Valley Christian Magazine July 2012

July 2012

Students:

Don’t Be Ashamed!

Prepare yourself now for the future p. 25 of BEWARE wrong motives!

p. 16

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Talking to Yourself? (oh yes you are!)

p. 18

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index Features

11 – At Home with Pastor Christopher Otten 25 – Students - prepare now 40 – Friends, fans and followers 44 – What to read 46 – Music: Bluetree 48 – Events/New Releases

On The Cover

26 - Teens worship and praise at a Stuent Evangelism Conference. The conference makes its return to McAllen Aug. 3-4.

National Columnists 16 22 38 42 50

– – – – –

Contributed photo

Greg Laurie James MacDonald Luis Palau Joe Beam Dave Ramsey

Valley Contributors 8 – Christian Torres 18 – Jerrell Jobe 28 - Jacob Ramon 30 – Abram Gomez 32 – Milton Gonzalez 36 – Dr. Theresa Valladares 44 – Miguel Paredes

Vol. 2 / Issue 4

For Advertising contact:

Christian Torres Publisher Christian@valleychristianmagazine.com

Henry Miller Executive Editor Henry@valleychristianmagazine.com

Irma d’Santiago “morett” Designer

James Alexander Distribution

PHOTOGRAPHERS Jenny Maples Hollis Cliff Ranson Gabriela Romero

To submit story ideas, events, or comments: valleychristianmagazine@gmail.com

CONNECT WITH US: Twitter: @vcmagazine @henry_vcmag

Ana Beicker 956-648-2511 Estella Gallegos 956-854-1601 Eli Lara 956-451-0174 Ronnie Vela 956-599-8063 Tax Deductible donations can be mailed to: Texas Christian Publications c/o Valley Christian Magazine 3827 North 10th Street, 301 McAllen, TX 78501

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Valley Christian Magazine is a free monthly magazine published by 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 KHOG KDUPOHVV LQGHPQLÀHG DJDLQVW 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 the United States. Reproduction without the expressed written permissi on prohibited.

Copyright 2011.

Printed in the USA.

Are you tired?

Worn Out?

Burned out on Religion?

Rest.

Funny. But true in the sense that if I keep my focus on the people then I will for sure be disappointed and discouraged.

Aaaaahh. Can you just imagine it?

When you picture rest….what comes to your mind? The beach? A vacation? Mere solitude, curled up in a comfy chair with a good book?

When it comes to rest, many of us just plow right through it.

Recently I’ve gone to the beach…rest? Hhhhmmph. I’m carrying chairs, a tent, food, games, a barking dog…..get the picture? Not much rest there. I’m working so hard to attain rest that I get burned out.

How about when it comes to God and/or church? Are you ÀQGLQJ FRPIRUW DQG UHVW WKHUH" I’ve met people recently who have not had a good experience at church lately (and let me tell you that just breaks my heart). They’ve experienced anything but rest. Fights, arguments, gossip, pain, exclusion….now these things happen every day in the world…but church? Uuuuuugh.

God has a different plan for us when it comes to rest and a relationship with Him. “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me — watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I ZRQ·W OD\ DQ\WKLQJ KHDY\ RU LOO ÀWWLQJ RQ \RX .HHS FRPSDQ\ with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11: 28-30 msg I’ve been told “church would be a perfect place if it weren’t for the people.”

Jesus invites us to walk with Him, work with Him, and watch how He does it. He does it like no other.

Maybe you’re tired, worn out and burned out on religion.

You’ve stopped going to church. Or maybe you’re as active DV WKH\ FRPH EXW DUH VWLOO QRW ÀQGLQJ DQ\ UHVW , LQYLWH \RX WR rest with Jesus.

Don’t depend on people to meet your needs. Religion won’t do it either. Only time with Jesus Christ will truly meet that need and give you that ever-elusive rest.

The other night at church in the middle of worship, we SDXVHG WR VSHQG D IHZ PRPHQWV ZLWK *RG , ODXJKHG DW ÀUVW when they said “don’t ask God for anything right now, don’t tell Him your problems, don’t talk. Just be quiet and listen.

Listen to what God has to say to you. Listen for the plans he has for you. “ Listen.

Just listen.

Spend some time today listening to God today. Don’t talk.

Don’t ask. Don’t complain. Just listen. Aaaaahh. Can you just imagine it?

CHRISTIAN TORRES is a graduate of Baylor University. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in McAllen with their 3 daughters: Madeleine (12), Natalie (9), and Courtney (7).

They are members of Palm Valley Church of Mission.

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Palm Valley Church (DVW *ULIĂ€Q 3DUNZD\ 0LVVLRQ

956-585-3203 www.palmvalleychurch.com / 9 /www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

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St. Paul Lutheran Church, School, and Childcare 300 W. Pecan Blvd. / McAllen, Texas Sunday service: 8 a.m.; 10:45 a.m.

(Christian Education 9:30 a.m.) www.stpaulmcallen.org secretary@stpaulmcallen.org (956) 682-2345 (956) 682-7148

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HOW DID YOU GET TO MCALLEN?

, ZDV ERUQ LQ .DQVDV &LW\ DQG JUHZ XS PRVWO\ in Greensboro, NC. My dad worked for a Swiss $J ÀUP EXW WKDW¡V KRZ , NQHZ DERXW 0F$OOHQ When I got the call to come and serve at St. Paul I was praying about it and considering it.

When I talked to my dad he asked what’s the job offer situation? I said well this congregation in McAllen, Texas wants me to come down there.

He says McAllen, Texas? I’ve been there before. They’ve got palm trees and beautiful farms. At that time I had an offer in St. Louis and another in Cleveland so I wasn’t really planning to come down here. My wife looked at the map and said well I don’t know about that.

THIS IS A LONG WAY FROM HOME ISN’T IT? My wife Marianne is from Pittsburgh. We were in Cleveland at the time and being in Cleveland we were close to home. She had an interest in staying there. She said if your dad said great things about McAllen you should go and check it out. I’m not gonna get excited until you tell me that you believe that’s where God wants us. I came down to visit and thought you know, it is the area of ministry God has called me to and I liked McAllen. McAllen is the exact opposite of Cleveland. Instead of pierogis (like GXPSOLQJV ² ÀUVW ERLOHG WKHQ WKH\ DUH EDNHG RU fried usually in butter with onions – traditionally VWXIIHG ZLWK D SRWDWR ÀOOLQJ VDXHUNUDXW JURXQG meat or cheese.) we have taquerias. Instead of the Polish Village we have all the Mexican food you can eat – and I love that.

BUT WAS IT ENOUGH TO CONVINCE Y’ALL? At the time, the church recognized they had a problem in enrollment here in the school. It was kind of dropping off and they really needed leadership. Every church I had ever been in had a school and/or a school and childcare.

Marianne and I had three huge Post-it notes on our wall in our house in Cleveland and we had pros and cons and we kept praying about it.

We said God you’re going to have to make it very evident if you want us in McAllen, Texas – and He did.

HOW? A number of things just kept happening. One day the next door neighbors asked how the whole job thing was going and I told them. It just so happened that our neighbor was a corporate pilot and new the McCreerys and McCreery Aviation in McAllen. They were like oh we know McAllen – that was a “coincidence. �

But it was one after another.

On Sunday morning we prayed about it before we came to church here and then Marianne and I went to the breakfast buffet at WKH &DVD 'H 3DOPDV , RSHQHG WKH FKDĂ€QJ dish and there were breakfast tacos. I said “you’re not going to see this in Cleveland, Ohio,â€? and the waiter looked at me and said “Well that’s why you need to move to McAllen, Texas.â€? I was like “uh-oh.â€? There were several other things but it was one thing after another.

We moved here in August 2008.

HOW HAS IT BEEN? It’s been hard work but good ministry. The trajectory is heading into expanded ministry and more outreach. The school’s enrollment is going up. Our childcare is maxed out – it’s awesome. It gives us more opportunity to touch people’s lives.

You know, Luther wouldn’t have been where he was without the technology of the printing press yet Lutherans are way behind in technology. We are not considered on the cutting edge of social media, internet, computers – we fell behind. We’re catching up now and it helps in all areas of ministry.

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HOW DID YOU AND MARIANNE MEET? We met at Nyack College in New York. , ORYHG VWXG\LQJ SKLORVRSK\ DQG 1<$&. had a great program. I saw Marianne at a transfer student party there. She hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t transferred there yet but she was hosting the party. We started dating in October of our Junior year.

My roommate was Cuban-American and challenged me â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you have to get a date and come down to this restaurant I work at just across the river from Manhattan.

6R WKH JX\V RQ P\ Ă RRU LQ WKH GRUP KDG this little contest â&#x20AC;&#x201C; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pick a Date for Otten.â&#x20AC;?

You had to name the girl and the reason why she was nominated. Marianneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name appeared and I thought â&#x20AC;&#x153;yeah.â&#x20AC;?

The reasons they picked her was that she was a good cook, she was good looking - but also has four other good looking sisters - and her parents have a pool.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not exactly what Proverbs says butâ&#x20AC;Ś. went there for a date and I was immediately attracted to her.

I had seen her at the social, and then studying at library â&#x20AC;&#x201C; I never went to the library but knew she studied there so I would start dropping by.

YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE A TRAVELER ARENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T YOU? The Lutheran church assigns you as an LQWHUQ WR \RXU Ă&#x20AC;UVW FKXUFK DQG , ZDV RUdained as assistant pastor in Virginia Beach, Va. Marianne was working at a home for at-risk teens. The Lutheran church started putting my name out there and congregations started calling.

A Navy Captain from Norfolk, Va., put my name in for Hawaii so I got a call â&#x20AC;&#x153;we would like you to be our pastor.â&#x20AC;? So we went there.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;M SURE THAT WAS TOUGH (â&#x20AC;&#x153;WINK WINKâ&#x20AC;?) RIGHT? They were actually the roughest years of life â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it was very expensive to live there DQG WKDW FRQJUHJDWLRQ KDG EHHQ LQĂ LFWed for about 20 years. We helped them through that and after that basically told them you made great progress but we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afford to stay. They raised my salary but I had already made the decision to head back home to Maryland.

I was an associate pastor for 3 ½ years.

Then I was told by what you would consider our bishop â&#x20AC;&#x153;you really should be preaching and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to put your name on some call lists.â&#x20AC;? So I started getting calls again and went to Cleveland, Ohio, for just under just six years.

SO YOU WHERE THERE WHEN LEBRON WAS THERE? Lebron was there. I was there when he graduated from high school â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it was a big deal that he stayed in Cleveland to play for the Cavs.

SO HE TOOK HIS TALENTS TO SOUTH BEACH AND YOU BROUGHT YOURS TO SOUTH TEXAS? When he left, it was a bitter, bitter pill. I left before him and all this anger was up there because of it.

YOU ALSO SERVED IN THE MILITARY RIGHT? I was asked to consider the military ministry because of the Air Force Base there in Honolulu â&#x20AC;&#x201C; I went thru processing in Pearl Harbor then accepted the call to Maryland.

I served in the 175th wing in Baltimore, which is a combat wing and also air support. They had C-130s and A-10s. When I went to Ohio I served where they were WUDLQLQJ ) Ă&#x20AC;JKWHU SLORWV DQG ZKHQ , came here it just so happened at Lackland Air Force Base they have the same PLVVLRQ WUDLQLQJ ) Ă&#x20AC;JKWHU SLORWV

WHAT ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES? Provide spiritual care for our military regardless what branch. When I was deSOR\HG LQ , ZDV LQ .\UJ\]VWDQ ,W¡V a transit station so when the surge happened if you were heading into Afghanistan from the north you had to go through there. It was the last chance to talk to men and women in uniform before someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shooting at them.

One night I went out to pick up some guys whose buddies had gotten killed â&#x20AC;&#x201C; so they were escorting them home. , SLFNHG WKHP XS RQ WKH Ă LJKW OLQH DQG drove them back. Driving back from main base they said â&#x20AC;&#x153;sir is anybody going to shoot at us here?â&#x20AC;? I looked at them and said â&#x20AC;&#x153;no, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re safe.â&#x20AC;? We were in D KRVWLOH Ă&#x20AC;UH ]RQH EXW KDG KXJH EDUULHUV and lots of security.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s when it dawned on me. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the opportunity to talk to these men and women - when their hearts are open to it â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they need spiritual care.

HOW WAS SERVING IN THE GUARD WHEN KATRINA HIT? I was in Cleveland in the National Guard and the storm hit, I was activated and I packed up and left. I preached Sunday morning, wrote four sermons to leave for DQ HOGHU WKHQ WKH\ ORDGHG XV XS :H Ă&#x20AC;UVW landed in New Orleans, dropped off the cargo then went Gulfport.

When the back of C-130 opened up it was like landing in the middle of a beehive â&#x20AC;&#x201C; there were helicopters, planes..

It was like landing in a war zone â&#x20AC;&#x201C; everything was going 200 miles per KRXU :H Ă HZ WR +DWWLHVEXUJ DFWXally because we couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t land in Gulfport and it was sensory overload and human pain I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wish on anyone.

When you go to Iraq and Afghanistan

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you expect to see what you see â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a war zone. You just donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect it someplace that looks like America â&#x20AC;&#x201C; completely devastated and unable to do anything. Then Rita hit, I was glad after four weeks to go home. It was hard to recover mentally from that.

WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S THE CHURCH AND SCHOOL MISSION? The primary mission here is to develop disciples who want to be servant leaders in this community. To get them to confess faith in Christ and develop as a disciple the same way He was. We tell those who graduate that you can have facts, facts an empire of facts but if those facts donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t actually lead to a relationship with Jesus, then the education is not complete.

YOU HAVE SO MANY KIDS FROM COUNTRIES â&#x20AC;&#x201C; HOW? The Lutheran Church operates schools from Hanoi to Houston to Honolulu, as I like to say. The schools we operate stretch around the globe. People call us from Japan and say hey my company is transferring me and told me to Call St. Paul Lutheran about my kids. Somehow, the word has gotten out in the international manufacturing industry.

A lot of students will be here for three, maybe six years then gone. We foster the relationship with theinternational comPXQLW\ :H VXSSRUW DERXW Ă&#x20AC;YH WR HLJKW YHU\ VSHFLĂ&#x20AC;F PLVVLRQ DFWLYLWLHV EXW WKLV LV our opportunity here. This is our chance to share the message of Jesus, not just as a cultural thing.

The Japanese weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had here have told us they knew nothing about Jesus until we told them. Other folks who come- like from Europe or South America or Australia - may know culturally about Jesus but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really know who He was until they came here.

We get to share the gospel. And when they leave itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like deploying missionaries. Hey when you go back to Japan you can go back there and tell other people about Jesus. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re probably not going WR Ă&#x20AC;QG D /XWKHUDQ FKXUFK EXW Ă&#x20AC;QG D %LEOH believing, Christ-centered church, grow and tell others about Jesus.

By Henry Miller

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Valley Christian Heritage School (956) 787-9743

932 North Alamo Road, Alamo, Texas 78516

www.vchschool.org

State and National Accreditation: PS -12th grade Â&#x2021; Celebrating 35 years of Excellence Â&#x2021; Nationally Acclaimed Academics Â&#x2021; Christian Education at its Best Â&#x2021; Open 7 A.M. - 6 P.M. (school year) Â&#x2021; Easily affordable tuition Â&#x2021; Spacious beautiful classrooms Â&#x2021; State-of-the-art science lab Â&#x2021; Well-equipped computer lab Â&#x2021; Fully automated library, 14,000+ volumes Â&#x2021; Kitchen and Cafeteria for healthy lunches Â&#x2021; Athletic and Academic competitions Â&#x2021; 'HJUHHG FHUWLĂ&#x20AC;HG H[SHULHQFHG WHDFKHUV Â&#x2021; Sound Biblical teachings, Christian morals Â&#x2021; Daily Bible classes for all students Â&#x2021; Safe campus; happy students Â&#x2021; No uniforms; sensible dress code

How VCHS compares with all other Texas Schools

WHY SUPPORT

THE

MISSION

(National Report Below)

VALLEY CHRISTIAN HERITAGE SCH 932 N ALAMO RD ALAMO, TX 78516

OF

VCHS? June 29, 2011

College Readiness Letter for:

VALLEY CHRISTIAN HERITAGE SCH This report reflects the achievement of your graduates on the ACT over time and an indication of the extent to which they are prepared for college-level work. The ACT consists of curriculum-based tests of educational development in English, mathematics, reading, and science designed to measure the skills needed for success in first year college coursework.

Figure 1. Percent of ACT-Tested Students Ready for College-Level Coursework Are Your Students Ready for College?

While students will pursue a variety of paths after high school, all students should be prepared for college and work. Through collaborative research with postsecondary institutions nationwide, ACT has established the following as college readiness benchmark scores for designated courses: Â&#x201C; 5^W\YcX 3_]`_cYdY_^* !( _^ 13D 5^W\YcX DUcd Â&#x201C; 1\WURbQ* "" _^ 13D =QdXU]QdYSc DUcd Â&#x201C; C_SYQ\ CSYU^SU* "! _^ 13D BUQTY^W DUcd Â&#x201C; 2Y_\_Wi* "$ _^ 13D CSYU^SU DUcd Your School

Other Texas Schools

1 RU^SX]Qb[ cS_bU Yc dXU ]Y^Y]e] cS_bU ^UUTUT _^ Q^ 13D ceRZUSd QbUQ dUcd d_ Y^TYSQdU Q % SXQ^SU _V _RdQY^Y^W Q 2 _b XYWXUb _b QR_ed Q '% SXQ^SU _V obtaining a C or higher in the corresponding credit-bearing / 15 courses. /www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

Beware of Wrong Motives

By GREG LAURIE

But Peter replied, â&#x20AC;&#x153;May your money be destroyed with you for thinking Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gift can be bought! You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God.â&#x20AC;?

Acts 8:20â&#x20AC;&#x201C;21

In the book of Acts we read about a man named Simon, who was a VRUFHUHU DQ RFFXOWLVW +H KDG D ORW RI SHRSOH XQGHU KLV LQĂ XHQFH ZKHQ the apostle Philip came along, preaching the gospel in Samaria. As people were coming to faith and miracles were being performed, Simon realized that he had to change his racket. So we read in Acts 8:13 that Simon himself believed and was baptized. He followed Philip everywhere and was astonished by the great signs and wonders he saw.

When the apostles heard what was happening in Samaria, they sent Peter and John there. And so Simon approached the apostles and offered them money because he saw Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s power working through them and wanted to buy it. But Peter told him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;May your money be destroyed with you for thinking Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gift can be bought! You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God. Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts, for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sinâ&#x20AC;? (Acts 8:20â&#x20AC;&#x201C;23).

Simon showed by his actions that he never was a believer. Yes, he was baptized. (And if you are a Christian, you ought to be baptized.)

But just because someone is baptized doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily mean he or she is a Christian.

This shows us that people can be in a godly place, around godly people, and not have it affect them in the right way. As it has been said, the same sun that softens the wax hardens the clay. The light of Jesus Christ, if it does not convert the listener, plunges him or her into deeper darkness.

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, P.O. Box 4000, Riverside, Calif., 92514. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright Š 1996.

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17 /www comWWW.PENAEYE.COM / 1400 E. Ridge RD., /STE 10.valleychristianmagazine.

MCALLEN, TX 78503

This is a private convers The summer after my sophomore year in college I worked at a homeless shelter for men. My shift was from 7 PM to 7 AM. As such, I spent the summer living at the homeless shelter. Evenings were spent walking the halls, hanging out in rooms, conversing with the residents, not to mention answering the door in the middle of the night for those seeking lodging. That summer living in the homeless shelter was a learning experience I will never forget.

shouldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve said. I talk to myself and replay conversations where I said too much, said the wrong thing or even didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say anything.

Late one evening as I walked down the hall, I heard voices coming out of a room.

There seemed to be some sort of a disagreement. As I approached the room, I slowed down, moved closer to the wall and inconspicuously peered around the corner to see what all the fuss was about. , H[SHFWHG WR Ă&#x20AC;QG D URRP IXOO RI JX\V DQG D Ă&#x20AC;JKW DERXW WR EUHDN RXW %XW DV , scanned the room, to my surprise, there was only one guy in the room. There, he sat on the edge of the bottom bunk bed.

We talk to ourselves about our secret hopes and dreams. But, we also talk to ourselves about our fears, worries and insecurities. Studies show that we have about 65,000 thoughts a day. Interestingly, it is estimated that for most people about 65 percent of those thoughts are negative. These thoughts become the JRYHUQLQJ LQĂ XHQFHUV RI PXFK RI RXU OLIH â&#x20AC;&#x153;What a wee little part of a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life are his acts and his words!â&#x20AC;? wrote Mark Twain. â&#x20AC;&#x153;His real life is led in his head, and is known to none but himself. All day long, the mill of his brain is grinding, and his thoughts, not those other things, are his history.â&#x20AC;?

My eyes widened as I took in what was going on. He was literally arguing with himself. He was talking to himself! He would say something, slightly shift his body position and then respond back.

This went on for quite some time. At one point, with the intensity rising, I almost expected him to slap himself as well. After a few minutes, after he apparently got it all out, everything settled back to â&#x20AC;&#x153;normal.â&#x20AC;?

He lay down and went to sleep.

Crazy huh?

I actually saw things like this quite a bit that VXPPHU $W Ă&#x20AC;UVW , WKRXJKW WKLV W\SH RI EHhavior was merely symptomatic of those who were slightly mentally disturbed.

Then one day it dawned on me, I talk to myself all the time. I may not be sitting on the side of a bed in a homeless shelter about to slap myself, but I do argue with myself. I replay events and conversations in my head. Confrontations with a spouse or family member that didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t end quite the way I would have desired. Instances where I said something in a tone that I shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have and now regret. These incidents become the mental script I retrace and replay to myself. I reinsert that which would have been more appropriate to say. What I wish I had said.

As it relates to my interactions with others, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m guilty of talking to myself about what I couldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve said, wouldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve said and

Do you do this?

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re human, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m guessing you do â&#x20AC;&#x201C; quite a bit â&#x20AC;&#x201C; every day.

We talk to ourselves all the time.

We talk to ourselves every day. Much of our self-talk actually serves to reinforce a skewed perspective of God, others and life itself. I can talk to myself in a way that is sympathetic toward this skewed perspective of things or I can talk to myself in God, where I actually begin to self-correct and redirect my wayward soul back to God. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an interesting dialogue found in Psalm 42. The Psalmist says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Why, my soul, are you downcast?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.â&#x20AC;?

-Psalm 42:5 $W Ă&#x20AC;UVW UHDGLQJ LW VHHPV SRHWLF %XW UHread it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in Godâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;?

Who is the Psalmist talking to?

Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s talking to himself. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s asking himself questions. Further, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actually disagreeLQJ ZLWK KLPVHOI .LQG RI UHPLQGV PH RI WKH old guy sitting on his bed in the homeless shelter.

The Psalmist goes from being discouraged to talking to himself about being discouraged. He tells himself to put his hope in God, only to begin to disagree with himself again. In confusion, he turns to God as the very source of his troubles.

He looks to the forces around him, pushing in from every side. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a spiraling cycle of emotion and mental distress. He asks again, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Why, my soul, are you downcast?

Why so disturbed within me?â&#x20AC;?

We all know what itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like to be discouraged. We all talk to ourselves during these times. All of us! Our dilemma, however, is that often we encourage ourselves to stay discouraged. We agree with our (downcast) selves and all the surrounding realities of our present circumstances. But in these times, we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to agree with ourselves, we need to talk to ourselves, but not just talk to ourselves â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we need to talk to ourselves in God. The Psalmist said to himself, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Why are you downcastâ&#x20AC;Ś? Why are you discouraged and sadâ&#x20AC;Ś?â&#x20AC;? But the Psalmist doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop here. Nor does he settle for some petty rationale validating his state of being. He actually tells himself to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Put your hope in God.â&#x20AC;? He directs his soul back to God. He doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hide his feelings from God, nor his skewed perception of the current demise. He lays it all out before God. He pours his heart out to God. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dumped it all out. :KHQ \RX Ă&#x20AC;QG \RXUVHOI LQ RQH RI WKHVH seasons, whom do you â&#x20AC;&#x153;dumpâ&#x20AC;? on?

The wisdom of Psalm 42 is that it illustrates not only a person getting it out, but it shows us a person who redirects their soul to God and His truth. The Psalmist said things like, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I will remember God.â&#x20AC;? He instructs himself to look to God. He put his hope in God. He determined within himself, despite his circumstance, to praise God. Like the Psalmist, there are occasions where I simply donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see things as they are; rather I see them from a skewed perspective. This warped view of reality affects every other arena of my life. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If what \RX EHOLHYH GRHV QRW UHĂ HFW WUXWK Âľ ZULWHV Neil Anderson, â&#x20AC;&#x153;then what you feel does QRW UHĂ HFW UHDOLW\ Âľ $V LW WXUQV RXW ,¡P QRW much different than my homeless friend sitting on the bottom bunk arguing with him self. In fact, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve come to realize that there are times when what I need most is

JERRELL JOBE is a teaching pastor at Palm Valley Church in Mission.

He is married to Charissa and has three children : Micah (9), Naylah (7), and Avi (5).

/ 18 /www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

sation.... (between me and myself)

By Jerrell Jobe to sit myself down and give my soul a good talking to. Much like the scene I observed that summer night, I can be found in a room by myself, seemingly talking to myself.

At times, these self-talk sessions consists of me reminding myself of who God is and what He has done in my life. This is what the Psalmist did in verse six, when he said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you.â&#x20AC;? Likewise, I remind myself of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s persistent faithfulness to me over the course of my journey with Him. On other occasions, I move beyond my own limited experience with God and remind myself of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s faithfulness as communicated countless times throughout the story of Scripture. At other times, I will open my Bible to the New Testament letters of Ephesians or Colossians. These particular letters are absolutely full of vivid declarations of who Christ is and what He accomplished on the cross.

With Bible in hand, I begin reading these OHWWHUV RXW ORXG 6RPHWKLQJ VLJQLĂ&#x20AC;FDQW transpires as the truth of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s word resounds out of my mouth, reverberates in my ears and echoes deep within my soul. A shift begins to take place. As I begin to see things from Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perspective, that which I believe EHJLQV WR UHĂ HFW WUXWK DQG WKDW ZKLFK ,¡P VXEVHTXHQWO\ IHHOLQJ EHJLQV WR UHĂ HFW UHality.

At other times, talking to myself is more of a written dialogue. It may read very similar to Psalm 42 or 43. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s through this journaling process that my thoughts and feelings begin to become disentangled. Journaling causes my mind to slow down to the speed of my hand, so that my soul can catch up to the pace of life. Journaling, in essence, creates space for me to meet with God. It results in me being more attentive and aware of that which God is doing and saying to me.

7KH QH[W WLPH \RX Ă&#x20AC;QG \RXUVHOI LQ WKH IXQN WDON to yourself in God. Remind yourself of who God is and His faithfulness. Open up Scripture and declare the eternal truth of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Word to the temporal circumstances of your soul.

David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. (1 Samuel 30:6 NASB)

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By Dr. James MacDonald

*RG 0DJQLÀHG “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”

Psalm 34:1-4

D

Listen to Walk in the Word locally weekdays at 5:30a.m.

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.

Used by permission of Walk in the Word, Elgin, Ill., 61023. www.walkintheword.com by permission of Walk in the Word,Elgin, Ill., 61023.

How will I magnify the Lord in at least three ways today?

In what areas of life would it help for me to pray, “I don’t know what to do, but my eyes are on You, Lord.” / 22 /www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

Ask the Expert Listen to good advice if you want to live well... Proverbs 15:31 Valley Christian Magazine is bringing expertise right to you in our new “Ask the Expert” section.

Send your questions to henry@valleychristianmagazine.com

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Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Be

Ashamed Students! Prepare spiritually now for post high school life

CODULD %XGGOH UHPHPEHUV KRZ GLIĂ&#x20AC;FXOW LW ZDV WR NHHS her faith as she made the transition from graduating high school to attending Grand Canyon University in Arizona.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;In college, we just wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wake up on Sundays. We just VOHSW LQ , VWDUWHG IHHOLQJ XQZRUWK\ DQG Ă&#x20AC;QDOO\ , MXVW EURNH down. I felt so alone,â&#x20AC;? Buddle said.

However, Buddle, a Harlingen native and intern for ChrisWLDQ )HOORZVKLS &KXUFK¡V ZRUVKLS WHDP OHDUQHG WR Ă&#x20AC;JKW WKH FKDOOHQJHV VKH IDFHG E\ Ă&#x20AC;QGLQJ D FKXUFK VLPLODU WR KHU home church. â&#x20AC;&#x153;God never leaves; you just have to seek Him. Crack open \RXU %LEOH GXVW LW RII Ă&#x20AC;QG D FKXUFK Âľ VKH VDLG Making the switch from high school to college can be tough, especially when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a Christian student. Away from home, living on your own, your spiritual self faces challenges. New temptations, new experiences, new people ² LW¡V D GLIĂ&#x20AC;FXOW WUDQVLWLRQ Pastors, counselors and others recommend that students prepare themselves for the trials they may face. To make WKH WUDQVLWLRQ HDVLHU VWXGHQWV VKRXOG WU\ WR Ă&#x20AC;QG &KULVWLDQ friends as soon as possible; students can also prepare by immersing themselves in the Word and cementing their faith before going off to school.

The Student Evangelism Conference will bring speakers and entertainers to the McAllen Convention Center August 3-4 with the sole purpose of strengthening young people and helping to furnish them with the tools needed for Christian teen living. &RQIHUHQFH VSHDNHUV LQFOXGH 0LNH .HDKERQH DQG :HV Hamilton. There will also be a concert by Royal Tailor. The Newsboys will conclude the conference with a sure-to-be dynamic concert on Saturday.

The purpose of SEC is to see Texas students give their life for the sake of sharing Jesus Christ. Through SEC, the gospel will be communicated and lost students will have the chance to respond. Students will be challenged to share their faith and to go home and be unashamed for the gospel.

Many people believe high school students lose their faith as they adjust to life at the college level, according to a study by The Barna Group. The Barna Group asserts that the reality of this myth is that some students stray away from the church, others no longer relate to the Christian culture they were brought up in, while some continue to grow in their faith.

Fellowship of Christian Athletesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Area Representative for the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Jonathan Medina, explains the possible reasons students may succumb to these statistics during their college years. ´:KHQ \RX OLYH LQ 7H[DV VSHFLĂ&#x20AC;FDOO\ WKH 9DOOH\ ZKHUH WKHUH¡V D VWURQJ &KULVWLDQ LQĂ XHQFH LW¡V HDV\ WR SURFODLP \RX¡UH D &KULVWLDQ DQG LW¡V RIWHQ EHQHĂ&#x20AC;FLDO WR FODLP &KULVWLanity,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;However, I went to school in D.C., where I was sometimes made fun of for being a Christian. It was a different culture.â&#x20AC;?

Joel WKLWH D /D )HULD +LJK 6FKRRO JUDGXDWH ZKR Ă&#x20AC;QLVKHG KLV Ă&#x20AC;UVW \HDU DW 2XDFKLWD %DSWLVW 8QLYHUVLW\ LQ $UNDQVDV WKLV VSULQJ H[SHULHQFHG WKHVH FKDOOHQJHV Ă&#x20AC;UVWKDQG ZKLOH H[/ 25 /www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

ploring his new independence. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I saw it in my friends and I saw it in me,â&#x20AC;? White said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There was a point when I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go to church for months. You see the effects. You fall out of the Word.â&#x20AC;?

In order to remain strong in your walk with God, White recommends Ă&#x20AC;QGLQJ D FKXUFK DV VRRQ DV SRVVLEOH ´)RU WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW FRXSOH RI ZHHNV WKDW \RX JHW WR FROOHJH VWDUW HDUO\ ORRNing for a church. Talk with the older members and get connected with those more involved. That way, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll always feel welcome,â&#x20AC;? he said.

7H[DV $ 0 .LQJVYLOOH VWXGHQW /HVOLH /R]DQR IRXQG KHU SODFH DV D Christian in college by becoming a leader in the church community DQG Ă&#x20AC;QGLQJ KHU QLFKH LQ %DSWLVW 6WXGHQW 0LQLVWU\ RQ KHU FDPSXV â&#x20AC;&#x153;Find something that suits you,â&#x20AC;? Lozano says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For me, the whole trial thing was actually being vulnerable and open with people. Find a spiritual group. Open up and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be afraid to let people in.â&#x20AC;?

Although many students donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect college to test their faith, Lozano advocates preparing for the possible trials. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now, in the summer, that you have time off, start looking at groups that will be in your college,â&#x20AC;? Lozano says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Prepare yourself. Even if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re spiritually faithful, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to meet different people with different things that they do for fun.â&#x20AC;? .DG\ *DUFLD D UHFHQW JUDGXDWH IURP 6DQWD 5RVD +LJK 6FKRRO KDG started to prepare for her transition to the University of Texas at Arlington by reinforcing her faith throughout her senior year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I recently started going to church. Before, I used to go to bible study, but I went to a camp and it really strengthened my faith,â&#x20AC;?

Garcia said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I believe God is going to show me a church in college where I can make an impact on that church.â&#x20AC;?

Student Evangelism Conference McAllen Convention Center

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Register At: Viva Life Christian Bookshop 6601 N. 10th St. McAllen, TX 78504 956-631-2291

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P\ GHYRWLRQDO Ă&#x20AC;QJHUV DQG DOORZ P\VHOI WR EH LPPHUVHG LQWR something bigger than myself. Even though I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know it at the time, this was my proverbial go-sign.

By Jacob Ramon For Valley Christian Magazine â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you seek him, he will be found by you.â&#x20AC;? 1 Chronicles 28:9 7KH Ă&#x20AC;UVW WLPH , SURPLVHG P\VHOI , ZRXOG JR UHJUHWWDEO\ WKH RFcasion slipped my mind.

There was no one I blamed but myself--for all I knew, my forgetfulness could have stemmed from my hesitancy for going LQ WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW SODFH 7KH LQ VFKRRO %LEOH VWXG\ KDG EHHQ PRUH RI a peripheral idea, and hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t yet reached a level of actual GHVLUH 7KDQN WKH SUHYLRXV Ă&#x20AC;DVFRV RI URZG\ KRRSOD %LEOH camps I had attended annually).

Flyers were tacked in a few halls: Every Thursday, Room 111, 4:30-5:15. But when Thursday came and went without notice, I was puzzled with how angry I was at myself for missing the %LEOH VWXG\ DOWRJHWKHU $W WKH WLPH VSLULWXDO IXOĂ&#x20AC;OOPHQW ZDVQ¡W exactly a top priority, at least when compared to homework, band, and other admittedly senseless things.

7KH %LEOH VWXG\ ZDV FDOOHG ´7KH &RQQHFWLRQ Âľ 2Q WKH Ă \HUV FHQWHUHG ZLWKLQ WKH WH[W D OLWWOH PRQRFKURPH Ă&#x20AC;JXULQH KHOG two plugs opposite each other, one blue, one red. You would think from its context that the image would be in the actual act of connecting them, but looking closer, it was actually VWDWLRQDU\ 7KH Ă&#x20AC;JXULQH YHU\ SODLQO\ KHOG WKH WZR SOXJV DV LI waiting or even daring someone to give it the go-sign.

7KLV ZDV P\ Ă&#x20AC;UVW FOXH WKLV ZDVQ¡W VLPSO\ DQ LFRQ LW ZDV D IXOO Ă HGJHG DQDORJ\ 7KLV ZDV PH 1RWKLQJ UHDOO\ SUHYHQWHG PH from going but my own reluctance, and there I was, lingering between my circumstances, holding my breath while I WXUQHG VSLULWXDOO\ EODFN DQG EOXH , QHHGHG WR EUHDWKH WR Ă H[

It was a student-run club from what I had heard, led by two brothers who were known for being whip smart and as FKDULVPDWLF DV DOO JHW RXW 8SRQ ZDONLQJ LQ WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW WKLQJ \RX noticed was the atmosphere: It almost churned with a casual grace, an easygoing poise that simmered above the heads of chattering clusters of teens.

Here and there were familiar faces, lost in their own clouds of conversation. The day I came in, the younger brother was OHDGLQJ 7RSLF %HLQJ GHĂ&#x20AC;QHG E\ ORYH $QG RQFH KH VSRNH it was comical how suddenly engrossed I became with his words. His message expanded its wings from his mouth and cloaked me in an awestruck void. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll admit, this wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t how I thought Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d react: throat clenched, eyes unblinking, heart throbbing quietly. I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exactly accustomed to that feeling, the gripping intensity, the untamed power of that pivotal SRLQW WKH SRLQW ZKHQ WKH WZR SOXJV Ă&#x20AC;QDOO\ PHHW HQHUJ\ VXUJLQJ VSDUNV Ă \LQJ When the meeting was over, I walked out of that room quietly and impassively, platformed in a hazy fugue from this startling revelation. My world began to dissolve, and suddenly my problems didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem all that mighty. (Sound familiar?)

In those 30 minutes, the spiritual power didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t only impact that day in my life, but seemed to resonate as my school week continued. Right then, I promised myself not to miss another. I needed this. God wanted this. $QG WKLV FRQQHFWLRQ , PDGH , GHĂ&#x20AC;QLWHO\ ZDQWHG WR NHHS PDNing it.

JACOB ROMAN Jacob Roman is a 16-year-old student at Sharyland High School.

/ 28 /www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

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Saved by Scraps

By Abram Gomez

In pursuing Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plans for my life, I have learned a simple truth: it is what you learn along the way that makes the difference. When I was younger, I remember watching the movie â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Karate Kid.â&#x20AC;? Mr. Miyagi, the karate teacher, has his young apprentice â&#x20AC;&#x153;wax onâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;wax offâ&#x20AC;? on a car, and moreover, has him paint a fence up and down. Seems tedious and insigQLĂ&#x20AC;FDQW ULJKW" 7KH VWXGHQW WKLQNV LW¡V IRROLVK DQG ZRXOG PXFK UDWKHU OHDUQ WKH W\SH RI PRYHV WKDW FRXOG KHOS KLP Ă&#x20AC;JKW ZLWK PRUH DJJUHVVLRQ DQG Ă DUH :KDW KH GLGQ¡W UHDOL]H ZDV WKDW through the waxing and the painting, Mr. Miyagi was teaching him basic fundamental motions that would serve him well in his karate discipline, and eventually assist him in learning more profound combinations.

Sometimes, God does the same thing with us. We often long for the big picture to be complete. We desire to be at our destination in a short amount of time. But the destination is really only a mirage. When you arrive, it seems to move further ahead. It is what you are willing to pick up along the journey that molds and prepares you for your next season.

The Old Testament book of Ruth is a story that illustrates how a Sovereign God can take a person from behind the scenes to the front of the show by His grace and her readiness to grab hold of a few things in her path. Ruth experienced tragedy and loss. Ruthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s husband died and she then had to make a decision to either stay behind or follow her mother-in-law Naomi, who had also experienced loss. She chooses wisely, and clings to Naomi. Because of the tragedies, both women would journey to Bethlehem to start over. For Naomi, a homecoming, but for Ruth, the move would mean learning a new culture and new way of life. Ruth sees no bright future for her life, but only a desire to survive and live. But Ruth did some things along the way that would eventually set her up with op-

portunity and destiny.

1. Ruth did something. In arriving at Bethlehem, Ruth does not sit around and wait on God, or anybody else to assist her. It seems like too many people, who want to make a difference in their world wait on a big opportunity to knock on their door.

It seems that the knock never comes. You may not be able to FUHDWH \RXU RSSRUWXQLWLHV LQ OLIH EXW \RX FDQ GHĂ&#x20AC;QLWHO\ PDNH the most of every opportunity that comes your way. Ruth imPHGLDWHO\ UHTXHVWV WR JR LQWR WKH Ă&#x20AC;HOGV WR JOHDQ KHDGV RI JUDLQ for food and work. She did not have everything in place for personal success, but that did not stop her from at least doing something and being proactive. You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to own the Ă&#x20AC;HOG LQ RUGHU WR JOHDQ IURP LW 2. Ruth took the scraps. It was Old Testament law that reapers had to leave grain behind in order that those less fortunate could glean and gather for themselves also. Ruth was not afraid to take her â&#x20AC;&#x153;scraps.â&#x20AC;? A gleaner gathers seed by seed. It is little by little, but that over time becomes much in the hands of the gleaner. There are people who pass up on what they consider to be a â&#x20AC;&#x153;scrapâ&#x20AC;? of an opportunity or position. What they fail to realize is what Ruth was not afraid to grasp. She understood that even the crumbs have the same chemistry and taste of the whole piece! Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just look for entire stalks, but pick up the little things God is trying to teach you along the way. It isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t what God teaches you in the majors that make the difference, but it is what you learned in the minors that help you stay disciplined. What you are learning right now is not too miniscule for your journey. Take your scraps!

3. Ruth was discovered. Because of her willingness to go into WKH Ă&#x20AC;HOGV DQG WDNH WKH VFUDSV 5XWK EHFDPH QRWLFHG E\ VRPHRQH LQĂ XHQWLDO +H ZDV LQ FKDUJH RI WKH UHDSHUV RI WKH Ă&#x20AC;HOGV ,W

/ 30 /www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

l=en&client=safari&rls=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u &source=univ&sa=X&ei=CSrWT-yrNubL2QWDx_iODw&

was his observations of Ruth that would arrive at the ears of Boaz, the man who would eventually redeem Ruth and marry her. You do not need the favor of everyone to go to the next level, but just the favor of the right person. It was in the simple act of gleaning and taking leftovers that Ruth would get access into her salvation. Ruth was a woman saved by scraps!

There are things in life that God has left behind for you to take a hold of. What others are passing by just might be the opportunity for you that could change your life!

My personal twitter

@abram_gomez

ABRAM GOMEZ is the Executive Pastor at Valley International Christian Center in San Benito, Texas. He serves under the Leadership of Bishop Jaime Loya, and is a graduate of Southwestern Assemblies of God University. Abram has helped to develop leadership in various ministries and programs at VICC. He and his wife, Rebecca, reside in Harlingen.

/ 31 /www.valleychristianmagazine. christian com /

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said â&#x20AC;&#x153;everything begins with a thoughtâ&#x20AC;? and he was exactly right.

What we think determines who we are.

Who we are determines what we do.

What we do ultimately determines our legacy.

Our thoughts have the potential to catapult us into destiny or shackle us down withholding Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ultimate desire for our lives. Our lives have been inundated with words that have been spoken over our lives; for good and for evil - words that uplift or annihilate. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sticks and stones may break my bones but NAMES (words) will never hurt meâ&#x20AC;? is far from the truth...it is a fallacy.

Through time the words we have uttered or the ones spoken over our lives become thoughts and they are like the rudder on a ship.

They direct our lives, taking us to RXU Ă&#x20AC;QDO GHVWLQDWLRQ LQ OLIH I read a story about a tourist who walked the streets of Hong Kong.

As he walked by a tattoo parlor he stopped to admire the artwork and found himself utterly perplexed by one of the designs. The tattoo depicted a skull with the following inscription around it: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Born to Lose.â&#x20AC;?

The touristâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s curiosity led him into the parlor face to face with the artist who happened to be an elderly man. He then inquired about the design; he asked why someone would ask for that one in particular. The weathered artist replied â&#x20AC;&#x153;before tattoo on body tattoo on mind.â&#x20AC;?

Once our minds are tattooed with negative thoughts our chances for long-term success diminish. Some people are tattooed by the words of the parents, teachers, relatives or even strangers.

What has been etched and tattooed onto you mind? What past negative experiences have chiseled and shaped you into the person you have become?

2 Samuel tells the story of a young man by the name of Mephibosheth.

He was the grandson of King Saul and the son of Jonathan, Davidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best friend. Mephibosheth was a child when both his grandfather and father had set out to battle. $IWHU D ORQJ DQG VWUHQXRXV Ă&#x20AC;JKW both of their lives were taken and / 32 /www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

upon hearing such devastating news Saulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s household panicked.

Mephiboshethâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nurse took him in KHU DUPV DQG Ă HG DQG ZKLOH GRing so tripped and dropped the young man causing him to become lame in both feet. The name Mephibosheth means â&#x20AC;&#x153;a shameful thing.â&#x20AC;? He became â&#x20AC;&#x153;a shameful thingâ&#x20AC;? after he was dropped durLQJ D IHDU Ă&#x20AC;OOHG Ă LJKW 6LQFH WKDW time the child had been living in Lodebar (dry and desolate place).

He went from a castle to a land of complete desolation, from royalty WR LQVLJQLĂ&#x20AC;FDQFH IURP KDYLQJ LW DOO to having nothing to call his own.

He had forgotten that he was the grandson of a king. His surroundings, the environment he was subject to and the words spoken over his life slowly but surely forged his life. He had acquired a new identity and his destiny was altered. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Born to loseâ&#x20AC;? was tattooed all over his mind...

Years went by and David, now king, decides to seek anyone from the house of Saul whom he could bless.

Upon hearing of Mephibosheth he sent out his people to bring him in.

Mephibosheth, in the presence of the King David, bowed his head while David announced to him that he would return all that belonged to him for Jonathanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sake and that from that day forward he would eat at his table.

What a promise! What a blessing!

He restored his rights, position and royalty. He gave him a new name.

He spoke words of life over him.

And Mephiboshethâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s responseâ&#x20AC;Ś â&#x20AC;&#x153;What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?â&#x20AC;?

A dead dog???

Many times we react just as Mephibosheth did. We have a tendency to forget that we are the children of the Most High God, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

We need to rise up and position ourselves so that we may hit the PDUN DQG IXOĂ&#x20AC;OO *RG¡V GHVWLQ\ IRU our lives.

You have got to envision yourself the way God sees you and not as people do. Your circumstancHV GRQ¡W GHĂ&#x20AC;QH \RX *RG¡V :RUG does. You are not â&#x20AC;&#x153;a shameful thingâ&#x20AC;? you are fearfully and wonderfully made and Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s anointing rests upon you.

I want to encourage you to be

By Milton Gonzalez mindful of those things that KDYH WKH SRWHQWLDO RI LQÁXencing your thought life. Your greatest enemy can be your very own mindset, you could be your greatest detriment without even knowing it. Negative thoughts have the ability to hold you back, tie you up and crush your spirit.

Paul told the Romans (12:2) not conform to the world’s culture, not be moved by fads or worldly lifestyles. He said that if they wanted to experience God’s fullness in their lives it was imperative that they renew their minds.

Renew your mind by: 1. Meditating on God’s promises for you.

2. Align your thoughts with the Word of God. 3. Speak the Word over your life and loved ones.

4. Press on - forget what’s behind you and strain toward what is ahead in Christ Jesus.

MILTON GONZALEZ Milton Gonzalez is the Principal of Covenant Christian Academy in McAllen.

He is married to Elena and has a son, David.

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By Steve Marr Many people routinely lie. They make promises they don’t intend to keep. The Lord spoke through Hosea and said, “They spout empty words and make covenants they don’t intend to keep. So injustice springs up among them like SRLVRQRXV ZHHGV LQ D IDUPHU·V ÀHOG µ +RVHD 10:4, NLT) Unfortunately, some Christians also fail to keep their word. They may even become angry when someone holds them accountable. Here are examples from my experience.

I had agreed to create a teaching package for starting a business. I wrote 350 pages of content and invested $5,000 to complete my part of the agreement. Don had agreed to invest substantial money and time to electronically market the package. However, Don refused to follow through. He explained that he wanted to take his business in a different direction.

I reminded him of his agreement. I told him I had done my part and expected him to follow through. Several times, Don used his changed priorities as the reason he couldn’t keep the agreement. I quoted several scriptures about the importance of keeping one’s word. His angry response claimed “that this was business, not church.” With that, he ended the conversation.

Fortunately, I was able to rework my material into the book, Road Map to Success.

Another time I provided a $1,500 advance to a Christian contracted to do a job bid at $5,000.

The contractor never started the work. After more than a dozen follow up calls, I asked him to refund my deposit. Will agreed; but never sent a check.

Over several months I continued to follow up asking for the refund he agreed to send. However, he never answered my calls or e-mails.

One day his wife answered the phone. I simply asked if Will would return my call. Then, she told me that I needed to stop harassing her husband and leave them alone. I reminded her that I paid $1,500 for work that was never done. I was only asking him to honor his agreement. She became angry, insisting that if I were a real Christian I would forgive the debt and move on. I asked if Will was in good health. Surprised at my question, she told me he was. “Then,” I continued, “then the issue is not that Will cannot do the job; but chooses not to.”

Apparently neither of them felt it was wrong to keep $1,500 for work that was never done.

Keeping

Sam resigned a full-time position for a ministry position that required him to raise his own support.

Sam had commitments from several churches and individuals to provide support. Based on these promises, Sam believed this was the Lord’s will. Over the next few months, most of those who pledged, failed to deliver. Sam asked me

Our Word / 34 /www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

to help him determine what his next step should be. I suggested that he meet with each person who promised support and ask them to honor their pledge. Unfortunately, few people came through and most became either angry or distant when asked to follow through.

of Sharyland

Paul wrote, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.â&#x20AC;? (Colossians 3:9, NLT) As believers in Christ, we must keep our promises. All of us have made promises we wish we hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t made. David reminded us that the righteous â&#x20AC;&#x153;keep their promises even when it hurts.â&#x20AC;? (Psalm 15:4, NLT) Another time I advanced $1,000 for a project and then the person suffered a stroke. Because SK\VLFDO GLIĂ&#x20AC;FXOWLHV SUHYHQWHG KLP IURP FRPpleting the work, I released him from the commitment. Since he had already spent the $1,000, I told him that he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to refund it. The difference was that the others chose not to follow through, while this person was truly unable.

In each instance, I walked away from the situation after attempting to hold the other person accountable.

Make commitments carefully. God expects you to follow through.

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Steve Marr has learned from 40 years of business experience that God's way works. As an author, speaker, radio host, and business consultant, Marr helps companies and organizations apply the ancient wisdom of the Bible to avoid the common mistakes and headaches of growing a business.

Steve Marr, President / Business Proverbs stevemarr@businessproverbs.org / PH: 520.529.8470 Find peace of mind, hope and satisfaction in doing Business Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s way. www.businessproverbs.org Š 2012 Steve Marrâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Business Proverbs - All Rights Reserved

/ 35 /www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

AM I BEAUTIFUL?

By Theresa Valladares

&KDUP LV GHFHSWLYH EHDXW\ LV Ă HHWLQJâ&#x20AC;Ś Proverbs 31:30

By Dr. Theresa Valladares

EUXVKHG WR VHHP Ă DZOHVV

Summer time is great. I spend more time with my familyâ&#x20AC;Ś and I love sunshine! People are usually more relaxed and happy- except for one place that without fail you hear people moaning and sometimes FU\LQJ WKH Ă&#x20AC;WWLQJ URRP LQ WKH bathing suit department.

These women promote unrealistic expectations. Not even the women in the ads look like the women in the ads. We watch shows where people compete for ultimate makeovers and promote changing the exterior guarantees happiness. What message does this send out to our youth, to youâ&#x20AC;Śto me?

There is one thing I dread doing in the summer and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bathing suit shopping! This year is no different. I headed to the mall already defeated in my mind that no bathing suit would look good. As all women know as we get older our bodies remind of us Sir Newtons Law of Gravity. There is only so much Lycra and spandex can do for us!

While in the dressing room Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve overheard young girls (probably early teens young) complainingâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;?Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m so fat,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I hate my thighs,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I need plastic surgery.â&#x20AC;? I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help but feel sad for them. They were young, beautiful and full of potential, yet they were already obsessing about what WKH\ IHOW ZHUH Ă DZV 7KHLU KDSpiness was being based on their looks.

We are bombarded by images of women in magazines, television and movies that seem to have â&#x20AC;&#x153;perfectâ&#x20AC;? bodies and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem to age. Women who have had perhaps numerous surgical procedures-enhance this/niptuck that and have been air-

God wants us to take care of His temple but he never asked us to rearrange, remove, enhance or redecorate it! He doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want us to solely focus on our outward appearance.

He wants us to take care of ourselves but it shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t consume us. On the contraryâ&#x20AC;Ś

went under the knife for vanityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sake and thank you for spending so much time looking in the mirror and pointing RXW 0\ Ă DZHG ZRUNÂŤÂľ

He will be concerned with how I spent my time on earth.

Did I follow His will for my life?

Did I lead others to Him? Did I encourage, forgive and love 1Peter 3:3-4â&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;?Your beauty others more than myself? I will should not come from out- be held accountable for my ward adornment, such as time and decisions. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s my Beauty can become an ob- elaborate hairstyles and the challenge-to not lose sight of session with looking younger, wearing of gold jewelry or why Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m here. To strive to be getting thinner and trying to Ă&#x20AC;QH FORWKHV 5DWKHU LW VKRXOG EHDXWLIXO IURP ZLWKLQ Ă&#x20AC;UVW achieve what is really unrealis- be that of your inner self, the tic - and at times unhealthy. It unfading beauty of a gentle Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get me wrongâ&#x20AC;ŚI am can consume. I know women and quiet spirit, which is of all for looking your best and who have had numerous plas- great worth in Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sight.

ZLOO EH Ă&#x20AC;UVW LQ OLQH IRU FHOOXOLWH tic surgical procedures and creams, wrinkle removers and \HW DUH QHYHU VDWLVĂ&#x20AC;HG ZLWK We have conformed so much makeup that makes you look how they look. They move on to the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s standards of natural even though it takes WR D QHZ Ă DZ beauty that we are being 30 minutes to look that way! distracted from our true call- Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m just not gonna knock myThey are neglecting their inner ing as believers. The more we self down and obsess about self-their true source of beauty focus on self the less we are why I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem to look like and happiness. able to help others. Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s will -HQQLIHU $QLVWRQ RU 6RĂ&#x20AC;D 9HUJfor our lives has never been araâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;ŚIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m gonna be happy 'DLO\ LQ P\ RIĂ&#x20AC;FH , VHH SD- â&#x20AC;&#x153;meâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C;oriented. to be me! tients who want a magical pill to lose weight, young girls who Romans 12:2: Do not conform are dieting who donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to to the pattern of this world, be dieting and even mothers but be transformed by the who criticize their daughters renewing of your mind. Then about weight. you will be able to test and approve what Gods will is-His As a physician it is my respon- good, pleasing and perfect sibility to promote a healthy will. lifestyle, which includes balanced diet and exercise. I God doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t care that I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t strive to be an example to the lose 5 lbs or that I ate a cupwomen and young girls who cake today or that I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t look FRPH LQ P\ RIĂ&#x20AC;FH 29 anymore! When I get to I stress realistic body image heaven He is not going to say and remind them that we are â&#x20AC;&#x153;Terry Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m so proud of you beGodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s temple. cause you yo-yo dieted and

By Dr. Theresa Valladares / 36 /www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

VALLEY BAPTIST RETREAT / 37 /www.valleychristianmagazine.com / MISSION, TEXASUYGUYGIKUH

Let Your Light Shine Before Men

By Luis Palau

There is no question that we live in a dark and hurting world.

We see trials, misfortunes, pain, and agony on a regular basis. In such a world, people are looking for hope. They are looking for something in which to put their trust.

The Bible teaches that we are to share with them the hope of JORU\ ,Q WKH ÀIWK FKDSWHU RI WKH ERRN RI 0DWWKHZ *RG LPSORUHV us to take a stand for our faith, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” For a lost and dying generation, we are the light of the world.

Think of that. You are the light of the world! What a powerful promise. We – you and I – hold the key to life, happiness, joy, love, forgiveness, and to eternity with our Lord! Christ in you… that is the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27)!

I’ll never forget my time in Buenos Aires in March, 2008. For nearly a week I watched from my hotel room as the massive festival stage slowly rose above the street below. The venue, Avenida 9 de Julio, was one of the largest in the history of our team. It’s the world’s widest boulevard and runs through the center of the city. I tracked the progress and prayed for the evangelistic festival that would happen here in this major metropolis, a city of more than 13 million inhabitants and home to some of the most powerful people in Argentina and Latin America.

But for the churches in the area, and for tens of thousands of believers, it was so much more. This was their chance to make a powerful statement before their friends, neighbors, family, and the city as a whole. It was their opportunity to share Jesus Christ on a region-wide scale… their opportunity to let their light shine before men.

Thousands of believers in Argentina prayed about and participated in this unique festival experience. It wasn’t much, but God used it mightily. Through their partnership, the Lord brought 900,000 people out to hear the Good News in person. He used the festival to reach millions more through radio, television, the Internet, and print. For thousands of Christians, this festival was their “stand” (Matthew 5:15), their means of giving light to a dark world.

To see thousands of believers shining their light before men, to be a part of an incredible move of God… it’s humbling and inspiring. Christ in me and you… the hope of glory. What a promise!

So, what is God asking you to do? How is He asking you to shine your light? What are you doing to let your light shine? It doesn’t take much - just simple obedience and faith.

As the festival drew closer the “buzz” in the city grew, and unique evangelistic opportunities came with each passing day. For me, WKH IHVWLYDO ZDV D GUHDP IXOÀOOHG WKH UHVXOW RI PXFK SUD\HU DQG years of hard work.

/ 38 /www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

Luis Palau has shared the Gospel with more than 1 billion people through evangelistic events and media. He has spoken in person to 25 million people in 72 countries with more than 1 million registered decisions for Jesus Christ. He has authored close to 50 books and has counseled with business and political leaders and heads of state around the world.

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so inspir gazine d on the a m is h I love t formative an too! in fe ing and ant stuff in li ck out t r h o c p im and e a read k you VCM I it e iv G ;) Than d I am page 35 ntire thing an to be e e ch read th I did.. So mu y p .. p r a o h f l o s thankfu NA GARZA NNE PE ADRIE

E UTSID PLAY O HERAN’S N E R D T L CHI AUL LU OOL WEEK G ST. P DURIN N BIBLE SCH E OF THE EM IO VACAT LEN. THE TH - GOD IS N L A O L C Y AB IN M US.” WAS “B WEEK WAYS WITH AL / 40 /www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

PASTOR RUDY BELTRAN OF DESTINY THROUGH CHRIST CHURCH IN PHARR AND HIS WIFE ANNEMARIE RECENTLY CELEBRATED TEHE BIRTH OF THEIR FIRST CHILD LAYLA HOPE BELTRAN. THEY HOPED FOR HER THEY GOT HER. PTL!!

/ 41 /www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

Save your marriage for the

children?

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The

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The Amazing Claims of Bible Prophecy What You Need to Know in These Uncertain Times

By Mark Hitchcock

“The sky is falling!”

These are the famous words of Chicken Little. In that fun animated nearly had an “end of the world” experience. It turned to be a simple misunderstanding.

The world is going to end. How will it happen? When? Is the Mayan Calendar right? Is this a time of a new era that will begin?

If you are a Christian who reads the Bible and you have a basic understanding of the End Times, then you may not be too concerned with the non-Biblical references to the end of the world.

Are you ready to speak to others about the truth as presented in the Bible? People want to know what the Bible has to say about the future.

One good resource on the topic in The Amazing claims of Bible Prophecy by Mark Hitchcock. He takes you through ture and citing history.

Jeremiah foretells a certain man who will take part in the return of the people to the Promised Land after their temple is destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The conthe Greek empire is a force to be reckoned with.

Even more fascinating is the preciseness with which the life of Jesus is foretold. The chances of winning a lottery may be better than that of those prophecies being spot on.

If the past does not interest you, take a look at future prophe(and I believe they are), then we should take a look at the views Mark Hitchcock presents.

The Middle East is the place that we are interested in for ed in God’s Word.

Who is the Anti-Christ? When will he arise? Will Babylon rise again?

You may agree or disagree with the views of Hitchcock, but you will be able to site the Scriptures that concern this conversations with people who want to know what the Bible says about the future.

However the future unfolds, it is God’s to determine. His word is reliable and He is our rock in uncertain times.

The AMAZING CLAIMS review by

Miguel Paredes

Books and Music featured available at:

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 (10), Karla and Andrea (7) and Charis (3).

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The Truth About Forgiveness

By John MacArthur “The greatest measuring rod of love in the life of a Christian may be forgiveness, because ฀ Does anyone really want to forgive? Or admit that we need forgiveness?

Whether we’re giving or receiving, forgiveness is hard. It seems unfair. It feels unnatural. And as best-selling author and pastor John MacArthur demonstrates, forgiveness apart from Christ is unnatural. It is only as we understand our need, Christ’s power and example, and what it really means to love that we can embrace two of the most liberating acts of love: forgiving and being / 44 /www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

&RPH 7KLUVW\ No Heart Too Dry for His Touch

By Max Lucado Are you feeling a little dry? Edgy and rigid? Ineffective? What would it take to be more useful in the hands of the One who made you? Just come to the well, says bestselling author Max Lucado.

In this renewing and life-giving book Max leads us to the four essential nutrients every soul needs. Experience Christâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work on the cross and know that your sins are pardoned and your death is defeated. Receive Christâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s energy and believe that you can do all things through the one who gives you strength. Receive his Lordship, knowing that you belong to him and that he looks out for you. ReFHLYH KLV ORYH DQG IHHO FRQĂ&#x20AC;GHQW WKDW QRWKLQJ FDQ separate you from it.

Come to the well...to Christâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work on the cross, his energy, his Lordship and his Love.

0RQGD\V ZLWK 0\ 2OG 3DVWRU

%\ /HYL %HQNHUW DQG &DQG\ &KDQG An urgent phone call from a friend urged Levi Benkert to pack his bags for what he thought was just a two-week trip to Ethiopia to rescue children destined to be murdered as part of a tribal superstition known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;mingi killings.â&#x20AC;?

Six weeks later, Levi, his wife and their three young children sold their house and all their beORQJLQJV WR UHORFDWH WR (WKLRSLD LQGHĂ&#x20AC;QLWHO\ 1R Greater Love documents Leviâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s journeyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;from the challenges he faced establishing and runQLQJ WKH RUSKDQDJH WR Ă&#x20AC;QGLQJ DGRSWLYH KRPHV for the children.

'HYRWLRQV IRU WKH %HDFK DQG 'D\V <RX :LVK <RX :HUH 7KHUH

By Thomas Nelson Dig your feet in the sand and let the water cool your toes as you escape into the beauty of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seaside creations, and hear His voice more clearly than perhaps anywhere else.

7KHUH¡V QRWKLQJ TXLWH OLNH WKH ZDUPWK DQG relaxation of the beachâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;away from the stresses of the world and into a place of peace and refreshment. Devotions for the Beach is the gentle breeze that takes you there, to see the majesty of God and to open your heart and soul to the One who created it all. These 90 devotions explore the parallels of life with the elements of the VKRUH WR KHOS \RX VHH *RG WR Ă&#x20AC;QG KRSH WR draw strength, and to rest in the comfort of His arms throughout your day. Included are striking photographs with a fresh, contemporary design for timeless appeal.

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Bluetree Brand New Start For Band

by Christa Banister - For Valley Christian Magazine most bands, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a mark that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDOO\ ´PDGH LWÂľ ZKHQ \RX¡YH JRW D KLW radio single, plenty of positive press and a jam-packed tour schedule where nomadic living is essentially the new normal.

But for the Belfast, Ireland-based band Bluetree, best known for their stirring reminder that Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s light still shines, even in the darkest of places â&#x20AC;&#x201D; like Thailandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Red Light district where â&#x20AC;&#x153;God of This Cityâ&#x20AC;? was born â&#x20AC;&#x201D; living the so-called â&#x20AC;&#x153;dreamâ&#x20AC;? was nothing but a giant step backward.

If anything, they felt unsettled, uninspired and eventually, more sure of their true place in the Kingdom than ever before. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When we were traveling so much, I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t write one song, I just couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t,â&#x20AC;? said Bluetreeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s singer, primary songwriter and founding member Aaron Boyd. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re always busy, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not being fed, and it canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help but catch up with you.

When youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re called to be a worship leader, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no greater call than leading your own church in worship. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve learned from the journey Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve walked through.â&#x20AC;?

What also served as a wake-up call were conversations Aaron had with a few of his industry peers on the road, some of whom

hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t gone toâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;or connected withâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;their home church in six months, or in some cases, even a year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That really shook me up - doing what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t supposed to be about traveling, traveling, traveling,â&#x20AC;? Aaron said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At the end of the day, you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be chasing this idea of running around the world and being Christian superstars. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about staying grounded and investing in meaningful relationships back home and getting the priorities in orderâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;love God, love family and serve your church. If God wants you to go sing and minister to peoSOH LW¡OO EH DQ RYHUĂ RZ RI ZKDW¡V JHQXLQHly happening in your own life.â&#x20AC;?

So instead of continuing on a path that no longer meshed well with the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s philosophy of ministry, Bluetree carved an entirely new path altogether. They cleared their schedule, changed their relationship with their booking agents and management and moved forward independently. And if God wanted Bluetree to do anything outside of their home church in Belfast, well, Aaron believed He was more than capable of opening those doors.

Throwing himself completely into his growing congregation, Exchange Church

Belfast, new songs naturally began emerging. Inspired by the sermon series the body was studying together, Bluetree was reborn, not just as a band, but a community of believers worshipping, learning and doing life together. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now whenever anyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s booking Bluetree, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re booking the heart of our church,â&#x20AC;? Aaron says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going on here in Belfast, you get to be part of that.â&#x20AC;?

An outgrowth of what theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been working on together at Exchange, Aaron, DORQJ ZLWK 5\DQ *ULIĂ&#x20AC;WK D IHOORZ ZRUVKLS leader at Exchange, started collaborating on songs thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s become part of Bluetreeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new album, Kingdom.

A conversation about understanding who we are as children in the Kingdom of God, the songs themselves dovetail with whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been preached in Sunday morning and evening services at Exchange. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been great about writing with Ryan is we go to the same church. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re listening to the same teaching. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in the same meetings,â&#x20AC;? Aaron said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our relationship isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forced because weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re regularly leading worship there, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a beautiful thing.â&#x20AC;?

For

/ 46 /www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

more

on

Bluetree,

visit:

1. Casting Crowns CD: Come To The Well

8. Passion featuring Chris Tomlin White Flag CD: White Flag

4. Newsboys Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Not Dead (Like A Lion) CD: Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Not Dead

4. Phillips, Craig & Dean When The Stars Burn Down CD: Breathe In

Also helping set the tone for the project is the albumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s evocative cover artwork. Underscoring the idea of what it means for believers to be part of the new covenant, an H[LVWHQFH WKDW¡V GHĂ&#x20AC;QHG E\ ORYH power and Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unmerited favor, the visuals are inspired by the story of David and Goliath. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When David put on Saulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s armor, he ended up taking it off and saying it hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t proved itself to him,â&#x20AC;?

Aaron explains. â&#x20AC;&#x153;David knew what had proved itself to him in his lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; the power of God. David had seen the power of God at work during his whole life. He knew he was in covenant with God. So to try and put on anotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s armor would be him trying to operate in his own strength.â&#x20AC;?

When recording the project, Aaron says thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;a sense of journeyâ&#x20AC;? that simply wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t possible whenever he was writing with complete strangers. Case in point is the alEXP¡V Ă&#x20AC;UVW VLQJOH ´-HVXV +HDOHU Âľ D personal snapshot of Aaronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s journey with his daughter who has cysWLF Ă&#x20AC;EURVLV

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The beauty about being in the church is when worship and the word go hand in hand,â&#x20AC;? Aaron said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You have the songwriters and people gifted in that area writing from what they hear and how the Holy Spirit has prompted them in that area. The church is singing them back in to response whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s happening there, and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Jesus Healerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; came out of a 10-week sermon series by the same name.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;With the songs on Kingdom, we wanted to build up the church. We can see people releasedâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and set freeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;from what theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re walking through because of what Jesus did,â&#x20AC;? Aaron said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At the end of the day, church shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be DERXW DJHQGDV RU Ă DVK\ SURJUDPV If people arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t encountering God, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re missing the whole point, and church becomes just another social club. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve wanted to pour everything I have into the Body and say â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;God, hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got. Whatever you want to do, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m here.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;?

5.

10,000 Reasons Lord) CD: 10,000 Reasons

6. MercyMe The Hurt & The Healer CD: The Hurt & The Healer

7. Selah I Turn To You CD: Hope Of The Broken World

8. Sidewalk Prophets Live Like That CD: Live Like That

9. Steven Curtis Chapman Long Way Home CD: re-creation

www.exchangechurchbelfast.com.

/ 47 /www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

even t

New Release spotlight

Petra More Power to Ya! 30th Anniversary Edition Undoubtedly pioneers of Christian Rock and Contemporary Christian Music, Petra continues to stand alone as the driving force in a musical revolution that changed a generation.

Petra paved the way for legions of fellow Christian artists who now garner mainstream acceptance; and the return of the Classic Petra line-up behind the band’s emergence in the early to mid 80s marks a new chapter in the unparalleled history of this remarkable band.

Hillsong Live Cornerstone Hillsong LIVE is the expression of worship from Hillsong Church - a local church with JOREDO LQÁXHQFH 7KLV ORFDO FKXUFK FUHative team has a commitment to continually resource the Body of Christ with fresh songs of worship and a deep passion to see people connect with the Living God in a real and personal way. “Cornerstone”, the latest album offering from Hillsong LIVE, was recorded in Sydney, Australia and is D UHÁHFWLRQ RI WKDW ÀUP FRPPLWPHQW 7KLV album offers fresh, new songs to congregations worldwide, with a simple desire to place emphasis on Jesus and a prayer that people everywhere - regardless of circumVWDQFH ZLOO EH HQFRXUDJHG WR ÀQG KRSH LQ Christ, the Cornerstone.

s

SEC McAllen

Conven

Featuri

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and www.pla netstud

tion Cen

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ents.or g/sec-s

outh/

Selah /

San An tonio /J uly 210-698 7-8 -6868

ummit S ip h s r e d a Global Le c Valley Chur

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03

956-585-32

City pm

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dar n.net/calen

www.mcalle

Rhett Walker Band Come to the River Rhett Walker is not like any rising Christian musician you have met before or will meet again soon. The outspoken 25-year-old son of a preacher was born and raised around the South, his mellow yet animated voice a sure mix of Georgia and the Carolinas. In that drawl, he tells an intense wild oats story tempered by God’s grace, a testimony that fuels the deep-fried rock and deepdown worship on Rhett Walker Band’s debut, Come To The River.

Cedar Park

(Austin)

/ 48 /www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

/Steve Far

wster w Lincoln Bre

rar

/ 49 /www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

Moving in with

By Dave Ramsey

mom

Dear Dav e Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on , B home ab aby Step 1 of you o r My moth ut $2,000 a month plan, and we hav ere , quickly a in-law has offere and we have $50 $1,000 saved. W e have a ,0 nd save d 00 in deb to le t us up to buy b a house. move in with her t, the majority of aby, my husband Dear Ann fo which is D o r es this so a while in , student lo brings und like order to p If your hu a g a o y od idea? off our de ans. ing in wit sband can get h ... Ann bts more h is a in p c o a me up, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; rent wou and main ld d p b ta re e in fe m ing so r tha y la WKLQN DER XW EX\LQJ me dignity. Plus,st choice, if for not you guys mainta D KRXVH it other rea in your o â&#x20AC;&#x2122;l l ju st b XQWLO \RX e Still, if thin Ă&#x20AC;UVW FOHD better for your mson than keepin wn residence. M g s Q g a X e rr S t ia WKH PHVV so tight y a very lim ge. But y g your indepen ov \RX¡YH P ou donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t EXW GHĂ&#x20AC;Q ited amount of tiou feel like you h need to edence DGH ven RXW D EXQLWHO\ QR PRUH WKD me. Write it downave to take your pensive pFK RI GHEW DQG SQ D \HDU 'XULQJ W as an agreeme mother-in-law up nt KLV lace to re o LO nt for a wH XS DV PXFK FD WLPH \RX JX\V Qtoo. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d say a minn her offer, make VK LQ VDYLQ HHG WR JH imum of hile. Hop it for But the b six m e W J fully, by th R V at time y DV \RX FDQ 7KHQQ D NLOOHU EXGJHW onths, knows th ig thing is to get st N our husb andâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inc Ă&#x20AC;QG \RXUVHOYHV D QRFN KDUG ZRUNe arrangement is uff straight in yo ome will ur mind a tempora LW¡OO WDNH W have inc Q LQH[ry b two or th reased. ree years R SXW \RXU Ă&#x20AC;QDQF and that you an out this situation. dy LDO Ma down the road! ...D KRXVH LQ RUGHU < our husband are ke sure everyon e in RX JX\V VK ave se RXOGQ¡W VWLrious about doing volved OO EH OLYLQ J ZLWK D Sthe DUHQW )RU PRUH Ă&#x20AC;QDQFLDO KHOS SOHDVH YLVLW www.daveramsey.com Dave Ramsey is a personal money-management expert and extremely popular national radio personality.

His three New York Times best-selling booksâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; Financial Peace, More Than Enough and The Total Money Makeoverâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;have sold more than 6 million copies combined. His latest book, EntreLeadership: 20 Years of Practical Business Wisdom from the Trenches, releases in September 2011.

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dad wit is own, b is and su Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a singleecking account of hld I just let him do th u h o c it. Sh open a e access to else to havknow are coming? quences I , right to say â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Tim have everyge you never u o y t n re a a , ids this s, as a p Dear Tim, mes to 15-year-oldo what I say.â&#x20AC;? With k ing to a 35-year-old o lk d c ta u it e o n â&#x20AC;&#x2122;r Y e u f. h o o W the time y and my ro â&#x20AC;&#x153;My food, t youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re getting. Half ain. eir g a a h 5 w yâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re ased on th know er half the se things b show some e th , o d t o and the oth or n and t them do, privileges. ey behave think you lelife. To the extent th more freedom and is a comI , e g a t a oâ&#x20AC;? em ll in At th ember, â&#x20AC;&#x153;n erform we and give th ability to p lengthen the rope orten the rope. Rem? sh u rs o u sense, y like doofuses, yo ve raised teenage esnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have If they act nce. Can you tell Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; that he do yet. You in la te p n x se e y te just ple gentl by himself they down and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d sit him to manage this idea f a car the moment , n so y m o If it were ity or knowledge ehind the wheel the capac rn your child lose b le wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tudrive, right? im to hand teaching hQGLQJ \RX FDQ y b e c wanted to n e ri UVWD xpe QFLDO XQGH art of the e ourself a pDV KH PDWXUHV LQ Ă&#x20AC;QD y e k a m So HO\ 7KHQ for every PRQH\ ZLV ore leeway. d him that is matter in m m re im d h n .A in th give you, let him ct, eâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s getting ramatic onthatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s less leeway h more mature you a d o g to ts If he wan â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in drama mode, In other words, the minute he other one in his life. is going to be. and every tter your existence wn....Dave nt on his o u o c c son, the be a g ckin ning a che eâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not ope h 5 1 t a , o N

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/ 51 /www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

Raul â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rudyâ&#x20AC;? 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 took place during roughly 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 VHUYLFH PHPEHUV WR ÂżQLVK KLJK VFKRRO DQG DWWHQG FROOHJH $V WKHLU VNLOOV ZHUH LPSURYHG VR ZDV WKH ÂżQDQFLDO 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: â&#x20AC;&#x153;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.â&#x20AC;? 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, â&#x20AC;&#x153;And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will FRQWLQXH KLV ZRUN XQWLO LW LV ÂżQDOO\ ÂżQLVKHG RQ WKH GD\ when Christ Jesus returns.â&#x20AC;? 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, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I will bring my people back to me. I will love them with all my heart; No longer am I angry with them.â&#x20AC;? I pray that you will invite Christ into your heart and allow Him to restore you!

$W P\ RIÂżFH , DOVR ZDQW WR EH SDUW RI \RXU 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 someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rudyâ&#x20AC;? Rodriguez

www.raulrudyrodriguezlaw.com Phone: 956.380.1421 / Tollwww.raulrudyrodriguezlaw.com Free: 877.480.1421 Fax: 956.380.2920 / Mobile: 956.655.5455

Phone: 956.380.1421 / Toll Free:TX 877.480.1421 / Fax: 956.380.2920 / Mobile: 956.655.5455 511 W. University / Edinburg, 78539 e-mail: rrodlaw@hotmail.com 511 W. University / Edinburg, TX 78539 / e-mail: rrodlaw@hotmail.com / 52 /www.valleychristianmagazine.com /