Valley Christian Magazine - March 2012

MARCH 2012

Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Athlete of the Year Finalists Victory Banquet 2012

p.25

Feeling Weary?

Exhausted? Depleted? p.20

Success is not Circumstantial

p. 8

Find Your Way Back

p.16

Looking without Seeing

p.22

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x e d in 11

Pastor

Volume 1 / Issue 11

Christian Torres Publisher Christian@valleychristianmagazine.com

Tom W

eaver

Henry Miller Editor Henry@valleychristianmagazine.com

18

14

Fighting through that leadership “dip”

event

Gra mirab your cle

s 49 30

46 Whe

’s Jobeou i r a K nd Y i re I F

Features 11 - At Home With: Pastor Tom Weaver 18 - Fight through that leadership dip 22 - Look, and learn to see 25 - Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Victory Banquet 30 - Are you ready for spaghetti? Lots and lots of spaghetti?

32 - Reaching your life’s mission 43 - What to read 46 - Kari Jobe: Where I Find You

On The Cover 25- Fellowship of Christian Athletes Athlete of the Year Finalists Cover Photo by Lee Jinks

y Read u o ? i Y Are paghett S r fo

National Columnists 16 20 38 40 50

-

Greg Laurie James MacDonald Max Lucado Luis Palau Dave Ramsey

Valley Contributors

8 - Christian Torres 14 - Henry Miller 18 - Abram Gomez 22 - Jerrell Jobe 32 - Mike Masso 36 - Theresa Valladares, M.D. 43 - Miguel Paredes / 7 / www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

Irma d’Santiago “morett” Designer

James Alexander Distribution

PHOTOGRAPHERS Lee Jinks J Carlos Diaz Gabriela Romero CONNECT WITH US: Twitter: @vcmagazine @henry_vcmag Like us on Facebook To submit story ideas, events, or comments:

www.valleychristianmagazine.com

For Advertising contact: Ana Beicker 956-648-2511 956.314.0161 phone Tax Deductible donations can be mailed to: Texas Christian Publications c/o Valley Christian Magazine 3827 North 10th Street, 301 McAllen, TX 78501 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 held harmless LQGHPQLÀHG DJDLQVW DQ\ WKLUG SDUW\ FODLPV 7H[DV &KULVtian 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 of the publisher is prohibited. Copyright 2011. Printed in the USA.

Ladder of Success

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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Tom 43, Selina, met in Houston Texas Carolina, 8, www.logoscommunity.com

Emma Lee 5, Mary Grace 2 / 11 / www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

Where did you meet Selina?

So what finally changed?

I met my wife in Houston. At the time, I thought I was a Christian. I was very religious. I moved to Houston and met Selina at Second Baptist Church. I was teaching a college Sunday school class at the church and I saw her dance at a church function – she’s a salsa dancer – I remembered thinking, “She’s way too cool to be a Christian”, but I was wrong.

Six months after that we were engaged, and six months after that we were married.

I had a freight business at the time and was doing real well but the Lord was calling me. Within one year into our marriage I knew things had to change.

I thought it was Selina who needed to change, but what needed to change was my heart. I needed to repent of my self righteousness and sin.

You were…”RELIGIOUS?” I thought I knew Jesus but didn’t. I knew who Jesus was, but had not come under his authority. I didn’t trust him.

I began to read the New Testament out of great need, because I knew if something didn’t change, our marriage wouldn’t make it. The Gospel started wrecking my heart and I started to understand from Scripture that I was not a follower of Jesus at all and sometime in that period I became a Christian.

Once you are saved you know it and life has to change. Jesus calls us to obey so I started to enter this life of trying to better understand the gospel that had saved me.

We started teaching a Sunday school

class together. It grew, and then we started a college group for two years and from there the Lord called me to be a youth pastor. The whole time we knew that we were going to plant a church and we planted Logos Community 3 ½ years ago.

You started that at bt. right?

Yes. BT was very good to us. They told us we could come meet in their pavilion.

I’m thankful for Pastor Trevor Carpenter and Pastor Mike Hall - they really reached out to us with open arms.

Without those men loving us and serving us, Logos Community would not have grown as it has.

But now you you’re in a new facility. How’s that?

It has been amazing! We are now just south of Trenton on Jackson at Legacy Chapel and event center which is crazy because it’s super nice. We’re just surprised we’re allowed to be there. We have two services at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. and we’ve almost doubled in numbers this year.

LOGOS was started on a unique concept wasn't it?

When we planted Logos Community we wanted to plant a church among people who had never been a part of one before. That was our prayer and The Lord honored that and brought us a ton of people who did not know Jesus.

Our church at the beginning was just a bunch of rough-cut people who had never been in the religious world before therefore weren’t polished at all – and we loved that. There were a lot of people who were coming from very rough backgrounds.

Jesus continues to bring them to Logos Community and we just love it.

Haven't you also at attracted a more general audience?

Right now we are averaging over 250 a Sunday and we’ve seen a growth in people coming in who come from a church background. We’re glad they’re coming but we want them to know that they are called to be on mission, just not taking up seats. If that’s what they want to do, we ask them to move on. We don’t want to establish a new religion; we want to establish a place of mission.

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The Gospel comes in and saves but the Gospel also always calls us out to love and serve others. The church should not be an event; it must be a staging area for mission to the world.

We want them to know Matthew 28 says go into all the world and make disciples, teach, baptize. You’re not called to sit in a church service and raise a scorecard. You are called to be a part of the exhortation of the scriptures and loving people in the name of Jesus.

Don't these more experienced church goers bring a different challenge for you and how you started out?

The religious folks who have come in from other churches have been a different experience for us. We still want and need to shepherd them. Many churched people come in with expectations and demands. We lovingly share with them the Gospel and explain to them their call to mission, not their rights to programs. Just because you’ve been in church all your life, that doesn’t mean you understand your call. We have some people sometimes say we want deeper things. What’s deeper than redemption made through Christ’s blood spilled on the cross? That’s as deep as it gets.

Tell us about your community groups and what they do.

&RPPXQLW\ JURXSV KDYH EHHQ GHÀQHG as a mid-week bible study. We see community groups as a group of people in geographic proximity, who are called to love and impact the neighborhood that they live in. We want the neighborhoods we live in to know what we’re doing. We invite them to everything. Our community groups are not an add-on program for us, they are the lifeblood of what we do at Logos Community.

The church begins with neighborhood mission.

Our community groups don’t just host bible studies. They look for ways to serve their neighborhoods. An example would be one community may offer free pancakes to the whole neighborhood – no strings attached, no four spiritual laws, none of that. We’re just going to be people who love pancakes and are going to give them free to our neighERUV :H KDYH GLQQHU VSHFLÀFDOO\ LQ RXU neighborhoods to invite the neighbors

and their kids over and that’s it. We want them to know we love them. We don’t want to be that “Tuesday night community group.� We want to be the community group who does life in that community in the name of Jesus.

Any males in your house It’s just me. When people ask “don’t you want to try for a boy� I answer them, “come to my church - I have 100 boys that we are teaching to be men. My hands are full.�

Many young men across the Valley come from homes where Dad is either not present, or has taken the coward’s way out and is not leading. We want to disciple our young men to break this trend. To become Godly, gospel driven men who take responsibility seriously, VDFULÀFH WKHLU OLYHV IRU WKHLU IDPLOLHV DQG serve their community.

How does that work into your household?

My wife and I have a 100-year plan.

In 100 years we won’t be here. We are called to love our children well, and teach them to love their kids. Our grandkids, Lord willing, will know us.

Their grandkids, however, will not. They will not know our names, but they will know us based on how we treated their grandparents. This is heritage building.

Are we living with eternity in mind or just today?

How do you apply this with your daughters now?

Do my daughters see me change every year in the name of Jesus? Is the Gospel changing their daddy just like I’m asking them to allow the Gospel to change them? Moms and dads aren’t perfect and need to lead their kids in confessing sin and repenting.

Do they see and hear daddy apologize? I didn’t grow up seeing my dad say I’m sorry. I want my girls to have a conscious memory of me saying “I am sorry. That was wrong. I missed it� because then they see daddy needs Jesus also. He’s not Jesus – he needs Jesus.

And as a family we are all looking at the cross.

What do you do for fun with all those girls?

Every Saturday is daddy-daughter day.

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I wake up with them, give them snacks, change the diapers and watch 1,000 hours of princess movies. We’ll go to the gym together, the park together, eat lunch, tell stories and then at the end of the day, I’ll put them to bed. It’s weekly and a constant on my calendar.

I’ll also take them out for a daddydaughter dates. I’ll take one of them and we’ll go to a movie or dinner. I want their image of a man to be set by me, not some knucklehead when they are 15.

What's the future plans for LOGOS? We want to plant multiple locations of Logos Community of around 300-500 across the Rio Grande. Because the Valley loves connection and family, we want to facilitate that. It’s not our call to build a massive facility and have people come – nothing wrong with that – Jesus has just called us to do it a little differently.

Can you explain the LOGOS name?

It comes from John. Logos is the Greek for WORD. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. (John 1:1-2 ESV) Jesus calls himself the Logos, the Word.

In the beginning was the Logos and the Logos was God and the Logos was with God. Our logo is the pierced hand – people see it and know it’s us. It all comes back to the blood. We have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ and nothing else. We can’t boast on anything but the blood of Jesus.

See your miracle ...and grab it

By Henry Miller

‌When they arrived at the Jordan, they began cutting down trees. But as one of them was cutting a tree, his ax head fell into the river. “Oh, sir!â€? he cried. “It was a borrowed ax!â€?, “Where did it fall?â€? the man of God asked. When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it into the water at that spot.

7KHQ WKH D[ KHDG Ă RDWHG WR WKH VXUIDFH 7 “Grab it,â€? Elisha said. And the man reached out and grabbed it. (2 Kings 6:4-7, NLT) Have you ever just been “doing your thingâ€? when suddenly everything collapsed and you couldn’t continue?

I recently visited Valley International Christian Center in San Benito and listened to Pastor Jaime Loya preach on these verses in 2 Kings. A group of men went to the Jordan to start building a larger temple. When one of the men’s D[ KHDGV à HZ LQWR WKH -RUGDQ HYHU\thing stopped for that man. His goal for that day had been shattered.

Suddenly he was lost. He probably felt useless. Not only that – it wasn’t even his ax!

But he went to “the man of God,� Elisha.

Elisha asked him where the ax head fell into the water – where did the torment begin. He then cut a stick and next thing we know this heavy, dense ax head had surfaced.

Everyone was seeing a miracle in process – but it wasn’t complete. “Grab it,â€? Elisha said, and the man obeyed. Now this miracle was realized. $W Ă€UVW , ZDVQ¡W VXSHU LPSUHVVHG E\ WKLV miracle – I thought of it more in the nice WULFN FDWHJRU\ EXW LW GHĂ€QLWHO\ GLGQ¡W make my top 20 list. But then I started looking up some information about the Jordan River. Words like “a foaming torrent,â€? “it rushes,â€? “it descends quicklyâ€? and “a swift currentâ€? made me start thinking differently.

We all go through storms where our ax head – our vitality for life itself – disappears. Maybe we throw it away. Maybe it slowly disappears and before we know it, we’ve sunk to the bottom, a “foaming torrent� pulling us away from where we were.

But as this worker found out – when we bring God into the current, those things that bring you down, have no more power over you.

Then I read where the Jordan runs from just a couple feet to150-feet deep and is anywhere from 20 feet to a half-mile wide in places. Its banks, like the river, descend rapidly.

But this story wasn’t complete until the worker grabbed his ax head.

Even an ax head would’ve succumbed to the river’s power, getting sucked hunGUHGV RI \DUGV GRZQ ULYHU EHIRUH LW ÀQDOO\ settled at the bottom.

Look for your miracle. When you see it rise in front of you – grab it. Put your ax head back to work for good.

But it rose to the top.

It struggled its way back against the current. It fought and dug itself upriver, against the strength and depth of a powerful foe. There it was as the current stormed by it on all sides, unphased by what could bring it down again. / 14 / www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

Our miracles aren’t complete until we take what the Lord provides.

Henry Miller has been in the editing/writing business for more than 25 years. He and his daughter Camilla (7) attend Palm Vallley Church in Mission.

1400 E. R D., S TE 10 M CA LLEN, TX 78503 WWW.PENAEYE.COM

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The

Way Bac Back I

IS THIS YOU? “Well, Lord, all I can commit to right now is that I like You like friend. friend.””

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 © 1996.

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!

By Abram Gomez

Am I still inspired to accomplish the goals I set out to do this year?

Setting goals is the easy part. Announcing to everyone that you are going back to school is fun. Renewing your commitment to God in January brings fresh momentum to your life. Starting a diet makes you feel healthier.

7KH KDUG SDUW LV ÀQLVKLQJ VFKRRO 7KH hard part is keeping your commitment to God. The hard part is keeping up with your diet.

The process between actually starting something and completing the desired result is known by many as simply hard work. Scripture may call it a valley. John Maxwell refers to it as the Law of Process RU 6DFULÀFH Seth Godin calls it the dip.

What is the dip? It’s that “long slog between starting and mastery,” Godin

Recommended Books:

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.

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The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni

Leadership Dips? Get Inspired

It’s time to ask a question.

@RickWarren @EntreLeadership @stevenfurtick @PastorSergio @samchand @BishopJakes @PastorChrisHill @MichaelHyatt @nhclc @JohnCMaxwell My personal twitter

Dips in our journey are no fun but here are some reasons for hope and encouragement if you are facing a personal “dip”:

The Five Levels of Leadership by John Maxwell

Dips serve as screen tests.

Psalms 105 tells us that Joseph went

The reason some leaders do not see JUHDWQHVV RU VLJQLÀFDQFH LV EHFDXVH WKH\ give up in the dip. They become complacent or distracted. They lose interest. They lose belief. The dips screen out those who are not ready and willing.

Companies often have several interviews to screen out potential candidates who are not willing to go the extra mile. Dips will actually separate you from the rest of the crowd – if you are willing to persevere.

Dips are essential for development.

Joseph was able to govern all of Egypt ZLWK FRQÀGHQFH DQG KXPLOLW\ EHFDXVH of the previous tests.

Dips cause you to read more books. Dips teach you go manage your time and resources better. Dips put your GHWHUPLQDWLRQ WR WKH WHVW DQG UHÀQH \RXU desire to accomplish the goal. We learn through adversity and challenges. If

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we are not challenged in new areas or ways, we will stay in our comfort zones.

Comfort may bring peace, but it may not produce growth.

Dips add value to your life.

When Joseph was thrown into the pit, it was of no cost to his brothers. However, when Joseph was pulled out of the pit, he was sold to a group of traveling Ishmaelites for 20 shekels of silver. Case in point – you may go through the dip inexperienced, but you will come out with more wisdom and value. You are more valuable because of what the dip taught you. You are paid more because you endured the years of college and received a degree. You are considered an “expert” because you lasted 10 years in the same career.

You have managed to survive the dip, and have lived to tell about it.

That makes you rare.

That makes you valued.

Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick

He ends up as Pharaoh’s right- hand man overseeing and governing Egypt. Nevertheless, Joseph had to endure through his personal “dips” before stepping foot into the destiny he dreamed of as a young man.

through his personal “dips” until time passed and the Word tested him. God gives more to those He trusts.

Next Generation Leader by Andy Stanley

says. I would say that it is the obstacles, challenges, and adversity you will face between the inspiration of your dream DQG WKH IXOÀOOPHQW RI WKRVH GUHDPV Joseph (Genesis 37) is envied by his brothers for two reasons: he is the favorite son of his father and has dreamed of being greater than his family. Obviously, this does not go over well with his brothers. They toss him into a pit, sell him off, and without realizing it, initiate the journey the Lord intended for Joseph to walk all along.

@abram_gomez

By Dr. James MacDonald

Let Him restore your soul

Sleep Rest

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Liten 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’ teacing canbe 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. To subscribe to the Weekly Walk, a weekly e-devotional, visit: www.walkintheword.com

5HĂ HFW Am I feeling especially weary these days?

What are some changes I can make in my lrestored?

'R \RX Ă€QG \RXUVHOI VD\LQJ “I am so depleted; I don’t have energy.â€?

by permission of Walk in the Word,Elgin, Ill., 61023.

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By Jerrell Jobe

Learning to See

It was nearly 10 o’clock one Thursday night when my plane landed. I was in Colorado Springs for the weekend to help with a conference. Tired from a full day, I made my way through the airport with luggage and backpack. As I neared the exit I was met by a gentleman, sign in hand, my name in big letters. We loaded up and I was shuttled to the hotel.

It was pitch black outside. I reached the hotel and cashed in for the night.

I distinctly remember the next morning.

I walked through the lobby and out the front doors to catch my ride. As I crossed the threshold of the doorway leading outside, my feet suddenly stopped moving. My eyes lifted up from the pathway in front of me to the landscape around me.

Breathing ceased.

Eyes widened.

Slowly, I began to take it all in. Brilliant colors of red, yellow and orange like I had never seen before. I found myself surrounded by mountains rising from the earth and disappearing into the heavens. The sight was spectacular.

7KH WKRXJKWV Ă DVKHG WKURXJK P\ PLQG DV silly as they may seem, “How did these get here?â€? I had no idea. I saw none of this the evening before. As far as I knew, everything ZDV Ă DW DQG PXQGDQH , VXGGHQO\ IRXQG myself remorseful that I hadn’t gotten up an hour earlier to go for a run, a walk, or simply to sit on the curb with a cup of coffee.

It was all there when I arrived the evening before, I simply didn’t notice. Perhaps it was too dark. Maybe I was too tired. Too

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preoccupied with checking in. Whatever the reason, one thing remains the same, it was there and I missed it.

This can happen with mountainsides, the breaking of dawn or the multi-colored canYDV RI WKH ZHVWHUQ VN\ WKDW OLJKWV DĂ€UH HDFK evening. But, this also happens, perhaps more than we are aware of with God. In those moments where God is present and active, even in our midst, only we fail to recognize Him. Leonardo da Vinci once observed that, the average person looks without seeing, listens without hearing, touches without feeling, eats without tasting, inhales without awareness of odor or fragrance, and talks without thinking. You never know when or where or how God will invade your life, but He can show up anytime, any play and any way.

No wonder the New Testament, no less than 15 times, encourages us to “be alert� and “stay awake.� This principle is captured well in the exchange between a student and his teacher. One day a student approaches his teacher and asks, “Is there anything I can do to make myself enlightened?� The teacher quickly responds, “As little as you can do to make the sun rise in the morning.� This was a bit confusing to the student, so he probed further, “Then, of what use are the spiritual exercises you prescribe?� “That’s simple,� the teacher answered with a smile, “to make sure you are not asleep when the sun begins to rise.� We must learn the art of wide-eyed wonder and discerning observation.

The brilliant writer G.K. Chesterton, once stated that he learned more about life from observing children play than he ever learned from the books in his library. Fre-

quently, I take my kids to the playground.

Occasionally, I see other parents there with their children. I’ve noticed something, (we) parents often no longer engage in the type of soul-inspiring, wonder-generating observation that Chesterton wrote of. It seems that for many of us, taking our kids to the park is more of an occasion to bury ourselves into a 3-inch LCD screen for the purSRVH RI WH[WLQJ IDFHERRNLQJ ZHEVXUÀQJ reading, or some other mindless activity.

What would we see if we opened wide the eyes of our souls and curiously watched children playing, laughing, running, etc?

Have we become spellbound by the technology held within the palm of our hands?

Are we at times, unknowingly blinding ourselves from the unfolding childlike wonder that is at play before our very eyes?

It is said that the French writer Jacques Reda had a peculiar habit. Each day, as he walked the streets of Paris, he was intent on seeing at least one new thing. He walked through the same streets every day, yet recognized there was more to be seen – more to take in – more to be discovered.

When we stop looking, we stop seeing.

When we lose childlike curiosity and wonder, we become embalmed in monotony.

There’s a fullness of life that emerges as we recognize there’s much more to see, learn and discover. As Elizabeth Barrett Browning eloquently penned, Earth’s crammed with Heaven, $QG HYHU\ FRPPRQ EXVK DÀUH ZLWK *RG But only he who sees takes off his shoes . . .

The rest sit around and picks blackberries.

The following are a few possible exercises toward watchfulness. ฀ Take a walk or go to a park. Intentionally leave your cell phone in the car. While there close your eyes. What do you hear? The birds, breeze, footsteps walking, children playing, laughing, etc... Open your eyes and slowly look around. What do you observe? ฀ ฀ In fact, for one week, refrain from occupying your idle time with a cell phone. Waiting to be seated at a restaurant, before an appointment, etc.

Take those moments and look around, observe, think, wonder, question, imagine, even using these moments to talk to God about what you see, hear, sense. ฀ ฀ Ask God to awaken your soul and give you eyes to see the wonder of creation and humanity as He created it. ฀ Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. 1 Peter 1:17 MSG

Jerrell Jobe is a teaching pastor at Palm Valley Church in Mission. He is married to Charissa and has three children - Micah (9), Naylah (6), and Avi (5).

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FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES

VICTORY BANQUET 2012

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER: J.C. WATTS Rising from an impoverished rural area, J.C. Watts became a football player at the University of Oklahoma, followed by a quarterback stint in the Canadian Football League. After football, he became a Baptist youth minister and then a leader in the U.S. Congress, where he was once the only Black Republican.

Promising to serve only three terms in congress, Watts was faithful to that pledge and chose

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not to run in 2002 to spend more time with his family. He has since established a lobbying and FRQVXOWLQJ ÀUP KDV MRLQHG VHYHUDO FRUSRUDWH boards and worked as a political commentator for CNN. Contact information: J.C. Watts , Jr., Founder and President, J.C. Watts Companies, 600 13th St., NW, Suite 790, Washington, D.C. 2005 or phone 202-207-2854

PROGRAM Master of Ceremonies Invocation Dinner FCA Athletes of the Year Keynote Speaker Closing Remarks Benediction

/ 25 / www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

Vince Erickson Dale Lusk Nathan Jones JC Watts Vince Erickson Nathan Jones

Tyler Marriott

Bianka Martinez

Amanda M. Naranjo

McAllen Memorial High School

Harlingen High School

McAllen Memorial High School

PARENTS NAME: Ben & Irma Marriott

PARENTS NAME: Eunice & Orlando Martinez

PARENTS NAME: Judith & Jesse Naranjo

PLANS TO ATTEND: Trinity, UT, A&M, or TCU

PLANS TO ATTEND: Southwestern Univ./TX State-San Marcos

FCA INVOLVEMENT: \HDUV 2IÀFHV ² 3UHVLGHQW \HDUV Camps - Leadership Camp 2010

FCA INVOLVEMENT: \HDUV 2IĂ€FHV +RVSLWDOLW\ 0XVLF IRU HHS FCA & Spoke at Fields of Faith 2011

PLANS TO ATTEND: UTPA Baylor/San Antonio Medical Program

SCHOOL AWARDS: Academic Interact Student of the Month (October 2011), 2nd Team All State All Academic Athletic All District Honorable Mention Safety (2009), All District 1st Team outside linebacker (2010 & 2011), 2nd Team All Valley (2011), All State Honorable Mention linebacker (2011)

SCHOOL AWARDS: ACADEMIC: Top 10% all 4 years, 24th out of 517 students, 4.03 GPA, Outstanding Achievement Award in World Geography & BCIS, UIL Competition of National Society of High School Scholars, HHS Senior Girl Athlete of the Year.

ATHLETIC: Volleyball-Team Captain, The Wall Award-Most Blocks, All Tournament Team Donna & Mission Tournament, Basketball-Team Captain, 2nd Team All District, Miss Free Throw, Miss 409.

SPORTS: Football, Track & Field, Baseball CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: St. Johns Episcopal Church/McAllen Father Jim Nelson HUDDLE COACH: Rene Huddleston ´7\OHU OHDGV ERWK RQ DQG RII WKH ÀHOG He is often telling his team to play for the audience of one before football games. He leads them in prayer and speaks at FCA Huddle meetings. This year with the help of his mom, he got permission for a coach to give a devotional after football practice. He also looks out for others. Through a PAL program he became a mentor for special needs kids and elementary students. He is a great role model and really walks the talk!�

SPORTS: Varsity Volleyball, Varsity Basketball CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Family Cathedral Church/Lifeline Heart of Worship Church/Harlingen HUDDLE COACH: Starla Linn “I’ve had have the incredible pleasure of watching this young lady grow up.

This child was a passive, soft-spoken little girl and I must say in that, she has not FKDQJHG 6KH LV D SRVLWLYH LQà XHQFH toward her friends, other athletes, and family. But the amazing thing to watch was the evolving experience of her athletic ability. Her competitive nature began to rise up and it was clear she was an incredible athlete. Yet it was her sportsmanship on the court that was the honorable part of her character.�

FCA INVOLVEMENT: \UV 2IĂ€FHV ² )&$ *LUOV President 2011-12 SCHOOL AWARDS: Academic National Honor Society (2010-2012), Athletic Varsity Girls Golf “Newcomer of the Yearâ€? (2008-2009), Varsity Girls Golf “Most Improvedâ€? (2008-2009), Varsity Girls Golf “Most Valuable Playerâ€? (2009-2011) SPORT: Varsity Girls Golf (2008-2012) CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Palm Valley Church/Mission Pastor Micah Crump Pastor Rick Gannon HUDDLE COACH: Renee Huddleston “Amanda wears Christ on the outside.

6KH LV DOZD\V VPLOLQJ 6KH GHÀQLWHO\ walks the walk and talks the talk. She has been a true leader this year. As my female FCA Captain, I depend on her. She helps out at huddle meetings, organized part of Fields of Faith, is very encouraging to our members, and a living testimony of Christ’s love.�

/ www.valleychristianmagazine.com / FCA VICTORY/ 26 BANQUET / 2012 ATHLETE OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

Grady Daniel Young

Emily Villarreal

Mercedes Early College Academy/ Mercedes High School

McAllen High School

ALFREDO “FREDDY�

VILLANUEVA

PARENTS NAME: Aaron & Martha Villarreal

PSJA Memorial High School

PARENTS NAME: Juany & Grady Young PLANS TO ATTEND: Southern Nazarene University FCA INVOLVEMENT: 4 yrs 2IĂ€FHV +HDG 2IĂ€FHU /HDGHUVKLS committee SCHOOL AWARDS: Academic Best Motivator, National Honor Society, Ranked 17th, Graduating w/and associates degree, Part of 1st graduating class from Mercedes Early College Academy, Academic All State honorable mention Athletic football scholarship to Southern Nazarene University in Oklahoma Div. 2, 2nd team all- district LT, most improved power lifter, Football Team Captain SPORTS: Football, Track, Power lifting CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Rio Life Community Church & First Baptist Church/Mercedes & Weslaco Pastor-Dave Gomes/Joe Aguilar & Steve Parker HUDDLE COACH: Jaime Garcia II/Ernest Trevino “Grady’s accomplishments on the footEDOO Ă€HOG KDYH HDUQHG KLP D VFKRODUVKLS to play offensive tackle at Southern Nazarene University located in Oklahoma. Grady’s faith and commitment to the Lord is seen amongst everyone he is in contact with.

Grady is a model student on and off WKH ÀHOG +H KDV PDGH DQ LPSDFW DV D leader and member in our FCA organization leaving behind a legacy of faith.

His diligence to work hard is seen in his success as an all-around student.

MOM: Norma Rodriguez

PLANS TO ATTEND: Rice or Texas A&M

PLANS TO ATTEND: UTSA or UTPA

FCA INVOLVEMENT: 3 yrs 2IĂ€FHV 5HFUXLWHU 7UHDVXUHU Secretary; SCHOOL AWARDS: Academic DAR Good Citizen Award, Senior Hall of Fame 2012, Top 1% of graduating class, inducted into the McAllen High School NHS Athletic District Medalist in Swimming (2008 5HJLRQDO 6ZLPPLQJ TXDOLĂ€HU Ă€QDOLVW 6ZLPPLQJ )HPDOH of the Year, Female Swimming MVP, Best Female Freestyle, Female Swimming New Comer of the Year, District Medalist in JV Track SPORTS: Swimming, Track & Field CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Cristo Centro/Mission Pastor-Pastor Zuno HUDDLE COACH: David Reast “Emily is a shining example of everything you would expect from a young woman leading a life dedicated to serving Christ. She is an exceptional athlete, and will probably end up as her class valedictorian. She has been an active member of the McHi FCA for the past 3 years, and is always willing to lend a hand when called to.â€?

FCA INVOLVEMENT: \U 2IĂ€FH 3UHVLGHQW SPORTS: Baseball/Golf CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Rivers of Life Worship Center/Alamo Pastor: Gabriel Leal HUDDLE COACH: Mario Gonzalez III “I have personally seen how Freddy’s life has been affected by beginning to walk with the Lord. I have seen him share the Good News that there is life and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. $IWHU Ă€QGLQJ RXW WKDW RXU FDPSXV did not have an FCA sponsor, Freddy asked many teachers and coaches if they would consider becoming the club sponsor, but they all turned down the opportunity stating that they were not religious and/or did not have the time. Though he had multiple rejections, he did not become discouraged and give up. Instead, he kept praying and asking people until one teacher said he would pray about it. I am that teacher and the club has been a blessing to me and to the rest of the FCA club members.

Freddy’s hard work and faith in God bringing a Fellowship of Christian Athletes to our campus deserves to be commended. It is my honor to recommend Alfredo Villanueva as PSJA Memorial’s male Christian Athlete of the Year.�

His positive demeanor and professional attitude convey the impression of an experienced professional. Mr. Young is determined, focused, and able to meet challenges with a thorough and resolute approach. He was the paragon of student, and has the fortitude to see his projects through.� / 27 / www.valleychristianmagazine.com / FCA VICTORY BANQUET / 2012 ATHLETE OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

FCA CAMP SCHEDULE

WEEKEND OF CHAMPIONS Zephyr Camp/Lake Corpus Christi 6th through 12th grades DATES: April 20-22, 2012 FCA LEADERSHIP CAMP Hardin Simmons University/Abilene 6th through 12th grades DATES: June 4-8, 2012 FCA SPORTS CAMP Texas A&M University/College Station 6th through 12th grades DATES: July 2-6, 2012

RGV FCA 1801 S. McColl Rd. Suite 300 McAllen, TX 78503 956-994-1121 o 956-994-1131 f Email: rgv@fca.org

FCA COACHES CAMP Horseshoe Bay Spa & Resort/Marble Falls Coaches & Spouses DATES: July 12-15, 2012

Web: www.southtexasfca.org

Nathan Jones

a message from Nathan: “As the new Area Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes here in South Texas, and on beKDOI RI DOO RI RXU Ă€QH )&$ 6WDII ZKR VHUYH KHUH LQ the Rio Grande Valley, thank you to all of you who have joined with us to help meet the needs of all of the many incredible coaches and athletes of our area. Having lived in the Rio Grande Valley since 1974, it is such a thrill for me to now be able to ZRUN GD\ LQ DQG GD\ RXW ZLWK VR PDQ\ Ă€QH SHRSOH as we all move forward together in our shared effort of bettering our community one day at a time, one life at a time. When I consider all that the Lord

has done, is doing, and wants to continue to do thru those of us willing to answer the call of ministering to the needs of our coaches and athletes, I am encouraged by the outpouring of community VXSSRUW DQG , UHPDLQ FRQĂ€GHQW WKDW RXU EHVW GD\V are yet to come. In John 15:17, Jesus tells us ‘This is my command: Love each other.’ With the words of our Lord fresh on our hearts and mind, may the Lord bless you and keep you, and may each of you always know that you are loved and appreciated by those of us here at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.â€?

/ 28 / www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

Sharon Flores remembers when the St. John’s Spaghetti Supper was done quite differently than it is today.

INFO St. John’s Episcopal School in McAllen 37th Annual Spaghetti Supper Friday, April 27 starting at 5 p.m.

Tickets on sale May 19

FOR MORE INFO Call Yoli Kamel at 342-1313 Or Jennifer Mask at 221-1561

On top of that, she says, the spaghetti is the best anyone will eat all year – and that’s a promise from her. “It’s amazing,� said Flores, who has been queen of the kitchen for 15 years at the annual St. John’s Episcopal School fundraiser. This year’s 37th annual Spaghetti Supper will take place Friday, April 27, beginning at 5 p.m. For $7 a ticket, spaghetti lovers can get a plate of spaghetti, a side salad and breadstick. People can dine in or pick up their orders at the drive thru.

The St. John’s Spaghetti Supper tradition began in 1975 when organizers brought in spaghetti sauce cooked at home and $3,000 was raised for the school. The event has evolved into an all-day cooking marathon, with enough spaghetti being cooked for 3,000 plates. “It was just a group of moms who came in with WKHLU URDVWHUV Ă€OOHG ZLWK VSDJKHWWL Âľ VDLG )ORUHV whose mom was one of those original volunteers and a student at the school. “Everyone’s wasn’t the same so we decided to put it all together in vats.â€?

And they are meticulous about getting each vat exactly the same, going as far as counting Bay leaves for each vat of sauce.

/ 30 / www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

DID YOU KNOW? St. John’s Episcopal School cooks use: 500 pounds of ground beef 400 pounds of pasta Hundreds of cans of Probably close to a ton of food is served – including breadsticks and salad The volunteer hand out or serve 3,000 plates of spaghetti in three hours Money raised goes for school improvements and student needs

/ 31 / www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

Your Spiritual Cosmos:

Your Spiritual DNA: Discovering Your Life Mission

By Mike Masso Part III

EYHU\RQH LV NQLW WRJHWKHU ZLWK D VSHFLĂ€F design in mind. We are born with embedded genetic instructions carried within the DNA of our bodies. These DNA codes (genes) determine our biological traits of development, features and functionality.

More importantly, we have been predestined with a Spiritual DNA code designed by our Creator.

Our Spiritual DNA is our divinely embedded design for personal development, spiritual identity and function — in other words, our life mission.

Our body’s function serves as an amazing example of how God has designed the development and functions of His Body on Earth.

There are countless molecular functions that work interdependently to build upon a person’s DNA structure. It can be compared to constructing a building. Like multitudes of construction workers (RNA) bonding together to communicate the blueprint plans/mission (DNA) in order to multiply and carryout the instructions using the

proper building materials (proteins) to complete the structure. Our biological process is a beautiful example of how God has designed the Body of Christ to function, as illustrated in Ephesians 4. “Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God‌ Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future‌ Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ‌ +H PDNHV WKH ZKROH ERG\ Ă€W WRJHWKHU SHUIHFWO\ As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.â€?

Ephesians 4:1,3-4, 12-13, 16 We could spend many hours diving into the sigQLĂ€FDQFH LOOXVWUDWHG LQ WKLV SDVVDJH EXW IRU QRZ , want to focus on our “special workâ€?—our spiritual identity and life mission.

Our biological DNA becomes evident through our physical traits. But our unique spiritual identity VHHPV WR EH PXFK PRUH GLIĂ€FXOW WR UHFRJQL]H +RZ GR ZH JHW WKRVH VSHFLĂ€F ´'1$Âľ LQVWUXFWLRQV for our “own special workâ€?—life mission?

Before something is constructed it must have a secure foundation, otherwise it will collapse under pressure. Purpose serves as the foundation for all PLVVLRQV 6R ZH PXVW ÀUVW XQGHUVWDQG WKDW RXU SHUsonal mission is built upon our purpose—intimacy with God. Since we know our spiritual cosmos is to live from the inside-out.

/ 32 / www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

Purpose is WKHQ IXOĂ€OOHG according to its ordained principles.

These principles are the very same instructions given to us for our comprehensive purpose found in God’s Word, which is God Himself!

How does this become relevant to our lives? How do we move beyond the stress, complications and confusion and PDNH RXU SHUVRQDO HWHUQDO LPSDFW RI VLJQLĂ€FDQFH LQ WKH ZRUOG around us? Why does it seem like so many are not getting DQ\ FODULW\ RU IHHO WKH\ DUH QRW PDNLQJ D VLJQLĂ€FDQW GLIIHUHQFH in this world?

Try to relax as we walk this through‌ What happened to our world? I thought technology and easy access to information ZDV VXSSRVHG WR PDNH OLIH HDVLHU DQG PRUH HIÀFLHQW 6R ZK\ are we more stressed and overloaded than ever? Why does it seem like we must do everything we can to keep from falling apart, much less accomplish our life mission?

Let’s look again to our own bodies. Even though your biologiFDO '1$ KDV LQVWUXFWLRQV WR IXOÀOO WKDW SURFHVV FDQ EHFRPH GLVWRUWHG RU PXWDWHG ZKHQ H[SRVHG WR HQYLURQPHQWDO LQà Xences. This causes disease and deformity, thus the need for remedies to heal and repair. So, as life attempts to break us down, how do we renew and realign ourselves to restore our Spiritual identity? The answer is simple. It starts by stopping.

This is the instruction and pattern that God established from the very beginning. “God’s promise of entering His rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you may fail to experience it. For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announce to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God. For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.� ~Hebrews 4:1-2, 10

rotations of day and night, four seasons, etc.

Rest beats are what make music so pleasing in how the rhythm à RZV XQOHVV you’re into death metal that pounds your brain with hardcore screaming and distortion until your ears bleed.

Get the picture? For so many, our lives are screaming at us with the distractions and distortions of “busy-noise� and demands.

You might be tempted to think that all you need to do is not work on Sunday (or Saturday) and then everything will fall into perfect order for your life mission. Nice try, but it starts with centering yourself and all you do in Christ.

We get off course when we are the center of our efforts, hoping that Jesus tags along for the ride.

The concept of a Sabbath is to stop striving from our labors and surrender ourselves to rest in God. A great example of 6DEEDWK 5HVW LV WKH DQFLHQW GLVFLSOLQH FDOOHG WKH 'DLO\ 2IÀFH a form of mini-Sabbaths. This has given us a valuable counterIn case we think that the Sabbath Rest is an Old Testament FXOWXUH VWUDWHJ\ 7KH 'DLO\ 2IÀFH RU 'DLO\ 2SXV³PHDQLQJ law that is not relevant for today, God’s word lays it straight. work of God, was instituted by the early church to be more There are 27 passages in the New Testament that reference personal that our typical quiet time or devotions. The Daily the Sabbath. The Sabbath is a part of God’s divine order in 2IÀFH DV H[HUFLVHG E\ WKH 7UDSSLVW PRQNV ZDV QRW MXVW WKH creation. Not only does God establish this pattern from the work of Bible study, prayers, and serving, but was practiced very beginning by resting on the seventh day, but He estabmultiple times throughout their day to experience God’s preslished rhythms of life throughout all creation, even in our own ence — spiritual intimacy. It kept them aware of whom they bodies—our heart beat, breathing, sleeping cycles, hormonal were doing the Lord’s work for. functions. We see it throughout nature—plants and animals, / 33 / www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

I remember my early years of fulltime church staff ministry. All my available time was used to either serve or prepare to serve, and teach the congregation.

Although I was working for the Lord, I would go weeks not having deep experiences in the Lord’s presence.

There was little personal intimacy with Jesus, while doing a lot of studying, planning and serving. It is a lot like a marriage that stays busy raising kids, working to pay the bills, yet not very romantic and loving.

God is a jealous God and wants to spend personal time with us if we allow Him to. You may feel there is just not enough time to stop and clear our schedules and minds for quality time in the Lord’s presence. It reminds me of the principle of tithing—if we don’t have enough money to keep our bills paid, how are we able to tithe? As so many will testify, when we are faithful to put God as our priority and source of life, He always provides! It’s all about love, trust and surrender. When we limit ourselves to our own resources, we will surely break down. Remember, it’s the Shepherd who makes us lie down in green pastures and by still waters that restore our souls.

It is in these intimate moments when we take the time and make the effort to silence the distractions and interference of our culture and surrender to His presence, we can hear God speak to us. It requires intenWLRQDO VDFULĂ€FH WR PDNH WKLV KDSSHQ EXW WKLV LV ZKHUH the Living Word comes alive within our soul to restore XV DQG JXLGH XV ZLWK +LV VSHFLĂ€F SHUVRQDO LQVWUXFWLRQV This is the place where our Spiritual DNA becomes restored to its pre-ordained functions and allows us to IXOĂ€OO RXU VSHFLDO ZRUNÂł2XU /LIH 0LVVLRQ “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength‌â€? ~ Isaiah 40:31a “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done IRU \RX /HW WKHP EH D OLYLQJ DQG KRO\ VDFULĂ€FHÂłWKH NLQG KH ZLOO Ă€QG DFFHSWDEOH 7KLV LV WUXO\ WKH ZD\ WR worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.â€? ~Roman 12:1-2 (Emphasis mine)

Read “Experiencing God’s Presence� by Dr. Dan McGee for a practical illustration of 6 Spiritual Disciplines that will restore deep intimacy with Christ: ‡ Simplicity ‡ Silence ‡ Solitude MIKE MASSO ‡ Surrender is married to Robyn ‡ Sensitivity Masso and they have four children. Mike and his family have been involved ‡ Service in the Rio Grande Valley community most of their lives in ministry and business ventures. Mike is the Director for Leadership Development Alliance, LLC, President of Viva Life Christian Book Shop and Owner-Broker of Prime Ventures Commercial Real Estate.

[Next Issue will identify how our “wounds� can become an opportunity for greater Kingdom Dominion or a coop for Satan’s strongholds.]

/ 34 / www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

SPRING BREAK SOCCER CAMP Pharr, TX /March 12-17 Ages 8-12 /13-16

Cost $35 Registration & Info www.fbcpharr.org

or call 787.3284 Sponsored by First Baptist Church 400 W. Ridge Pharr, Tx 78577

Coaches from Germany will lead this camp Mon-Fri with a tournment on Saturday

Rio Grande Valley Healing Rooms of

Mission & Weslaco

We Pray For

Physical, Emotional & Spiritual Healing

COME AND LET JESUS HEAL YOU *Everyone Welcome *No Appointment Needed and Spanish www.rgvhealingrooms.net TUESDAY / MARTES

THURSDAY /JUEVES HARMONY LANE, MISSION / 35 / www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

WESLACO

By Theresa Valladares

We Sometimes Others Struggles OHPV ÀQDQFLDO WURXEOHV GLIÀFXOW\ ZLWK RXU NLGV :KDW if your \RXU KHDOLQJ \HW" :KDW LI FRXQVHOLQJ DQG SUD\HUV IRU PDUULDJH VHHP WR QRW EH DQVZHUHG" /LIH FDQ EH RYHU ZKHOPLQJ DQG ZH FDQ VOLS LQWR D GHHS GHSUHVVLRQ LI ZH DOORZ VWUXJJOHV WR GLFWDWH RXU PRRGV RU EHKDYLRU As ZRUG ZKHQ , IHHO OLNH ,·P VSLUDOLQJ GRZQ DQG KDYH IRFXVHG RQ ÀYH VFULSWXUHV :KDWHYHU LV WUXH ZKDWHYHU LV QREOH ZKDWHYHU LV ULJKW ZKDWHYHU LV SXUH ZKDWHYHU LV ORYHO\ ZKDWHYHU LV DGPLUDEOH LI DQ\WKLQJ LV H[FHOOHQW RU SUDLVHZRUWK\ think Take RI \RX ,W·V HDV\ WR IRFXV RQ WKH QHJDWLYH ZKHQ \RX DUH VWUXJJOLQJ <RX VWDUW UHOLYLQJ DOO WKH ZURQJ WKH KXUW WKH EDG GRFWRU·V UHSRUW QHJDWLYH ZRUGV VSRNHQ RYHU you seem

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WHAT It‘s not all

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A heart bones 6RPHWLPHV ZDLWLQJ IRU KHDOLQJ RU UHVROXWLRQ RI SURE lems WR UHÁHFW ,V WKHUH VRPHRQH \RX KROG D JUXGJH DJDLQVW envy need be achieved :H DUH WR IRUJLYH DV ZH KDYH EHHQ IRUJLYHQ 3ULGH DQG bitterness VHH WKLV RIWHQ LQ P\ SUDFWLFH :KHQ D SDWLHQW UHOHDVHV the their 'R \RX QRW NQRZ WKDW \RXU ERG\ LV WKH WHPSOH RI WKH +RO\ 6SLULW ZKR LV LQ \RX ZKRP \RX KDYH UHFHLYHG IURP *RG" <RX DUH QRW \RXU RZQ \RX ZHUH ERXJKW DW D SULFH 7KHUHIRUH KRQRU *RG ZLWK \RXU ERG\ (1Cor6:19-20) *RG ZDQWV XV WR WDNH FDUH RI RXU ERGLHV *HW DFWLYH DW ZKDWHYHU OHYHO \RX FDQ , ZDV VWUHVVHG DQG IHHOLQJ RYHUZKHOPHG RQH WLPH DQG a friend LQJ GRQXWV DV \RXU ZD\ RI GHDOLQJ ZLWK VWUHVV µ , ORYH FXSFDNHV SL]]D DQG GRQXWV 7KH\ ZHUH P\ FRPIRUW IRRG ZKHQHYHU , ZDV VWUXJJOLQJ EXW WKH IRRG QHYHU made you D ORW RI GRQXWV µ 6R DIWHU WKH VKRFN ZRUH RII IURP WKLV QRW VR FDVXDO VWDWHPHQW , WXUQHG WR UXQQLQJ , VWDUWHG RXW ZDONLQJ WKHQ ZDON UXQ WKHQ SURJUHVVHG WR UXQQLQJ RQO\ / 36 / www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

?

Frida’s Come For the Food Stay For the Fun! During the day a classy restaurant and in the weekend it’s a local downtown nightclub. With an exceptional menu, this restaurant offers a brunch Tue-Fri 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. as well as Breakfast plates, Burgers, Fajitas, Exquisite Mexican Tapas and GREAT USDA PRIME STEAKS. Dinner is Tue-Sat 5 p.m.

- 10 p.m. Need a Real margarita? We serve 60 ounce Fridarita! Frida’s features indoor and outdoor patio dining for Brunch, lunch or dinner.

209A S. 17th St., McAllen (956) 631-7313 (956) 227-9885

Restaurant owners, want to advertise your restaurant and show off some of your most exquisite presentations? Valley Christian Magazine’s “Restaurant Section” is the place to do so. Call Ana Beicker at (956) 314-0161 to reserve your place. Hurry, spaces are limited and we’re hungry!

/ 37 / www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

/ 38 / www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

I KNOW

THE BIBLE

SAYS

I’M FORGIVEN. BUT

MY

CONSCIENCE SAYS

I’M NOT. Jesus loves us too much to leave us in doubt about his grace. His “perfect love expels all fear” (1 John 4:18 NLT). If God loved with an imperfect love, we would have high cause to worry. Imperfect love keeps a list of sins and consults it often.

God keeps no list of our wrongs. His love casts out fear because he casts out our sin!

Tether your heart to this promise, and tighten the know. “If our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things” (1 John 3:20 NKJV). When you feel unforgiven, evict the feelings. Emotions don’t get a vote. Go back to Scripture. God’s Word holds rank over self-criticism and self-doubt.

As Paul told Titus, “God’s readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation’s available for everyone!... Tell them all this. Build up their courage.”

(Titus 2:11, 15 MSG, emphasis mine). Do you know God’s grace? Then you can love boldly, live robustly. You can swing from trapeze to trapeze; His safety net will break your fall.

Nothing fosters courage like a clear grasp of grace.

And nothing fosters fear like an ignorance of mercy. May I speak candidly? If you haven’t accepted God’s forgiveness you are doomed to live in fear. Nothing can deliver you from the gnawing realization that you have disregarded your Maker and disobeyed his instruction. No pill, pep talk, psychiatrist, or possession can set the sinner’s heart at east. You may deaden the fear, but you can’t remove it. Only God’s grace can.

Have you accepted the forgiveness of Christ? If not, do so. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NKJV). Your prayer can be as simple as this: Dear Father, I need forgiveness. I admit that I have turned away from you.

Please forgive me. I place my soul in your hands and my trust in your grace. Through Jesus I pray, amen.”

Having received God’s forgiveness, live forgiven!

/ 39 / www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

Let Your

Light Shine Before Men...

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 ZLWK WKHP WKH KRSH RI JORU\ ,Q WKH Ă&#x20AC;IWK chapter of the book of Matthew, God implores us to take a stand for our faith: â&#x20AC;&#x153;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.â&#x20AC;? 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 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you and I â&#x20AC;&#x201C; hold the key to life, happiness, joy, love, forgiveness, and to eternity with our Lord!

Christ in you â&#x20AC;Ś that is the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27)!

What are you doing to let your light shine?

What are you doing to be the salt of the earth? It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take much â&#x20AC;&#x201C; just simple obedience and faith.

Buenos Aires Festival Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 for a festival in the history of our team. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s widest boulevard and runs through the center of the city. I tracked the progress and prayed for the events 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.

As the festival drew closer the buzz in the city grew, and unique evangelistic opportunities came with each passing day. For PH WKH IHVWLYDO ZDV D GUHDP IXOĂ&#x20AC;OOHG ² WKH result of much prayer and years of hard work.

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 â&#x20AC;Ś their opportunity to let their light shine before men.

Thousands

of

believers

in

Argentina

prayed about and participated in this unique festival experience. God used them mightily. Through their partnership the Lord brought more than 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 â&#x20AC;&#x153;stand,â&#x20AC;? 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 â&#x20AC;Ś itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s humbling and inspiring.

So, what is God asking you to do? How is He asking you to shine your light?

Arise and Shine Letting your light shine may involve something as small as a conversation with your neighbor. Your â&#x20AC;&#x153;standâ&#x20AC;? may present itself at a time of gathering with friends and family, or while participating in a church outreach.

What will you do today to let your light shine before men? Even the simplest deeds â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the most humble of actionsâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; can impact your community, your city, your region, your country, and even your world. Now ... â&#x20AC;&#x153;Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon youâ&#x20AC;? (Isaiah 60:1)

Luis Palauâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ministry has shared the Gospel with more than 1 billion people through evangelistic events and media. He has spoken in personto 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. / 40 / www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

Rebuilding a church,

Fulfilling a

dream

Cristabel lopez

By Henry Miller

Pastor the death

preached his 70.

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brought commitcommittheir that God, de-de use. by

hand. After 33 years it has all deteriorated.â&#x20AC;?

For more information and how to help, call cristabel lopez at (956) 309-6819. / 41 / www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

/ 42 / www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

Conquering the Fear of Failure Lessons from the Life of Joshua I have never been in a desert.

If I do visit one, it will be for one day and zero nights.

Yet I have had some desert experiences (you have too): Â&#x2021;

7KH GHVHUW RI Ă&#x20AC;QDQFLDO LQstability and uncertainty

By Erwin W. Lutzer / Kregel Publications When they were delivered from Egypt they were promLVHG OLIH LQ D ODQG Ă RZLQJ with milk and honey. In other words they would be in a land that produces good food; a better life than the one in Egypt and the desert.

The time had come to go into the Promised Land, but the people were afraid.

Could they trust a God who had left them in the desert Â&#x2021; The scorching heat of land for 40 years? Can we disappointment and disil- trust God to move forward lusionment after days, months, or years of hurt, disappointment, or Â&#x2021; The emptiness of broken loss? relationships.

In Conquering the Fear of The people of Israel had a Failure, ErwinLutzer walks desert experience for 40 through some scenes from years. They lived in tents.

Joshua. Joshua was charged They had only manna on the by God to lead Israel into menu. They lacked good the land He promised. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Be water. They were living in strong and courageous,â&#x20AC;? a desert! They wanted to God commanded Joshua. go back to the comforts in The implication is that there Egypt â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that was better than was fear in the midst of the desert life. people.

Yet they were slaves in Egypt. Lutzer points out that stumÂ&#x2021;

The dryness of loss without an oasis of comfort in sight

Conquering the Fear Review by

Miguel Paredes Is a teacher at Edinburg North and

bling blocks - â&#x20AC;&#x153;a doubting heart,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;a distorted self-image,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;a double mind,â&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;the desire for securityâ&#x20AC;?- can get in the way of moving from the wilderness into a lush meadow. It is necessary to listen to the voice of God. He has the â&#x20AC;&#x153;winning strategy.â&#x20AC;?

First step, commit to God, who is leading the way.

Joshua discovered God was clearly ahead of them by stirring fear in the enemyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hearts. And, it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take a genius to realize that the crumbling of the walls of Jericho was an act of a mighty and miraculous God. This book is intended to get you to read the word of God and encourage you to trust the Lord. It can also be helpful to help you help others in their faith journey.

Choosing to trust God is the best way to experience a life of blessing and victory.

Books and Music featured available at:

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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AWAKE

By Joel Clark

Joel Clarkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heart-pounding, tear-jerking, laugh-out-loud stories didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t happen by accident. His life of adventure ignited when he embraced the journey God had planned for himâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the story God wants to tell through each one of us. :LWK LQWHUDFWLYH Ă&#x20AC;OP FOLSV DQG SHUVRQDO LQWHUYLHZV -RHO LQYLWHV \RX LQWR WKH VWRU\ -HVXV is telling in the middle of the orphan crisis in Africa, the heart-rending tragedy that followed the Haiti earthquake, as well as his own quirky and very real love story. As you meet the characters who have shaped Joelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s journey, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see Jesus through the tears of a young slave in Africa and witness intimate conversations with child soldiers in Haiti and youth group kids in South Africa. And youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be challenged to enter a Godadventure of your own.

Because, according to Clark, another personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experiences are never enough. Your unique passions, gifts and circumstances are calling you to live big and say yes. What part of the unfolding story is Jesus longing to tell through you? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to do it â&#x20AC;Ś for the story.

/ 43 / www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

The Necessity of an

Enemy

By Ron Carpenter In everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s journey to reach life goals - whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s D VDWLVI\LQJ UHODWLRQVKLS FDUHHU RSSRUWXQLW\ Ă&#x20AC;QDQFLDO stability, or other desired outcome - enemies are as necessary as friends.

When individuals commit to what God wants them to be and do in life, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s when an enemy shows up. Enemies bring tests that build strength, expose weaknesses that demand correction, and help turn lethargy into energized creativity. Human nature is such that opposition and testing are necessary to bring a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best qualities.

Often the challenge comes from an â&#x20AC;&#x153;opponentâ&#x20AC;? being used by God to â&#x20AC;&#x153;promoteâ&#x20AC;? individuals to the next stage of their future, for example in the biblical story of the Israelites leaving Egypt.

Understanding the nature â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and necessity â&#x20AC;&#x201D; of enemies is the key to greater personal maturity and success in achieving Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plans.

Heaven

By Randy Alcorn What will heaven be like?

Randy Alcorn presents a thoroughly biblical answer, based on years of careful study, presented in an engaging, reader-friendly style. His conclusions will surprise readers and stretch their thinking about this important subject.

Heaven will inspire readers to long for heaven while theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re living on earth.ough the kind of audacious prayer that God delights to answer.

PAGAN

By Frank Viola & George Barna Have you ever wondered why we Christians do what we do for church every Sunday morning?

Why do we â&#x20AC;&#x153;dress upâ&#x20AC;? for church? Why does the pastor preach a sermon each week? Why do we have pews, steeples, and choirs?

This ground-breaking book, now in affordable softcover, makes an unsettling proposal: most of what Christians do in present-day churches is rooted, not in the New Testament, but in pagan culture and rituals developed long after the death of the apostles.

Coauthors Frank Viola and George Barna support their thesis with compelling historical evidence and extensive footnotes that document the origins of modern Christian church practices. In the process, the authors uncover the problems that emerge when the church functions more like a business organization than the living organism it was created to be.

As you reconsider Christâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s revolutionary plan for his churchâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;to be the head of a fully functioning body in which all believers play an active roleâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be challenged to decide whether you can ever do church the same way again. / 44 / www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

DOWNFALL

By Terri Blackstock Emily Covington has turned her life around after a drug addiction, but her family still has trouble trusting her. Though Emily has committed herself to a year-long treatment program and has been sober for almost a year beyond that, even her mother walks on eggshells around her, fearing sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll relapse.

After her behavior during her drug years, Emily realizes she has a lot to prove. When police discover a homemade bomb under Emilyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s car, and she then learns the wife of one of her friends was murdered that same morning, she knows things are deadly serious. But who wants Emily dead? And why? A conversation she had with two men, an Alfred Hitchcock movie, and a plan for a double murder all conspire for one explosive ride ... )URP WKH H[SORVLYH Ă&#x20AC;UVW SDJHV Terri Blackstock rockets the suspense level to new heights in Downfall, the third book in the bestselling, award-winning Intervention Series.

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: e b o J u o i Y r d K a I Fi n e r e h W

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fter being established as one of the industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier worship leaders with her Dove Award-winning, self-titled debut, Kari Jobe continues to serve as a worship pastor at Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, and recently released her highly anticipated follow-up album, Where I Find You. Where I Find You, which includes Kariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new hit radio single â&#x20AC;&#x153;We Are,â&#x20AC;? is an engaging departure from her previous effortâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;both sonically and thematically speaking.

Rather than simply emphasizing the beauty found in Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presence, Where I Find You is a clarion call for listeners to experience His presence to the fullest. And not surprisingly, the accompanying soundtrack is just as bold with a buoyant mix of fresh musical textures and timbres. â&#x20AC;&#x153;After singing about the importance of making time for intimate worship on my Ă&#x20AC;UVW DOEXP , ZDQWHG WR WDNH WKH QH[W step on Where I Find You,â&#x20AC;? Kari said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;These songs come from such a honest place of praising God for what Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s doneâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and what Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s continuing to do in our livesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;because of His grace and goodness.

For Valley Christian Magazine

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ultimately, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about declaring who He is and enjoying the simplicity of knowing the Lord is near,â&#x20AC;? she continues. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s for us, He loves us, and sometimes, we need to just stop, enjoy His presence and take that in.â&#x20AC;?

While recording the album, Kari says she was often reminded of that very truthâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a theme that resonates through the lyrics of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Here,â&#x20AC;? a reminder to press pause, even when our culture insists we constantly keep moving. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There were many instances when we had to stop whatever we were working on because I needed to go outside, take a walk and have my own time with God for a few minutes,â&#x20AC;? Kari remembers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Again and again, I was so overtaken by how present He was while we were recording, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s my hope and desire that people really feel the strength and intercession that was taking place while I worked on the album.â&#x20AC;?

Another decidedly counter-cultural idea that resonates in these new songs is how God never lets believers, including worship leaders, get too comfortable in their faith or permanently reside on the proverbial spiritual mountaintop. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This past year has been the season of being completely uncomfortable and going through things I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t understand that were really hard,â&#x20AC;? / 46 / www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

Kari said. “I was literally having to hold on in my heart and trust He had everything in control. You can even hear that a little in my vocals, especially on songs like ‘Love Came Down,’ ‘Run To You,’ and ‘What Love Is This.’ It was a season that stretched me.”

Even through all the growing pains, however, Kari says she was continually reminded of God’s faithfulness.

“I think there are times as believers when we feel entitled and that life shouldn’t be hard. We live in this culture of conveQLHQFH WKDW VD\V ZH FDQ GR HYHU\WKLQJ RXUVHOYHV DQG ÀQG DOO the answers on Google,” Kari says. “But if we can learn to fall more in love with the Lord and trust Him in the middle of every storm, we build our endurance to keep running the race.”

Naturally, these declarations of God’s faithfulness couldn’t help but make their way onto her album. “‘We Are’ is a song of commission for us as believers,” says Kari, “to be reminded of what we’ve been called to, and that is to impact people’s lives in everything we do.”

1. XXXX

2. Matt Maher

3. Aaron Shust

In the track “One Desire,” which she co-wrote with Jason Ingram, Kari uses simple, heartfelt language that reminds her of one of her favorite worship anthems when she was young.

“During our writing session, Jason and I were talking about the simplicity of worship; how it doesn’t always have to be so ornate,” she explains. “When I was a kid, I remember how much I loved singing the song ‘I Love You, Lord’ because it was this sweet, simple song straight from Scripture.”

In stark contrast to the straightforward worship of “One Desire,” another key track, the aforementioned “What Love is This,” features powerful imagery of the Centurion soldier’s reaction to discovering that Jesus was the Son of God after He’d EHHQ FUXFLÀHG “I often think about what it would’ve been like to experience that and to say ‘Truly, you are the son of God,’” Kari shares.

“You realize you were part of His death, you were the one of the people who’d nailed Him to a cross. He must have felt so incredibly broken—to believe the lie and then experience the truth. I really think that’s like all of us. We’ve got to have the perspective that without the Lord’s presence, we’re all in darkness, and ‘What Love Is This’ is my love song to the Lord for His love song for my life.”

4. Casting Crowns

5. Steven Curtis Chapman

6. Francesca Battistelli

7. MercyMe

8. Tenth Avenue North

ture of l u c s i h t “We live in we can s y a s t a e th convenienc s and e v l e s r u o ing do everyth oogle,” G n o s r e answ e h t l l a d n fi Kari Jobe / 47 / www.valleychristianmagazine.com /

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Raul “Rudy” Rodriguez

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