says your days will be longer (if you honor your father and mother), it means you will live longer.” In a society obsessed with living longer, how many doctors recommend honoring parents? God promises a long life to those who honor their parents. “I honor my parents by obeying,” says Christine, 10. “Like when they say to get them some water, I do it. I treat them like a king and queen.”
I’ll bet Christine’s parents treat her like a princess. It’s so easy to take parents for granted. Can you imagine a society where the Bart Simpson attitude wasn’t glorified? Why imagine when it’s within your power to be gracious to your parents instead of disrespectful? They’re not perfect, but neither are you. “I love my mother and father,” says Gardner, 11. “They are the best. I try to obey them. I know they love me, and I love them.” Something tells me that Gardner will never visit a psychiatrist’s office to find himself. Because he knows his parents love him unconditionally, he’s secure and able to love them in return. Love fosters love. Years ago, I saw my friend Peter reprimand his 2-year-old son with a light tap on his hand. Following a gentle tap, his son began to cry. The light tap hardly warranted tears. Suddenly, I understood and said to Peter, “Your disapproval hurts worse than the tap on the hand.” He nodded.
Artist Ashton K., Age 9
Obedience and honor are interconnected. The Apostle Paul wrote that Jesus humbled himself and “became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Point to ponder: God has promised to bless those who honor their parents. Scripture to remember: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” (Ephesians 6:1). Question to consider: How do you honor your parents?
Only a father who loves his son can evoke such a response. This is the power of unconditional love. God’s love for his children is akin to parents’ love for theirs with one very important difference: Even the best parents have flaws. God is perfect. Jesus is the ultimate example of a son honoring his father. He listened to his Father’s voice and did only what he heard from his Father. His love for his Father and desire to please him was so great that he could say, “He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him” (John 5:23). Their will was one.
January
2017
Kids Talk About God is a syndicated column by journalist Carey Kinsolving. To access more columns and other free, Bible-based books, videos and artwork, please visit www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org.
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Wife wins Dear Dave, We just started following your plan, and we have $39,000 in debt. We make $55,000 a year, and two of our smaller debts — one car and a credit card — are both $7,500. The credit card has a higher interest rate, so my wife thinks we should pay it off first. I look at the car as a necessity, and for that reason I think we should pay it off first. Who’s right? Pat Dear Pat, When the rules of paying off debts from smallest to largest don’t apply, I look at things this way: If you have two debts that are of equal amounts, I would attack the one with the larger interest rate first. In your case, that would be the credit card debt.
I get what you’re saying about the car. You guys might be in a bind if something happened and you lost one car. But it’s also something you could work around if you had no other choice. So yeah, knock out the credit card first then move on to the car. Going this route will serve two purposes: First, it will save you some money. And second, I’ve got a feeling it will fire up your wife and get her on board with the plan even more than she already is.
Dave s y a S
She’s taking this seriously if she’s eyeballing interest rates, Pat. So use this momentum to work together, and knock out that debt! — Dave
Dying car, or kill the student loan? Dear Dave, I’m 38 years old, and I’ve got $12,000 in student loans still hanging over my head. It’s the only debt I have. I make $30,000 a year, and I’ve managed to save $12,000, but I’m also driving a junky, old car that will have to be replaced soon. Should I split the money I’ve saved and buy a $6,000 car while paying off $6,000 of the student loan? Phil Dear Phil, If I’m in your shoes, I want that student loan out of my life as quickly as possible. At the same time, I don’t want you living life without some money in the bank. If you’ve followed me for very long, you know I teach the Baby Steps when it comes to getting out of debt and saving money. Baby Step 1 is to save a beginner emergency fund of $1,000. Baby Step 2 is to pay off all debt, except for your home, using the debt snowball method. The third Baby Step is to build a fully funded emergency fund of three to six months of expenses. You don’t have quite enough on hand for your idea and to have something left over. I recommend paying off $11,000 of the school loan now and then finishing it up as you go. It won’t take much more time. Limp along in the beater for a little while longer and then, when you have no student loan debt, finish your emergency fund and start a car fund.
* Dave Ramsey is America’s trusted voice on money and business. He has authored five New York Times best-selling books. The Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 8.5 million listeners each week on more than 550 radio stations. Dave’s latest project, EveryDollar, provides a free online budget tool. Follow Dave on Twitter at @DaveRamsey and on the web at daveramsey.com.
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I talk to a lot of people your age who still have student loan debt. But you have the opportunity to punch its lights out in a hurry. If you pour on the coals, you should be able to save money and get a better car in just a few months! —Dave
January 2017
Present Over Perfect
Leaving Behind Frantic For A Simpler, More Soulful Way Of Living By Shauna Niequist LIVE A LIFE OF MEANING AND CONNECTION Instead of pushing for perfection A few years ago, I found myself exhausted and isolated, my soul and body sick. I was tired of being tired, burned out on busy. And, it seemed almost everyone I talked with was in the same boat: longing for connection, meaning, depth, but settling for busy. I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, neighbor, writer, and I know all too well that settling feeling. But over the course of the last few years, I’ve learned a way to live, marked by grace, love, rest, and play. And it’s changing everything. Present Over Perfect is an invitation to this journey that changed my life. I’ll walk this path with you, a path away from frantic pushing and proving, and toward your essential self, the one you were created to be before you began proving and earning for your worth. Written in Shauna’s warm and vulnerable style, this collection of essays focuses on the most important transformation in her life, and maybe yours too: leaving behind busyness and frantic living and rediscovering the person you were made to be. Present Over Perfect is a hand reaching out, pulling you free from the constant pressure to perform faster, push harder, and produce more, all while maintaining an exhausting image of perfection. Shauna offers an honest account of what led her to begin this journey, and a compelling vision for an entirely new way to live: soaked in grace, rest, silence, simplicity, prayer, and connection with the people that matter most to us. In these pages, you’ll be invited to consider the landscape of your own life, and what it might look like to leave behind the pressure to be perfect and begin the life-changing practice of simply being present, in the middle of the mess and the ordinariness of life.
How’s Your Soul?
Why Everything That Matters Starts With The Inside You By Judah Smith Judah Smith, New York Times bestselling author of Jesus Is ______, explores what it looks like to cultivate a healthy soul in the midst of a busy life and points readers to the soul’s only true home and place of rest and fulfillment: God. “How’s your soul?” It may seem like an odd question, but it’s what pastor and bestselling author Judah Smith chooses to ask his friends, rather than “How are you?” It’s a way to look past the externals and consider what’s going on inside, in that essential part of us that is often overlooked in the struggle to make our way through everyday life. In the rush of living moment to moment, many of us find ourselves simply surviving, struggling daily with frustration, restlessness, boredom, and ever-fleeting joy. But if we would pause, we’d find that the things that matter most in life, what we are searching for in our busyness— stability, peace, hope, love—are rooted in the health of what Judah calls the “inside you.” In How’s Your Soul?, Judah explores that “inside you.” Sharing his own, often humorous, mistakes and foibles, he helps us find our way through the emotional roller coasters of life to discover the soul-healing essentials of rest, responsibility, restraint, and relationships, all rooted in what he calls the soul’s only true home—God himself. How’s Your Soul? is an invitation to find lasting emotional satisfaction and stability by bringing our feelings into alignment with God’s truth, moving beyond simply surviving, and learning how to live each day with eternal significance.
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2017
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Prayer.
of God.
Does just reading that word make you feel at least a little bit guilty?
However we pray, wherever we pray, the goal is to always eagerly and humbly cultivate our relationship with our heavenly Father. In prayer we connect with the God who loves and cares for us.
Talking about our prayer life often makes us feel scrutinized or nervous. We’re easily embarrassed to talk about it, or apologetic for it. Some of us don’t know how to pray, or we don’t pray enough, or we only pray at the last minute when it’s some kind of emergency. I can’t remember ever meeting anyone who thought they prayed often enough, earnest enough or faithfully enough. Making matters worse, maybe we don’t understand prayer, or no one’s ever told us how to pray. In any event, this book is not meant to guilt you or make you feel bad. Talking with a Father who loves you and wants to hear from you should feel like a delight and not a duty. Prayer isn’t something you have to do. Prayer is something you get to do! God invites us to pray by promising in Jeremiah 29:12, “Call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.” What is prayer? In its most general sense, prayer simply means communicating with God. This can be done audibly, as God hears our words, or silently, as God knows our thoughts. Prayer is the primary way we engage in relationship with God. And just as communication is key to interpersonal relationships, it’s vital to our relationship with God. That’s what prayer is: having a conversation with God. And because communication is designed to run two ways, prayer can include both speaking to God and hearing from God. This conversation can be done anywhere and in a variety of ways, whether in a traditional posture of bent knees, bowed head, and clasped hands, or in more natural ways like when we’re driving the car, mowing the yard or shopping for groceries. We can journal our prayers or pray through the writing of songs or poetry. We can shout our prayers, or we can maintain a receptive silence, listening for the still, small voice
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Sometimes prayer moves the hand of God. More often, prayer changes our hearts as we capture something of God’s heart and are brought into agreement with and trust in him. We were created by God, in the image of God, and we were designed to be in relationship with God. Therefore, the primary purpose of prayer is nurturing and growing our relationship with our Father — like a child who has frequent conversations with a parent who loves them. This divine design has been corrupted, however, because sin entered the world through Adam and has captured and contaminated our hearts. There’s therefore an eternal divide between us and God. But because God is our Father who loves us, he sent his Son to atone for our sins on the cross and conquer the wages of sin through his resurrection so that we could be reunited with God. And the Son then sends the Spirit to pursue us, to live within us and to comfort and empower us. The Christian life is lived in submission to the power and the sovereignty of the triune God, and therefore Christian prayers are prayed in submission to God’s Trinitarian being. While there are times when we pray to God the Son (as Stephen did at his death in Acts 8:59) or to the Holy Spirit, ideally prayer is Trinitarian. This means that the primary mode of Christian prayer is reflective of the interpersonal relational community of the Trinity. When we read Jesus’ prayers in the Gospels we see glimpses of the inner life of the Trinity, of the Trinity’s communication and relationship with each other. This makes Jesus’ prayers the perfect examples for our prayers. We pray to the Father, through the Son, by the presence and the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Our prayers as Christians exemplify our participation in the life of the Trinity. This blog is an excerpt from the e-book Pray Like Jesus.
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Raul “Rudy” Rodriguez attorney at law
Some historians may argue that among the greatest restoration stories of mankind are the European Renaissance or perhaps the post-World War II era. The cultural movement known as the European Renaissance roughly took place during the 14th through 17th centuries. This moment in history saw the face of Europe evolve with respect to its arts, architecture and long held science tenets. It also saw a rediscovery of the Greco-Roman classical knowledge and a rebirth of the study of Latin and vernacular languages. It served as a bridge between the Middle Ages and the Modern Era. Closer to home, America saw its restoration take place in the years that followed World War II. During this era, couples who could not afford families during the Great Depression made up for lost time. The mood in America suddenly became optimistic. At that time, the unemployment rate of the Great Depression dropped dramatically and the economy improved substantially. The G.I. Bill empowered many honorable service members to finish high school and attend college. As their skills were improved, so was the financial well-being of their families. But, without a doubt the greatest restoration that can take place is when a person does as Romans 10:9 instructs us to do. Romans 10:9 says: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” The message is simple: invite Christ into your heart and make him your personal Lord and Savior. At that time, your restoration will be complete. Next He will do as Philippians 1:6 says, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” As you seek and strive to honor God with your life, He will reward you by allowing you to take on His characteristics. Hosea 14:4 says, “I will bring my people back to me. I will love them with all my heart; No longer am I angry with them.” I pray that you will invite Christ into your heart and allow Him to restore you! At my office, I also want to be part of your restoration plan, albeit in a different way. I pray that God will use me for His honor and glory in helping me address your needs. If you have been involved in an auto accident and/ or other serious injury or if you have lost a loved one as a result of someone’s negligence, I will do my best to restore some sense of normality to your life. I will also help you in matters involving family law, criminal law and real estate and will issues. As always, I bear in mind that in honoring God with the way I handle my business relationships I will be honoring you my esteemed client.
Raul “Rudy” Rodriguez
www.raulrudyrodriguezlaw.com Phone: 956.380.1421 / Toll Free: 877.480.1421 Fax: 956.380.2920 / Mobile: 956.655.5455
511 W. University / Edinburg, TX 78539 e-mail: anointed511@gmail.com