Valley Christian Magazine June Edition

June 2014

Eddie Prado Christian Country Singer/ Songwriter

June 19 Cine Del Rey – McAllen June 27 FBC San Isidro July 3 Bridge Point Church– San Benito

3 Marriage Lies p8

Tired & Stress, But Satisfied

p14

You are Not Forgotten p.13

AMERICAN MUSCLE

2014 SRT VIPER 2 valleychristianmagazine.com June 2014

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What’s Inside?

June 2014 Features

Vol. 4 / Issue 3 To submit story ideas, events, or comments: valleychristianmagazine@gmail.com

On The Cover p.20

Eddie Prado Christian Country Artist

CONNECT WITH US: Twitter: @vcmagazine

14. Barna

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Tired & Stressed, but Satisfied

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35. New Book Releases 36. Valley Christian Events

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3 Marriage Lies

10. Greg Laurie

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Caught In it’s Current

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18. James MacDonald The Fear of Forgiveness

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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 the United States. Reproduction without the expressed written permission prohibited.

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Valley Writers

13. Abram Gomez

You Are Not Forgotten

16. Nick Dombrowski

The Moonwalk Genesis, Work and rest part2

24. Theresa Valladares Healing

32. Miguel Paredes

Book Review- Wild At Heart

38. Dave Ramsey Dave Says

3

Marriage Lies

By Lysa TerKeurst

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.

know the heart-ripping hopelessness of a relationship unraveling. The coexisting. The silent tension. The tears.

The first five years of my marriage were really hard.

Two sinners coming together with loads of baggage, unrealistic expectations, and extremely strong wills.

I

Ugghhhh. The Bible? I didn’t think her “religious suggestion” would help me.

But over the next couple of days, I kept hearing her question about looking into the Bible replaying over and over in my mind.

“As I read the list of everything love is supposed to be, I got discouraged. My love didn’t feel kind, patient, or persevering.

The love in my marriage felt broken.”

There was yelling.

There was the silent treatment.

There were doors slammed. There was bitterness. There was a contemplation of calling it quits. There was this sinking feeling that things would never, could never get better. That’s when I first started hearing the 3 lies:

• • •

Many nodded their head in agreement with me, making me feel ever so justified. But one didn’t.

She said, “I know what you think. But what does the Bible say?”

I married the wrong person.

He should make me feel loved.

There is someone else better out there.

I believed those lies. They started to weave a tangled web of confusion in my heart. All I could see was all that was wrong with him.

I became so blind to his good. I became so blind to my not so good.

And I wasn’t shy about sharing my frustrations about the whole situation with my friends.

Reluctantly and with great skepticism, I tried it one afternoon.

I turned to a couple of verses she suggested including 1 Corinthians 13. As I read the list of everything love is supposed to be, I got discouraged. My love didn’t feel kind, patient, or persevering. The love in my marriage felt broken.

I closed the Bible. It didn’t seem to do anything but make me feel worse. So much for that.

Then a few days later I heard an interview on a Christian radio station where a couple was talking about these same verses. I wanted to gag and turn the station. What do they know about how hard love can be? That’s when they said a statement that grabbed me, “Love isn’t a feeling, it’s a decision.”

again. This time instead of reading it like a list of what love should make me feel, I read it as if I could decide to make my love fit these qualities.

My love will be kind. My love will be patient. My love will persevere. Not because I feel it — but because I choose it.

At the same time God was working on my husband’s heart as well. We decided to make some 1 Corinthians 13 love decisions. Slowly, the cold stone wall between us started to come down.

It wasn’t easy. It wasn’t overnight. But slowly our attitudes and our actions toward one another changed. And I stopped believing the marriage lies and replaced them with 3 marriage truths:

•

Having a good marriage is more about being the right partner than having the right partner.

•

Love is a decision.

Wow. I went home and flipped to 1 Corinthians 13

8 valleychristianmagazine.com June 2014

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

4

JOHNNY

PHOTOGR APHY

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ESV

•

The grass isn’t greener on the other side. It’s greener where you water and fertilize it.

Maybe you’ve heard the marriage lies before. My heart aches for you if you are in a hard place in your marriage. And believe me, I know tough relationships are stinkin’ complicated and way beyond what a simple blog post can possibly untangle. But maybe something I’ve said today can help loosen one knot… or at least breathe a little hope into your life today.

I know marriage pain and I know marriage redemption.

Building a bridge between those two realities isn’t easy but it is possible.

Our bridge was the culmination of a lot of little love decisions.

Like the one I saw my husband make yesterday when I left my workout clothes in a pile on the floor in my bathroom.

This used to be such an aggravation to my man… me and my messes.

JOHNNY

PHOTOGR APHY

But look what I found when I got home… a love decision.

June

2014

valleychristianmagazine.com 9

Caught

in Its Current

By Greg Laurie

Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

— James 1:14

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 © 2013 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.

Years ago, I was at the beach with my young son Jonathan, and we decided to go swimming. We weren’t very far from the shore. Suddenly there was one of those drops in the sand, and for a few moments, my feet didn’t really touch the ground. As I was holding on to Jonathan, a little riptide began to pull us over to the right, just enough to move us along. We were originally lined up with a lifeguard stand, but I noticed that it had moved quite a distance. We

were being pulled along, and I couldn’t stop the drift. I kept reaching for the ground with my feet, but I couldn’t get my footing.

“That is what Suddenly the lifeguard came temptation is down from his stand and belike. You think you gan running toward us with his flotation device. I didn’t can handle it, but mind being saved, but I was only a few feet from the suddenly you are shore. caught in its “I’m all right,” I said, trying to wave him off. current.”

10 valleychristianmagazine.com June 2014

But you know what? I wasn’t all right. I couldn’t stop myself. As he began swimming out, I thought, “I’ve got to get my feet on the ground.” Finally, I planted myself.

“I’m okay,” I shouted to him, and he waved and swam back in.

That is what temptation is like. You think you can handle it, but suddenly you are caught in its current. To pray we won’t be tempted and then place ourselves in a vulnerable situation is like thrusting our fingers into a fire and praying they won’t be burned. We need a healthy respect for the enemy we face and the temptation he will utilize in our lives.

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12 valleychristianmagazine.com June 2014

I

will never forget one of the worst days of my childhood: the day I thought my parents forgot to pick me up. Tragic right?

seem that He is so busy in the affairs of someone else’s life, that He has overlooked your life. Yet, we must remember one thing. We walk by faith, and not by sight. Using our Scriptural lens, we have every right to believe that God is ultimately in control. Moreover, God remembers you.

The year was 1987. I was in elementary school.

School had been over for about 30 minutes, and all the other kids had vacated the school premises. It was just me and my teacher. In If any man had reason to believe he was that moment, I felt so alone and abandoned. forgotten about, it was Noah. Given the task My temporary and dramatic belief was that my to build a once-in-a-lifetime boat, Noah and family had forgotten about me. A knot began his family were chosen by God for this great to dominate my throat. task.

The instructions “Just as He remembered were simple. Build the My stomach felt like a cage for butterflies. Tears Noah, God remembers you. ark and live. Noah does began their formative so as he was commanded, process in my eyes. Then, In the middle of your mess, and his family is saved it happened. A familiar by his obedience in God’s God remembers you.” vehicle pulled up to the Word. Then rain begins, school. It was none other than my dad. I felt and continues. And continues. For 150 days, liberated. I felt loved. I was not forgotten about the Bible tells us that the water prevailed on after all. the earth. Imagine with me for a moment what Noah must have been feeling. He is in the Maybe your parents never forgot to pick you ark with his family. It’s raining. It has been up at school, but have you ever felt like God raining, and no further instruction has been has forgotten about you? With so much going received from God. No blue sky or bright warm on in our lives and schedules, life can be very sun. Months have passed. The rest of humanity overwhelming. And with so much to govern and is gone. Just you, and your family, and lots of control, how does God have time for me? It may

You Are Not Forgotten

creatures. God, where are you?

Then the Bible makes a very encouraging statement – “Then God REMEMBERED Noah, and every living thing, and all the animals that were with him in the ark.”

(Genesis 8:1, NKJ) By making a statement that God remembered, the biblical author was not implying that God had forgotten.

Our God never loses perfect apprehension of the facts. When the Scripture states that God remembers, it is conveying the message that He is acting in accordance to His covenant promises. Noah’s years of dedication to the ark and to God’s righteousness would not be in vain.

Just as He remembered Noah, God remembers you. In the middle of your mess, God remembers you. In the middle of the storm, God sees you. We may forget. We lose track of time. We need constant reminders.

Yet, the Creator of the Universe is very aware of where you are at the very moment. In our weaknesses and failures, God reaches out to us. Today, we can have the highest hope that the Lord remembers His people and His promises. You are not forgotten.

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, currently reside in Harlingen, TX and are parents to Isabella Claire.

June

2014

valleychristianmagazine.com 13

Tired&Stressed, W

hat is God’s purpose for my life? That’s a hard question for anyone, but it’s particularly tricky for American women today.

Whether to lean in or opt out, go to work or work from home, win the bread or care for the kids—or even whether to have kids at all—are the choices women have to make. And it’s not easy. Women’s choices affect their families, faith, career, friendships, personal health and dreams for the future. If that weren’t intimidating enough, they also have to contend with the ongoing “Mommy Wars,” gender expectations in our culture and the church, and the modern cry to “Have it all!” These pressures further complicate a woman’s sense of calling and identity. For Barna Group’s FRAMES project, we surveyed American women to find out exactly how they feel about their commitments to family, church, career and community, and about the tensions that seem to pull them in opposite directions. Three-quarters of women (76%) told us they are satisfied with their lives . . . but when we dug deeper, we found a lot going on beneath the surface. For instance, a majority of women (59%) are dissatisfied with their balance between work and home life. Among moms with children still at home, this rate increases to 62%. Eight in 10 moms (80%) feel overwhelmed by stress (compared to 72% among all women), and seven out of 10 (70%) say they do not get enough rest (compared to 58% of all women). American moms are stressed, tired, overcommitted and not sure how best to navigate work and family. Yet they are even more likely than women who aren’t mothers to report they are satisfied with their lives. What’s going on here?

14 valleychristianmagazine.com June 2014

but

Satisfied:

Priorities and Discontents No woman has 100 percent of herself to give each day to every arena of her life without becoming dangerously overcommitted. But that doesn’t stop many from trying. Moms rank family as their number-one priority and report that it’s also their top time commitment. Seven out of 10 say family takes the lion’s share of their time—and no other commitment comes close. The nearest competitor for time is career, with just over two in 10 moms saying they spend most of their hours each week at work. Here’s the biggest disparity between priorities and obligations: moms rank career last on their list of priorities—after family, personal development, church and friendships—but second on their list of time commitments. While most moms with kids at home say they are satisfied with their family life (61%), for many it’s also the greatest source of stress. For example, 42% of all women are satisfied with the amount of rest they get, but this number drops significantly among moms (30%). Additionally, moms (20%) are nearly twice as likely as women without kids (12%) to become stressed to the point of physical illness. Then there are struggles to balance their commitments, both at work and at home.

More than three out of 10 moms (31%) say they have too many commitments at work (compared to 25% of all women), and 26% feel spread thin at home (compared to 18% among all women). When we asked women what area of their lives they would most like to improve, the greatest proportion pointed to church.

Two in 10 of all women (22%) and one-quarter of moms (24%) would like to be more deeply involved in a faith community.

Moms Juggle Kids, Career & Identity Compare and Contrast When moms compare their lives with other women’s, some feel greater levels of dissatisfaction. Mothers with children at home (14%) are twice as likely as those without kids (7%) to view other women’s quality of life as better than their own. Similarly, moms are twice as likely to say their female peers have a better career life (21% compared to 11% of all women) and better financial comfort (22% compared to 10%). The distorted lens of social media amplifies the temptation to draw comparisons. When practicing Christian women compare themselves to their friends through social media such as Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest, they 11 times more likely to say their friends have more status and privilege and 10 times more likely to say others are more creative.

They are also more likely to believe others have a better career and a superior ability to accomplish tasks. On the flip side of the comparison coin, practicing Christians are 13 times more likely to say they are better than their friends when it comes to parenting skills; they also feel superior in physical appearance and overall quality of life.

Vocation and Calling Today’s unique culture environment and unprecedented professional opportunities offer women what appears to be the chance to “have it all.” Yet this chance comes with questions. Women wonder what they should do, what they can do and what they want to do.

These are weighty issues, and the church is perfectly poised to help women examine them—and to offer women and men a framework for living meaningful lives through constant cultural change. Kate Harris, a mother of three and the leader of an organization dedicated to vocation and calling, offers women and the church a vocabulary to explore these important questions.

In FRAMES: Wonder Women, she wrestles with what the data shows about American moms, and examines the church’s tradition of vocation and its significance for women today. Harris writes, “Vocation is often understood in terms of a job or career, but historically it meant much more than that. When we understand its deeper significance, we find a meaningful and consistent framework to help us think about our multiple life commitments. Vocation is best understood as ‘one’s entire life lived in response to God’s voice.’ This definition, from my friend and colleague Dr. Steven Garber, is the closest I

have come to finding a framework big enough to make sense of my life and work. It gives space for the dimensionality of my identity as a daughter, sister, wife, writer, friend, manager and more. It gives account for the physical work of pregnancy and nursing, while never insisting those wearying months be wholly separate from other efforts such as writing an article during naptime, teaching my other children to read or attending a seminar. This understanding of vocation never makes me choose once and for all between the thrill of crafting a new grant program and the simple joy of visiting with a good friend late into the evening. I can live into my vocation in both places—allowing it to inform the work I do and the kind of friend I am. Such a definition of vocation will ask me to make practical trade-offs. But vocation never asks me to compartmentalize my life into artificial categories of ‘work’ and ‘life,’ or ‘home’ and ‘market.’ Vocation offers the possibility that my life and my faith can be richly and imaginatively stewarded as a whole that is far greater than the sum of its parts. God cares that I steward the life that is in front of me right now. To wrestle and wrangle or muddle my way through it—whatever it takes—but always to insist that it makes sense, that it holds together. To believe the details of our days really do connect to some bigger purpose God has for our lives.” Read more in Wonder Women: Navigating the Challenges of Motherhood, Career, and Identity, and find out how your faith community can support and empower women to live into God’s calling for their lives.

About the Research This research is part of Barna Group’s FRAMES project. The project included four separate nationwide studies conducted between May and August 2013. These public opinion studies were conducted using a mix of telephone (including cell phones) and online interviewing among 4,495 adults. The maximum sampling error for any of the four studies is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. Additional details about the research effort are available here: www.barna.org/frames/methodology. Generations: Millennials are the generation born between 1984 through 2002; Busters (or Gen-Xers), between 1965 and 1983; Boomers, between 1946 and 1964; and Elders, in 1945 or earlier.

About Barna Group Barna Group (which includes its research division, Barna Research Group) is a private, non-partisan, for-profit organization under the umbrella of the Issachar Companies. Located in Ventura, California, Barna Group has been conducting and analyzing primary research to understand cultural trends related to values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors since 1984. If you would like to receive free e-mail notification of the release of each update on the latest research findings from Barna Group, you may subscribe to this free service at the Barna website (www.barna.org). Additional research-based resources are also available through this website.

© Barna Group, 2014 June

2014

valleychristianmagazine.com 15

W

hat do all the words in this title have in common? One word…rhythm. Just as there is rhythm in Michael Jackson’s moonwalk there is also a natural rhythm of work and rest that God set in place for us in Genesis. Work is not a curse, but rather a blessing and satisfies us in a way God intended. But He also fashioned us to rest, and it’s a rhythm of both rest and work that will help us find wholeness in Christ.

6:30) And it’s for the same reason he tells us to do so in John 15, some of the very last words he ever spoke to his disciples.

So, what does this look like in our lives? Let me clarify one thing: “rhythm” does not mean “balance”. What images come to mind when you think of “balance”? How about a balance beam? The reason why balance isn’t helpful here is because it gives a connotation of being on or off with very little margin for error. This But that rhythm isn’t only found in Genesis. can make for stressful living, trying to keep Jesus understood the same rhythm. In John everything “on”. The word “rhythm”, however, 15 he used the analcreates a picture “The word “rhythm”, however, ogy of the branches of of greater freea grapevine. He said dom and style creates a picture of greater we are the branches. (much like dancfreedom and style In order to bear fruit ing).

Different (work) we must abide people with dif(much like dancing).” (rest) in the vine. And ferent life-cirwhen we do bear fruit, we will be pruned (cut cumstances have to figure out their rhythms back on our work) in order so that we can abide in different seasons of life and they can do it… (rest) and produce even more fruit (work). Je- differently. sus’ analogy is not merely spiritual. It’s also physical. We don’t only “abide” and “bear fruit” Know that there will definitely be seasons spiritually although it is true that we do that. when you’re rhythms won’t be normal (birth of We also must, I repeat, must do so physically. a child, job change, death of a loved one, etc.).

And what you’ll find is that the spiritual and That being said, though, there is a framework that should guide your life when circumstances the physical are often quite intertwined. are normative. Get a picture in your mind of a Jesus understood this principle well. That’s pendulum swinging back and forth. On the left why he often went alone to be with his Father. side of the pendulum is rest and on the right (Mk. 6:46; Matt: 14:23, Lk. 5:16) , That’s also side is work. This pendulum should be swingwhy he wanted to take his disciples away to ing rhythmically back and forth in 4 general a quiet place after doing so much work. (Mk. ways in your life:

Daily—The

sun and the moon exist for a reason. Yes, we have electricity, but that doesn’t mean we should burn the candle at both ends. God didn’t wire our bodies to work that way. Try this as a normal framework: 8 hours of sleep, 8 hours of work, four hours engaging, and four hours disengaging.

Weekly—The

Lord worked for six days and rested on the seventh. The Sabbath is a gift and made for man to enjoy. Try enjoying life with this rhythm and see what happens when we live the way God intended us.

Monthly—Take a day once per month to get away from the rat race and spend time alone in silence to reflect on your life and seek Jesus for wisdom, correction, and affirmation.

Seasonally—We must have longer sea-

sons throughout the year where we cut back on our work for an extended period of time to be with our family and friends who restore us and to seek the Lord for guidance in the next season (normally summer and winter).

Don’t start trying to fix all of these areas all at once. Just pick one or two. My suggestion would be to start with the “daily” and “weekly” categories. Make a plan. Once you do, it won’t be long until you start doing the moonwalk!

THE MOONWALK, GENESIS, WORK, AND REST (Part 2) Nick Dombrowski Nick graduated from Western Michigan University and leads campus staff for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship here in the Rio Grande Valley. Chapters are located at both UTPA and STC. He is married to Chelsea and live in Edinburg.

16 valleychristianmagazine.com June 2014

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June

2014

valleychristianmagazine.com 17

THE FEAR of

Forgiveness

by James MacDonald

So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift (Matthew 5:23-24, ESV).

Journal is the starting point in restoring relational harmony—there are no enduring relationships without it. Being truly forgiving means you will choose to release people from the debt they incurred when they hurt you.

Forgiveness

And the forgiveness road goes both ways. For some, it may be harder to ask for forgiveness than to extend it. We’re not talking about a quick “sorry” that has nothing to do with requesting forgiveness. That’s not asking for anything; it’s telling someone how you feel and not really giving them a chance to respond.

wrong; will you forgive me?”

Why is this so scary? Because we instinctively try to avoid putting ourselves in a vulnerable position. It’s much easier and safer to assume we will be forgiven than to actually stand there and wait for it. We’re terrified of the possibility that someone we love could look us in the eye and say, “No, I don’t forgive you.” That response might be as painful as the hurt we caused. But that’s the reality of forgiveness—we have to give it and ask for it.

“True forgiveness is found when you ask, “I was wrong; will you forgive me?”

The most effective (and fear producing) way to ask for forgiveness is to actually ask. Admit what you did was wrong and then say only, “Will you forgive me?” and stop there. It’s not “If I did something wrong . . .” (you know you did), or “I didn’t mean to . . .” which excuses what you did. Nor is it, “I know you got hurt . . .” which subtly shifts the blame to their sensitivity.

True forgiveness is found when you ask, “I was

Jesus is clear we’re to take responsibility for the relational conflict we’ve caused others: “First, be reconciled.”

How can we approach the Lord when there is brokenness between ourselves and others? God doesn’t receive our worship if He knows we have no intention of loving those closest to us.

We can fool others; we can’t fool Him. We csan ask for God’s help as we seek forgiveness, but we must ask those we’ve hurt to extend us mercy. There are no enduring relationships without forgiveness.

18 valleychristianmagazine.com June 2014

What is your typical approach to dealing with hurt you have caused? Do you ask for forgiveness or only apologize?

Who do you need to forgive, or ask for forgiveness from? When will you do this?

Pray Father, through Your Son You’ve demonstrated the extent of Your love and forgiveness. You’ve already promised to have mercy on me, but I’m not sure I have that promise from those I’ve hurt. Help me to show Your mercy and be so ready to forgive those I love that they don’t hesitate to ask me. Please give me the courage I need to face those I love and make forgiveness a bigger part of our family life, starting with me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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.

June

2014

valleychristianmagazine.com 19

Eddie Prado A Christian Country Singer & Songwriter

Eddie Prado sat down with Valley Christian Magazine to talk about life as a Christian Country Singer/Songwriter, going to Nashville, releasing a CD, concerts here in the Rio Grande Valley, and sharing his faith through this unique genre of music.

Tour Schedule: June 19 Cine Del Rey

311 South 17th Street McAllen

June 27

First Baptist Church 5262 Highway 1016 San Isidro

July 3

Bridge Point Church 361 Paso Real San Benito

$20 Tickets at the door.

Pre-sale Tickets available at: Viva Life Christian Book Shop-McAllen The Book Jack Valley Wide Locations

VCM: Are you Native to the Valley?

EP: Yes I am! I am from Edinburg, graduated from Edinburg High. Go Bobcats!

VCM: Have you always been a Christian Country Singer?

EP: I was a senior in high school and I received my first income tax refund. It was a huge $150.00! I cashed it and went straight to Melhart’s Music and bought my first working guitar! I had no clue how to play, so I self taught myself. I had always been drawn to music.

VCM: What first drew you?

EP: No God has taken me on a very interesting journey…after graduating from Edinburg EP: I grew up going to a Catholic church in High in 1985 I joined the U.S. Navy. I received Faysville, TX. It was a small church but I rean Honorable Discharge member two sisters that then became a Texas would sing and play the “I used to sit and listen to guitar. I can’t remember State Trooper. I served for 7 years, and then in one of the sisters’ sing and their names but I reMay 2000, I resigned member their last name from the DPS moved to play. I would hang out after was Diaz. I used to sit the back to the Valley to and listen to one of the church and sometimes take of my then 6 year sisters’ sing and play. miss CCD Class just to listen I would hang out after old son, Ryan. church and sometimes and watch.”

VCM: When did you miss CCD Class just to first start playing and listen and watch. singing?

VCM: You mean SKIP CCD class?!

EP: When I was a little boy, we had an old broken guitar that didn’t work. I would put on a record (yes a record!) and pretend to play. I would envision people all around and think I was at a concert.

VCM: So when did your REALLY start playing?

LOL

20 valleychristianmagazine.com June 2014

EP: YES! VCM: Where did you first play and sing?

EP: Well I’m a little embarrassed to say, but I would basically do backyard parties. I learned a few George Strait, John Denver and bunch of other country songs. As I played and practiced,

my family would howl!

lines they stopped me and said it was perfect.

VCM: How were you introduced to Christian Music?

VCM: So how did your first public singing/ playing go?

EP: I got saved in 2003 and then I started get- EP: At a funeral when someone goes up to sing, ting uncomfortable singing the lyrics to the you can hear a pin drop! I could hear my heart mainstream country songs. Not very uplifting… beating. I could hear my breathing. I started to losing my wife, sing and I could truck, dog. My life my voice “ I picked up my guitar and started hear was changed but I quiver and shake. wasn’t sure about singing my prayers to God. I didn’t But you know Christian music. I what? During the wasn’t sure about realize that I was beginning to write song I got more my current music. Christian music. It was just natural for comfortable and So…I put my guiI felt God tell me, tar away. I stopped me to play and sing to God. It was a “This is where singing. I stopped way I was worshiping God and con- I want you… playing. singing in my necting with God.” church.”

VCM: Why did you put your guitar away?

VCM: Where else have you sung?

EP: Tunnel Vision. I thought I had to give it up.

The only music I knew could not be sung in a church.

EP: Throughout the years I have sang Country Christian Music in many places, including schools, churches, and special events. In 2004,

Funny thing, as I began praying to God, music would come to my mind. I picked up my guitar and started singing my prayers to God. I didn’t realize that I was beginning to write Christian music. It was just natural for me to play and sing to God. It was a way I was worshiping God and connecting with God.

I told him all I knew were a couple of songs that I had written. He said that would work. I didn’t believe him. I told him I would go to his house and “audition”…sing a few songs. He told me no but I went anyway. After singing the first few

VCM: Why do you sing Country Christian music?

EP: God has given me a passion for singing and for Him. I use my music to encourage people to come to know Jesus Christ. The road has been tough but the word of God says that if we lift the name of Jesus, He would draw all men unto himself. This is a great way to evangelize. This is a great way to share the love of Christ!

VCM: What do you have coming up?

EP: I have three concerts coming up back to back here in the Rio Grande Valley. Thursday, June 19 at Cine Del Ray Theater in downtown McAllen. Friday, June 27 at First Baptist Church in San Isidro and July 3 at Bridge Point Church in San Benito. Tickets are $20 at the door or can be purchased at Viva Life Christian Bookshop in McAllen or at any Boot Jack location Valley wide.

VCM: Glad to be singing back home?

EP: Yes! It’s been a long journey. God has opened doors and closed them. I’ve made right decisions and have been out of sync with God’s timing and done things on my own….making things tough. I’ve been discouraged and have wanted to give up but God has called me. Commissioned me for this.

VCM: When did you first start singing Christian Music in public?

EP: A friend of mine, Albert Garza, his mother passed away. He asked me to sing at the funeral. I was so nervous.

I had never done that before….sing at funeral…sing in a church. I didn’t know what to sing. I was not familiar with “church music.”

“If You Believe.” In 2007, I traveled to Nashville and promoted three of my songs through Country Christian Radio across America. The Lord blessed me with 3 top 20 hits reaching as high as the number 6 spot.

I’ll think to myself, other people can sing better…but God said – I want you.

I had the privilege and honor to sing that the funeral of two of our Fallen Soldiers from the RGV, Dustin Sekula from Edinburg and Tomas Garces of Weslaco.

VCM: How did your professional career start?

EP: In 2005, I recorded my first album entitle

Things don’t happen overnight. There’s a time for waiting and move when the Lord says move. It’s time. God’s on time and not me. When he calls you to serve, however long or whenever that may be, you’ll know.

For me, now is the time….maybe I should have called this tour “It’s time!”

FREELY GIVEN FREELY RECEIVED MINISTRY

Valley Christian Magazine had the blessed opportunity to speak with a local ministry Freely Given Freely Received and their founders Ray & Esmer Perez. Ray shared that he along with his wife Esmer were at a Bible Study at their house when Isiah 58:7-9 kept showing up week after week. They knew God was trying to show them something..but what was it.

Here’s their story in their words…

VCM: When was Freely Given Freely Received (FGFR) started?

FGFR: FGFR was officially founded back in

June 2011. But it was 6 years ago when we first felt lead to start this Ministry.

VCM: What moved you to start FGFR? FGFR: Isaiah 58:7-9 was put on our hearts

struggles and physical needs but look deeper into their hearts and souls. It is not just about meeting physical needs but meeting their spiritual needs through the word of God.

VCM: What services do you offer?

FGFR: The ministry provides food and clothing

by God. It says,.

“Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them…”

We knew there were needs but we weren’t sure if we should do something about it. My wife Esmer had surgery and when she came out she told me that we had to do it! We fasted and knew that He wanted us to feed the poor and clothe the needy.

VCM: How are some of the ways FGFR is influencing our community?

FGFR: The families that are being served by the ministry and receiving food and clothing are experiencing the love of God. They are meeting people that not only recognize their

food, clothes and prayer.

VCM: What are some of the ministries FGFR is involved in?

FGFR: Back pack & school supplies drive,

Christmas Community Outreach, hundreds of toys are donated and distributed, Coat drive, Health Fairs, in collaboration with medical personnel. FGFR has partnered with FCA and Coach David Keith to hold a Basketball Camp for children in a colonia that is scheduled for June. A women’s conference was also held at a church in a colonia as an outreach program.

VCM: How do you see God working through your Ministry?

FGFR: In amazing ways!

Every event that has been organized and held you see God putting everything in place and providing all that is needed. We stand back in awe at each function and let go and watch Him work as people come and lives are touched with His love.

for families through churches that have been established in colonias throughout the Valley, and a one on one delivery to their home that comes with prayer and encouragement for hope, plus building them up for a better tomorrow. A central location that is open once a month so that families can come and receive

22 valleychristianmagazine.com June 2014

One example was on our very first event, we were in south Alamo.

We were giving away backpacks to kids for the start of school. We only had around 70 backpacks to give away. Well, 150 kids showed up and somehow each kid received a backpack.

We were amazed. We were even able to feed over 80 families! The Lord provided! We knew

this was confirmation from God for go forward.

Another example was during a Christmas toy give-a-way. We had 400 toys but 700 kids showed up. When the night was over…we had 2 bags left over of toys. We thought…God, there is no way. Volunteers ran to their pastors and shared. They said there was no way…we packed 150 bags of toys ourselves. Again, The Lord provided. Praise God.

VCM: Where do you believe God is taking you in the next 5 years?

FGFR: FGFR is going to expand its outreach into more colonias and part-

ner with pastors to be able to minister year round and have a presence throughout the Valley to meet the growing needs of the families as the population of the area expands. A major undertaking for the ministry that is currently in the planning stages is to establish an emergency care facility/residential for battered and abused children.

VCM: How can people get involved?

FGFR: By contacting Ray Perez at 956-569-6270 or email pe-

rezr_2458@yahoo.com; Esmer Perez at 956-907-2961 or email munozesmer_24@yahoo.com; Susan Valdez at 956-279-9369 or email susanvaldez59@gmail.com.

June

2014

valleychristianmagazine.com 23

H

ave you ever ignored that little inner voice that is telling you something is not right? I have on many occasions and it usually leads to unnecessary stress or anxiety. You can sense it with relationships, your health, decisions and even in everyday mundane things like choices on television or music.

As a working mom it’s not unusual to feel tired or overwhelmed on a regular basis. With work demands, home duties, kids schedules and their needs it’s not uncommon to push our own needs aside. Feeling tired comes with the territory. I’ve been feeling tired for years. I attributed fatigue to all of the above plus my desire to continue running in races. Of course I’m exhausted.

That’s normal….right?

When something is out of balance God has given us the Holy Spirit to keep us in check if we listen and are in tune to it but a lot of times we choose to ignore the warning signs or promptings of the Holy Spirit.

The very same thing that I tell patients not to do I did anyway. My mind became inundated with worst case scenarios and scary treatment options.

God doesn’t give us disease the enemy does-“enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy”.

I am aware that “through his stripes we are healed” but what most don’t understand is that healing can come in many forms. Some may get a divine healing-miraculous, but healing can also be achieved through medications, treatments or surgeries-its healing through faith in prayer and medicine.

It is in dealing with the disease or issue that God can be glorified and can use the experience

from bones. Aside from fatigue, decreased concentration, insomnia, hair loss, recurrent abdominal pains, heart arrhythmias, joint aches, accelerated osteopenia and fractures are other symptoms. When left untreated it can lead to earlier issues of heart disease, stroke and even cancer.

I had many of the symptoms but figured I was getting older and over doing it. Like I said it’s not common and in my current practice of 7,000 patients I have two patients with this issue. Surgeons don’t do the surgery very often so the key to getting cured is finding the most skilled surgeon.

Healing

John 14:26 … “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you everything I have said to you.”

You’ve heard that doctors make the worst patients? For the most part it’s true. We take care of others before we address our own health concerns. It could be denial, or issue with time or having too much knowledge of diseases and symptoms. Maybe trust issue or pride keeps us from tending to our own health.

I am no exception.

By Theresa Valladares

for our own good. Through trials come testing of faith and trust. He doesn’t give us disease but He will use it to redirect our path and to become dependent on Him. In a way it’s taking focus off self and looking upward for healing.

That’s what I learned-to receive true healing I had to completely trust God.

Like I said I have been feeling tired for years.

I am active and I try “God doesn’t give us disease the to make good choices I had primary regarding diet. I’menemy does-“enemy comes to steal,h y p e r p a r a t h y in best shape of my kill and destroy”. I am aware that roidism. It’s not a life and have a great common issue and work/family sched- “through his stripes we are healed” the only cure is ule. Yet I was always but what most don’t understand surgery. It’s a tutired. That little mor (benign) that voice for awhile had is that healing can come in many stops responding been saying…”someto our body’s informs” thing’s not right”. ternal regulation So I finally listened and my fear came true. I of calcium. What essentially happens is your wasn’t as healthy as I thought. I did what most bones get weaker because the tumor continues patients do when given a diagnosis I googled it! to misfire and increases calcium by taking it

24 valleychristianmagazine.com June 2014

I decided early on that I was not going to tell very many people what I was about to endure. The few friends I did tell kept me in prayer and helped me focus on the impending healing and not the symptoms or worst case scenarios. I’m not going to lie and tell you that I wasn’t scared or that I didn’t have doubts that God was in control.

It’s human. In our weakest moments the enemy will come strong at you. I didn’t allow my mind to focus on the “what ifs” and instead focused on submitting to His will.

God placed me in the hands of Dr. Jim Norman and his associate Dr Lopez. Most patients come to Dr Norman after other surgeries have failed. My issues of control and trust were definitely being addressed and I had to submit every step to Gods will and not my own. I’m very comfortable with my colleagues in the Valley. God took me out of my comfort zone by having surgery in Florida where I knew no one. That’s what God wanted because it would take that extreme to make me realize it’s all Him and not through my own doing that my health would be restored.

From the moment I arrived in Florida there was a peace that I can’t explain-“surpasses all understanding.” Every person that my husband and I came in contact with was reassuring and offered only hope. From the taxi driver, to the receptionist at hotel to the next day at hospital- every step and person had been orchestrated by God to give me peace. It made me more aware what was possible if I could only trust and submit. That’s a huge thing for a person who has control issues.

My healing came May 8th through hands of Dr Jim Norman. God has gifted him with not only surgical skills and expertise in this disease but

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“For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord,” plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” –Jeremiah 29:11 an amazing bedside manner that I haven’t experienced by many professionals. Every patient felt like they were the most important person that day. That’s what God wants us to feel daily through Him. I wasn’t getting the best of care because I was Dr Theresa Valladares; I was getting the best because I am God’s child.

God used this disease to strengthen my faith and to work on my trust and control issues. What I think that many of us fail to realize during a trial is that there is a bigger picture. The illness was not the only thing that needed to be healed…the actual disease that needed to be addressed was a spirit issue. The lack of trust, the succumbing to doubts , the not being still for years and listening to that inner voice saying “something is not right”. Those are the issues that I needed to work through to get my healing. What God wanted for me to learn is to trust in His promises.

Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.

So I ask you what is that inner voice saying to you? What trials are you facing? What spirit issues are you ignoring? I encourage you to do as I did and focus on that inner voice instead of the details of whatever trial you are facing. Because I did this, I not only received my physical healing but most important I received spiritual healing and restoration. I pray the same for you.

“For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord,” plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” –Jeremiah 29:11 Theresa Valladares She is married to Enrique Lopez and has two wonderful sons, Cord and Diego. They are members of The Family Church and she practices family medicine in Pharr.

June

2014

valleychristianmagazine.com 25

Luchando con el Desempleo ¿Conoce

Luis Palau

usted a alguien que esté sin trabajo? ¿Alguien en su familia? ¿Un amigo? Quizás usted mismo ha luchado con el desempleo últimamente. Yo

por mi parte tuve esta lucha cuando sostenía a mi madre viuda y a cinco hermanas menores. En aquellos días en la Argentina largos períodos de huelga sacudían el país.

Estaba sin trabajo, sin compensación, sin nada. Cada vez que aparece el desempleo, crea problemas matrimoniales, financieros y hasta médicos. Además expone de manera prematura a los peligros que por lo general se asocian con la mediana edad: el cansancio, el descuido y la confusión. Estos mismos términos describen a muchos de los desempleados hoy. ¿Qué debe hacer un cristiano consagrado si se encuentra sin trabajo? Creo que la Biblia nos da varios principios específicos que tienen que ver con el tema del desempleo.

En primer lugar, acepte su situación, por más difícil que sea, y confíe en que Dios obrará para bien. La Biblia promete que “a los que aman a Dios, todas las cosas les ayudan a bien, esto es, a los que conforme a su propósito son llamados” (Romanos 8:28).

En segundo lugar, planee cuidadosamente cómo usar el tiempo extra de la mejor manera posible. En Efesios 5:15-16 leemos: “Así que cuidado cómo viven ustedes. Sean sabios, no ignorantes; aprovechen bien el tiempo” (BD).

Si usted es un cristiano desempleado, le sugiero que pase las primeras dos horas de cada día estudiando la Biblia y orando. Luego pase las siguientes tres o cuatro horas buscando trabajo.

En tercer lugar, ministre a otros durante su tiempo libre. Organice un estudio bíblico con otros que tal vez también están desempleados, y oren juntos. Pase tiempo discipulando a nuevos creyentes.

En forma individual o grupal, ofrézcase como voluntario para trabajar con su iglesia, ayudando a los necesitados, visitando a los ancianos o evangelizando a su comunidad en forma activa.

La Palabra de Dios nos dice: “No nos cansemos, pues, de hacer bien; porque a su tiempo segaremos, si no desmayamos” (Gálatas 6:9).

En cuarto lugar, sea un buen administrador de su tiempo, energía y posesiones. Con su familia piense cómo puede usar creativamente lo que ya tiene a fin de suplir sus necesidades y aun ayudar a otros.

Tal vez tenga un terreno. Plante una huerta. Quizás tenga talentos que podrían ser usados para ganar algo de dinero.

Utilícelos.

En Mateo 6:33 leemos: “Mas buscad primeramente el reino de Dios y su justicia, y todas estas cosas os serán añadidas”. Si honramos a Dios en cada aspecto de nuestra vida, podemos estar seguros de que El suplirá todas nuestras necesidades.

Si el desempleo golpea a su puerta, lo desafío a buscar el reino de Dios y su justicia. Actúe según los principios enunciados más arriba y confíe en que Dios proveerá lo que usted necesita.

Si el desempleo no es su problema específico pero conoce a quienes están luchando con esta cuestión, comparta con ellos estos consejos bíblicos y anímelos a seguir adelante en el Señor.

26 valleychristianmagazine.com June 2014

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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RGV Children’s Arts Festival Winner Announced at Art Village on Main

By Carey Kinsolving & Friends

Twenty Valley children were selected as finalists in the RGV Children’s Arts Festival. Angela Martinez, 13, won the RGV Children’s Arts Festival. Her writing and drawing were published in the “Rio Grande Valley Kids Talk About Heaven” online book. Her prizes include a week-long vacation for herself, her parents and two siblings in the Colorado Rocky Mountains at the Bar Lazy J Guest Ranch, $1,000 to help pay for travel expenses and two scholarships for a McAllen Stained Glass summer workshop on mosaic and fused glass. To find out how to enter next year’s festival, visit www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org/rgv.

A

select group of Valley children and their families gathered Saturday morning at the Art Village on Main in McAllen, each hoping to win a week-long vacation for their family at the Bar Lazy J Guest Ranch in Parshall, Colorado. As RGV Children’s Arts Festival chairman Carey Kinsolving handed Dr. Daniel Guerra the envelope to announce the winner, the finalists waited in anticipation to hear their names called.

“The winner of the 2013-14 RGV Children’s Arts Festival is Angela Martinez!” said Guerra.

Angela Martinez, 13, of Pharr won the RGV Children’s Arts Festival with insightful art where she depicts herself meeting Jesus in heaven. “The purpose of this year’s festival is to encourage children to imagine what it’s like to live in God’s presence,” said Carey Kinsolving, co-chair of the festival. “The best news about heaven is that Jesus Christ paid the price on the cross for everyone to go to heaven by faith alone in him alone.”

rendering of Martinez’s art that she created for the arts festival winner announcement.

Martinez also won two scholarships from Cantu for a week-long mosaic and fused glass summer workshop.

Basler from Brownsville won $100 and $50 respectively. The finalists received passes for up to four people to enjoy a Dolphin Watch or Eco Tour cruise courtesy of Breakaway Cruises at South Padre Island.

“The purpose of this year’s festival is to encourage children to imagine what it’s like to live in God’s presence,” said Carey Kinsolving, co-chair of the festival. “The best news about heaven is that Jesus Christ paid the price on the cross for everyone to go to heaven by faith alone in him alone.”

To honor gold spur festival sponsor Children’s Center at Renaissance, Dr. Daniel Guerra (chief of staff at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance) made the winner announcement. Other gold spur sponsors include orthodontist Dr. Joel Martinez, pediatrician Dr. Martin Garza, El Pato, Lone Star National Bank and Melba’s Dance School.

Martinez, 13, drew In addition to winning three pieces of art a Bar Lazy J dude that were published ranch vacation for her in an online book parents (Javier and Stained-glass artist Yoli Cantu unveiled the rendering she entitled “Rio Grande Azucena Martinez of made to commemorate the winning art of Angela Martinez, Valley Kids Talk About 13, in the RGV Children’s Arts Festival awards presentation at Pharr) and two siblings, Heaven” at www. the Art Village on Main. Martinez won a week-long vacation Angela Martinez the Bar Lazy J Guest Ranch in Parshall, Colorado. Festival K i d s Ta l k A b o u t G o d . atco-chairman received a check for Carey Kinsolving (left) said all Valley children org/rgv. “Angela came from ages 5-12 may receive information on next year’s festival $1,000 to help pay for at www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org/rgv. in third last year and travel to Colorado. worked really hard Martinez will ride with some fantastic art through the Colorado to win this year,” said Carey Kinsolving, co- River, which runs through the ranch, on her chairman of the RGV Children’s Arts Festival. way to many trail rides in the Colorado Rocky Mountains at 7500 feet.

Martinez drew a picture of Jesus welcoming her into heaven. Artist Yoli Cantu of McAllen Second place winner Carlos Gomez from Stained Glass unveiled a stained-glass Brownsville, and third place winner Sally

30 valleychristianmagazine.com June 2014

Kinsolving already has a commitment from the Bar Lazy J Guest Ranch owners to award another dude ranch vacation next year. Children ages 5-12 who live or attend school in the Valley can find six new questions on Psalm 23 to answer and illustrate at KidsTalkAboutGod.org/rgv. Those interested in receiving a sponsorship package may send an email to carey@KidsTalkAboutGod.org or call 956-772-1920.

Photo one caption for picture of winner Angela Martinez with Yoli Cantu and Carey Kinsolving: Carey Kinsolving’s Kids Talk About God syndicated column is distributed by Creators Syndicate.

KidsTalkAboutGod.org features a Bible-lesson archive of all columns. Kinsolving is the co-founder of the RGV Children’s Arts Festival. One Valley child will win a vacation for up to five, immediate family members to the Bar Lazy J Guest Ranch in Parshall, Colorado plus a check for $1000 to help pay for travel expenses. For details go to KidsTalkAboutGod.org/rgv.

June

2014

valleychristianmagazine.com 31

by Mark D. Geil

B

ethel Music follows the success and impact of their first all-studio release Tides with a unique and no- less-powerful project, You Make Me Brave. The CD and companion video chronicle the worship experience during a 3-day women’s conference held at The Civic in Redding, California in August. As the event was planned and executed, organizers realized it was transcending a typical church conference. Words were changing lives. Songs were moving hearts. Worship was erupting

1. Sidewalk Prophets Keep Making Me CD: Live Like That

as voices were lifted and souls were renewed.

Though participants were unaware, God had carefully woven a theme through the messages and music. The songs were written independently by a gifted team of worship leaders – Jenn Johnson, Kari Jobe, Steffany Frizzell Gretzinger, Kristene DiMarco, Amanda Cook, and Leah Valenzuela – but they took on a consistent character and a common voice. To 1,200 people at a conference, and to so many more who will watch and listen, the Spirit spoke:

2. Francesca Battistelli Write Your Story

3. Matthew West – Do Something

CD: If We’re Honest

32 valleychristianmagazine.com June 2014

CD: Into the Light

God is present. God is forever. God is for you, to give you strength and to make you brave.

Bethel’s growth and impact have accelerated in recent years as the ministry continues its transformation from local church music to global outreach, featuring a cadre of songwriters and worship leaders, a half- dozen CDs, chart-topping songs such as One Thing Remains, and both online and on-campus worship schools. Tides became the biggest retail debut ever for the worship ministry, reaching No. 1 on

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expansiveness, the majesty, the wonder of who He is. The wave is His grace taking me deeper and further into His presence.” The song’s explosive bridge captures the fear we might feel when God calls us into a deeper level of intimacy with Him: You make me brave / You make me brave / You call me out, beyond the shore, into the waves. the Top Christian/Gospel Albums and Praise & Worship Billboard retail charts amidst unprecedented international acclaim. The momentum continued when Tides Live released in late February. The Women’s Conference is an annual event, but this year in particular, organizers recognized the powerful undercurrent of God’s work in the preparation, and they knew they needed to share it with the world.

“I think this project will serve two purposes,” says Jenn Johnson, who serves as Bethel’s Senior Worship Pastor along with her husband Brian. “I’m excited for people to listen and to hear what the Lord is saying to them personally through it, and then also to find that launch pad in each song to worship -- to identify where they’re at with the Lord, and worship him from that place.”

God’s message in the music is spoken eloquently in the title track, a song from the heart of Amanda Cook, who recently moved from Winnipeg to be closer to her Bethel team. Amanda recalls the birth of the song “You Make Me Brave.” “The song took only a matter of minutes to write, but it was the result of a long, dry season God took me through to reach the point where I was able to express what He had been doing through the last number of years. God has themes in all of our lives and I feel like bravery is something that He’s always called me into. I’ve struggled with fear my whole life. You name it, I’ve been afraid of it. The song is a very personal statement to me because it’s not written out of a place of declaration that ‘I’m so brave.’ I’m writing myself into that character, writing myself into the person that I really do feel called to be and want to be.”

The song opens the album with driving drums and vivid imagery of a crashing tidal wave. “The water for me represents the presence of God, the

Renowned songwriter and worship leader Kari Jobe joined the worship team with another song of extraordinary power, “Forever.” Co-written with Brian Johnson, the song traces the emotion of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection as it was felt by both the eyewitnesses and by the universe itself. Through the sadness of the weeping moon and stars, captured on a somber piano, to the war on death that caused the earth to tremble, the song is a confident declaration of death’s defeat. The tumult and victory move the listener to bravely declare: We sing hallelujah! The Lamb has overcome!

Another standout song tells of a personal journey out of the busyness of life and into intimate communion with God. Jenn’s “A Little Longer” opens with tension, as guitar notes unexpectedly descend a minor chord through each verse.

That minor key recreates a scene Jenn recalls vividly. “I was getting ready to go lead worship in a conference at the church and I had so much going on. I was running around scrambling to get everything together, my little baby was sleeping, and I was just a mess. As I walked past the piano in our living room I felt the Holy Spirit saying, Sit down and worship. I thought, Are you kidding me, Lord? I’m going to worship you in like 15 minutes! I kept going and I remember coming back through the living room and I walked by the piano again. I was arguing with the Lord, but I knew it was Him. So I sat down at the piano, frustrated and annoyed, and in a minor key I just played, What can I do for you, what can I bring to you, what kind of song would you like me to sing? With an attitude. And the Lord almost audibly spoke to me: I didn’t want anything, I just wanted to be with you. And I sobbed. Snot and tears all over the

piano. I scratched the lyrics down, put the baby in the car, and went to the conference.

I told Bill and Brian that I felt like I needed to do this song, even though it was not even really written. I started singing the song that the Lord had given me and it starts out in that minor key and then the chorus says, You don’t have to do a thing, simply be with Me and let those things go. The whole room turned into snot and tears!”

These songs are so personal, but part of the beauty of the event was the corporate nature of the worship. The team worked diligently to shift the focus away from the individual and toward the object of our praise.

In fact, there are plenty of moments on the CD when it’s difficult to tell who’s singing.

“I think it’s awesome,” Jenn recalls. “I think it’s a value system. I love the ‘nameless, faceless’ thing. It’s beautiful to celebrate who someone is, but it can be so weird sometimes. I don’t have a false humility at all, but what was celebrated was what God was doing, not who was doing what. I really hope that people feel that the highlight is what the Lord is saying through the whole album versus who sang what, who did what, whose name is on what.”

Jenn’s enthusiasm for the project is palpable. “Personally, I’m more excited about this than anything that we’ve ever done. I might be a little partial, but these girls killed it!

This would be my favorite album by a long shot, even if I wasn’t on it. I also don’t think this project is just for women. I think this is a message for the church.” That message is loud and clear. God’s presence is a promise for here and now, not a destination for which we long. And that presence should change us. Like an approaching wave, we see His wonder and His overwhelming love calling us to something more, something deeper, and though we might falter as we face the unknown, He makes us brave.

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6. Phil Wickham This Is Amazing Grace CD: The Ascension

9. Newsboys – We Believe CD: Restart

8. Mandisa – Back 5. Oceans (Where To You Feet May Fail) - United CD: Overcomer

June 2014

CD: Zion valleychristianmagazine.com 33

W

Wild at Heart

ho is a man? What does it mean to be truly masculine? What is a Christian man?

In Wild at Heart, John Eldredge suggests that men need to “recover a life of freedom, passion, and adventure.” He suggests that the image of masculinity has been tamed and caged up. There is a deep wildness in the heart of man that needs to be released. This is no license for unrestrained and unaccountable craziness, but a call to fill the desire “for a battle to fight, and adventure to live, and a beauty to rescue.”

I love a good battle scene in films. Some men love to see a good fight, whether it is UFC, boxing, or fake wrestling (okay, it might be real).

Something inside of men desires to be a warrior. Maybe it is what we are made to be, in some way or another.

When I was a child, I loved to venture into the trees along the canal. Somehow some of my adventurous ways have been tamed, but it seems to me that I still need to be in touch with that part of myself. Although, I’m not sure my wife

would like me to be sneaking out of the house at midnight.

There is no greater thing than winning the heart of a woman. Man was made to be a warrior, explore the world, and win over the one he loves. Man is Wild at Heart.

Eldredge maintains that God is the “Wild One Whose Image We Bear.” God tested Abraham to sacrifice his only son. God sent His son to die on a cross for humanity. Jesus was sent to confront an unbelieving people, His own people. Jesus sends his disciples as sheep among wolves. God, indeed, is a bit wild at heart.

How does a man express or tap into the wildness that may be lost due to a deep wound?

Clearly humanity is defaced because of the fall.

The effects of sin are present in all of life. What about the boy who was told that he is not a man by a father or mother?

Men can be convinced or made to Book believe they are not a man or not Review by man enough in countless ways. Eldridge contends that a man must

34 valleychristianmagazine.com June 2014

Author: John Eldredge Nelson

confront the wounds, whatever the form of its presence. It is deep battle within to reclaim what God wants man to be.

Another battle is with God’s enemy, the devil.

Humanity faced that battle in the garden and lost. Christ has reclaimed humanity with His wild love for us. We can fight the schemes of the devil because Christ has redeemed us. We can attain and maintain godly masculinity through the leadership of Christ.

Wild at Heart is a helpful resource to consider Eldredge’s view of masculinity. It has an interesting view that can help a man evaluate his life. The book can be helpful for a woman to understand that wild side of a masculine soul, whether a wife or a mother, it will give good perspective.

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 (12), Karla and Andrea (9), and Charis (5).

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valleychristianmagazine.com 35

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Helping Her The Right Way Dear Dave, My wife and I have a friend we met through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. She has a 1-yearold child, and she recently asked us for some money. We don’t really approve of how she’s choosing to spend her money—she’s spending a lot of it on alcohol and cigarettes—but she does need financial help. What should we do?

Mike Dear Mike, I have a very simple rule for situations like this. If someone is bold enough to ask me for my money, I can be bold enough to attach requirements to the money for their own good.

One of two things will happen when you handle things in this manner. They’ll welcome the help and graciously accept your conditions, or they’ll get mad and act like you have no right interfering in their business. I don’t have a problem helping people who have a good heart and really need a break. But if someone cops an attitude with me in this situation, I wouldn’t break out my wallet anytime soon.

Regardless, if you choose to do this, I’d make the money a gift and not a loan. Concentrate on trying to get her on a path where she thinks a little straighter, and, as a result, she will make better choices.

Teach her how to make and live off a budget or help her enroll in a personal finance course. But right now, just handing her money is like giving a drunk a drink.

This whole situation is a lot bigger than giving someone $35 for diapers. The answer to that is easy.

It’s yes. But in this case I’d probably give it to her in the form of a grocery store gift card. Many of those don’t allow alcohol and cigarette purchases. Or, I’d just go buy diapers and baby food and take them to her. Actually helping people is a lot more work than just throwing money at them. To really help someone, you have to get down in their mess and walk beside them.

Financially speaking, her problem is just as much mismanagement of money as it is a lack of money.

Anyone who chooses smokes and alcohol over diapers for their kid needs to be smacked. But since you can’t really do that, you can put conditions on your help that are designed to help her improve her decision-making abilities and, by doing that, improving her life.

—Dave

Daveys Sa

The Ever-Changing Budget Dear Dave, Should a budget change every month?

Anonymous Dear Anonymous, Yes, it should. Your life changes every month, and your budget should reflect the ebb and flow of your life.

Now, some things will stay the same. Your house payment or rent should fall into this category. If you have a car payment, which I hope you don’t, that would be the same too. There shouldn’t be a big difference in the amount you spend on food most months though. You might spend more in this category during November and December thanks to the holidays, but overall it should remain pretty steady.

For more financial help please visit: www.daveramsey.com Dave Ramsey is a personal money-management expert and extremely popular national radio personality. His three New York Times best-selling books—Financial Peace, More Than Enough and The Total Money Makeover—have sold more than 6 million copies combined. His latest book, EntreLeadership: 20 Years of Practical Business Wisdom from the Trenches, released in September 2011.

The biggest fluctuation you may see is in your utilities. I heat my house with natural gas, so the bill is much higher during the winter months. It’s just the opposite during the summer. We burn electricity to run the air conditioner, so the electric bill is higher in summer.

This is part of the reason I urge people to do a budget on paper, on purpose before the next month begins. You may look at the upcoming month and realize the kids have soccer pictures scheduled.

There may be a school trip planned, or they may need back-to-school clothes and supplies.

When it comes to a budget, there’s no easy out. Things change from month to month, and you need to think, plan ahead, and itemize so your budget is an accurate reflection of your life!

—Dave

38 valleychristianmagazine.com June 2014

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