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2016
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Contents OCTOBER 2016
Vol. 7 / Issue 7
On The Cover
To submit story ideas, events, or comments: info@ValleyChristianMagazine.com
Barna Report
50 Most Generous Cities in America
CONNECT WITH US:
what you’ll find inside:
Twitter: @vcmagazine Tax Deductible donations can be mailed to:
Texas Christian Publications c/o Valley Christian Magazine 3827 North 10th Street, 301 McAllen, TX 78501
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Tom Weaver
8
Lysa Terkeurst
Woman Leaders What to Do When You Don’t Know What To Do
10 Rene Swope
956-314-O161
Why I Don’t Feel Like I Measure Up
Valley Christian Magazine is a free monthly magazine published by
12 Barna
50 Most Generous Cities in America
14 James MacDonald
Valley Christian Magazine is a publication of Texas Christian Publications (a 501c3 organization). Texas Christian Publications reserves the right to edit, modify, revise, rewrite and reject editorial materials and assumes no responsibility for accuracy, errors, omissions or consequences arising from it. All correspondence to this publication becomes the property of Texas Christian Publications. Texas Christian Publications shall be held harmless indemnified against any third-party claims. Texas Christian Publications accepts no claims made by photographers, agents or contributors. Writers’ and columnists’ opinions are not necessarily those of Texas Christian Publications or its publishers. Advertisements appearing in Texas Christian Publications present only the viewpoint of the advertisers. We assume no responsibility for advertising claims made in this publication. Valley Christian Magazine is printed in Mexico. Reproduction without the expressed written permission prohibited. Copyright 2016.
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Blueprint
16 Luis Palau
Viviendo con un Motivo
17 Ruben Martinez
Spiritual Bytes - Psalm 23:4
60Printed in Mexico.
18 Kids Talk About God 20 Greg Laurie
Is Your Marriage Alive
21 FCA - Fields of Faith 22 Music Spotlight Tanya Godsey
24 Dave Ramsey Ask Dave
Christian Torres
25 Miguel Paredes
Publisher/Graphic Design
Book Review: God With Us
Christian@valleychristianmagazine.com
26 Events
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2016
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Women Leaders By Tom & Carolina Weaver
One of my greatest honors is to be Daddy to three amazing daughters. I have been blessed since they were born to watch them grow into beautiful young women, inside and out. As Carolina, my oldest, has been raised around ministry her whole life, it is not surprising that she is outspoken, has her own opinions, and is not afraid of a mic :)
bother them. And by bother them, I mean steal, cheat, and rob them of every last grain of wheat.
The following is a conversation between her and I as well as a talk she wrote for her local FCA chapter in her school. I’m so proud of her. I learned from what she wrote, I hope it blesses you.
God has to eventually send a prophet, and her name was Deborah.
Me: Good afternoon Carolina. How was your day? Carolina: Hey Daddy! It was good! Hot though.. Me: LOL I know honey, it will be for a while longer, South Texas Fall :) Carolina: Yep! Me: So how’s school going, honey? What do you have coming up? Carolina: I’m sharing the devotional this Friday for Fellowship of Christian Athletes at school. Me: What? That’s awesome! What are you going to talk about? Carolina: Women in leadership. How God saw women as extremely valuable and able to lead in the Bible. That’s true, right? Me: It’s absolutely true. Women are incredibly valuable in God’s eyes. He calls women all through time to serve in many capacities: Excerpt from Carolina’s talk with her FCA Group: Hi! The Bible is filled with guys; prophets, kings, princes, and average joes doing awesome things through God. But, some of y’all don’t know this but there were women in the Bible too. Well, I am here to tell you about a woman who didn’t fight in the war, yet brought the other side to their knees. Here’s some background for you: The Israelites are in the promised land now. God had told them to wipe out ALL their enemies. Men, women, children, animals, nothing was to be spared! Yet the Israelites conquered a smidget of what God gave them. That isn’t what God told them to do. He told them to conquer all or their enemies would be like flies and
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So the Israelites didn’t listen and began to stray from God. I don’t mean shortening a fast or forgetting to pray. NO. I mean worshipping idols and marrying outside of the tribes, which was super forbidden.
Deborah was a prophet during the reign of the Canaanite tribe, which is in Judges 4 and 5. Their king, Jabin, raids them constantly. So they go to Deborah for her counsel, under a palm tree. Think of that. Grown men begging help from a woman! Though the Israelites are few in number compared to the Canaanites, through Deborah, God tells the general, Barak, this: Take 10,000 men to a local mount, named Tabor. There, King Jabin will send his General Sisera, to come to spill our blood at the Kishon River. Yet, with My help, you will defeat them. Judges 4:6-7 But(there is always a ‘but’) Barak responds to Deborah: I will go if you go, but I won’t go if you don’t. Judges 4:8 Now, If you don’t call that begging, I don’t know what is! She responds: I will go with you. But because of your lack of faith, not only will a woman fight your battles, a woman will win it for you! Judges 4:9 Barak summons the troops, and with a quick march, they reach Mount Tabor. As the troops charge down to the awaiting battle, lightning strikes. Huge thunderheads roll over in a miraculous speed and pour down their heavy load. What used to be stable plains of the desert, turns into slick, sinking mud in a matter of minutes! The Canaanites with their bulky armor and iron carts, sink into the mire, in a sickening speed. With renewed vigor, the Israelites charge in with swift victory. Isn’t our God so good to us? He fights our battles for us! Even now, as we fight battles that are not against flesh and blood, if we let go of our pride and ignorance, He will win every battle. The lesson you can pull from this, both guys and
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girls, is that even women in the Bible could conquer an empire, through God! Today, we have the sexist thing going on about guy’s rights and girl’s rights. But these women back then had no rights, yet they could subdue kings and vast armies. Now, I don’t think that we, as school, should go and conquer Russia. We should be brave like Deborah was in asking a simple question in Math that you don’t understand but everyone thinks is easy or asking your friend to Homecoming, even if it’s just you and them going as a crew of friends. Also remember to praise the Lord. Deborah always sang praises to the One who created us, in the good and bad. If you score a point, praise the Lord. If you bomb a test, praise the Lord. It seems hard but Jesus calls us to do exactly that! I had to watch the life leave out of my dog’s eyes, and had to find my way to PRAISE THE LORD!!! One last thing, thank you for listening. I hope God spoke to you through me. Did He? Me: Carolina that was really good! Carolina: Thanks Daddy. Me: Will you write some sermons for me? Carolina: That’s not my call Daddy… Me: Okay, I guess you’re right :)
Tom Weaver is the Senior Pastor at Logos Community Church [McAllen & Harlingen Locations]. Married to Selena and has 3 wonderful daughters. Follow Tom on Twitter: @PastorTomWeaver Logos Community Church begun as a bible study led by Pastor Tom Weaver who desired to plant a church that would be faithful to preach the Gospel unashamedly and boldly; seeing the fringe of society come to a saving knowledge of Jesus; hearing, believing, and being discipled into faithful followers of Jesus.
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I
felt so fragile sitting in the parking lot, too sad to stop crying. And although I had a list of things that really couldn’t be put off another day, I was now entirely too tired to run errands or do much of anything. So there I sat.
Alone. Moments earlier, a friend had called to tell me something she’d seen posted about me online. It was harsh and hurtful. I tried to give myself a little pep talk, “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” Who on God’s green earth came up with that ridiculous saying? It’s not true. I cried a little more. I pulled up the Facebook page my friend referenced, and there it was for all the world to see: Opinions about me flying through the Internet, intent on ripping me apart. As soon as I read the unkind words, daggers hit their mark deep inside my heart. It was only a handful of people, but they debated me as if I were a product sitting on a shelf, void of a soul. A soul that feels and breathes and cares so very deeply about everything. Instantly, I wanted it all to stop. I looked up and saw people walking into the store and felt so very envious of them. They seemed peaceful, happy or at least neutral. I suddenly wished for a less risky life. Why do I display my heart to all the world, typed in pixelated letters?
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Words like, “calling” and “disciple” suddenly felt like burdens, not blessings. I looked back at my phone and reread the hurtful remarks posted online. What’s a girl to do when she’s feeling desperate to fix something that can’t be immediately fixed? Should I defend myself? But I don’t want to sound defensive. Should I pray for others to defend me? But I don’t want to pull others into this. Should I just stay quiet? But then what if my silence just feeds their case? Every response felt like the wrong response. What do you do … when you don’t know what to do? Maybe you’ve sat in a parking lot crying, too. The circumstances might have been different, but the hurt is the same … that sliced-open feeling of being judged, misunderstood and wrongly exposed for the purpose of a good debate. I wish I had the perfect answer. I don’t. These kinds of situations are messy, complicated and unable to fit in formulaic boxes. However, I have an imperfect solution that will get us pointed in the right direction: Do the next small thing, the right way, right away.
In other words, find some small right thing to do that negates the negativity. Do that right thing, right away, to prove to yourself what’s being said isn’t ALL true. There might be some small tangles of truth in the hurtful thing being said. We can pray about that and do something later when the hurt isn’t so fresh. But first things first. We have to stop the bleeding from the deepest wound. Do the next small thing, the right way, right away. The small thing I decided to do was see their comments coming from a place of hurt, not hate. Hurt people hurt people. Something caused hurt to stir up in their hearts. Maybe I even inadvertently added to it without meaning to. Regardless, having compassion for them eased my pain. I called my friend who’d told me about the hurtful comments and said, “I don’t know what to do except be a picture of love in this situation. If I respond out of hurt, things will only get worse.” 1 John 4:7-8 reminds us of the importance of showing love to each other, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” So, I must let love guide me. Love can empower me to feel hurt without becoming a person consumed by that hurt … I can feel offended, but I don’t have to be offended. I can feel insecure, but I don’t have to act insecure. I can feel angry, but I don’t have to respond in anger. That’s the choice love makes. And please understand I’m not all Pollyanna about this and able to walk it out perfectly. I have to give myself permission to be honest about my feelings. But I don’t have to compound the hurt by reacting out of those feelings. And I don’t want today’s reaction to become tomorrow’s regret. I never did make it into the store that day. And there are still days I feel so very fragile and vulnerable. Maybe you do too? Let’s allow God’s love to take us by the hand and empower us in each and every situation where we don’t know what to do. We can feel afraid, but we don’t have to be afraid to do the next right thing, right away. About Lysa: Lysa TerKeurst is a New York Times best selling author and speaker who helps everyday women live an adventure of faith through following Jesus Christ. As president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, Lysa has lead thousands over the past 15 years to help make their walk with God an invigorating journey. In the midst of her ministry, though, Lysa is a real, everyday woman who simply seeks to glorify God through her life and family. Used by Permission Proverts 31 Ministry www.provers31.org Copyright 2016
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Why I Don’t Feel Like I Measure Up By Rene Swope
“When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.” 2 Corinthians 10:12b (NIV)
Do you ever compare yourself to other women and feel like you don’t quite measure up? Maybe you feel like you’re not as smart, pretty, fun, organized or as good at _______ as they are.
selves with themselves, are not wise.” Comparison will always leave us feeling like we don’t measure up. We can try to do more and be more, yet it’s never enough.
It’s so easy to think that if we had more or knew more, we’d be secure. But the truth is, even people who “have it all” still struggle with feelings of insecurity. The Bible opens with the story of a woman who had everything, but it still wasn’t enough (Genesis 2).
If only Eve had focused on who she was and what she had as a child of God. If only we would, too. Yet Satan wants us to focus on our flaws and feelings of inadequacy, then exhaust even more energy figuring out how to hide them.
God had established Eve’s worth as His child and the crown of His creation. He also supplied Eve with every woman’s desire: intimacy, beauty, security, significance and purpose. Yet Satan conjured up feelings of insecurity by luring Eve’s eyes off what she had and on to what she didn’t have.
We don’t have to go along with his schemes. Instead we can equip ourselves to recognize his lies, refute his temptations with truth and focus on God’s acceptance, security and significance.
Boy, can I relate. Like Eve, I’ve heard Satan’s whispers telling me I’m not all I could be — or should be. One day I was reading her story in Genesis 3, and I noticed that Satan’s questions and suggestions were intended to plant seeds of doubt in Eve’s heart. He wanted her to doubt God and herself. The enemy’s whispers tempted Eve to try to “be” more and “have” more by seeking significance apart from God’s provision. He convinced her something was missing in her life and that the forbidden fruit would make her be “like God.” It was a foolish comparison. All comparisons are. Yet we do it all the time. If only I were like her … if only I had a house like hers, a husband like hers, a job like hers … if only my children behaved like hers … if only _______, then I’d feel significant, satisfied and secure. In today’s key verse, 2 Corinthians 10:12b, Paul warns us that those who “measure themselves by themselves and compare them-
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Then we can thank God for His provision and His promises that remind us of who we are in Him: I am accepted … Ephesians 1:3-8, I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child. Colossians 1:13-14, I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins. Colossians 2:9-10, I am complete in Christ. I am secure … Romans 8:28, I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances. Romans 8:31-39, I am free from condemnation. I can’t be separated from God’s love. Philippians1:6, I am confident God will complete the good work
He started in me. I am significant … Ephesians 2:10, I am God’s workmanship. Ephesians 3:12, I may approach God with freedom and confidence. Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Author and psychologist Dr. Neil T. Anderson says, “The more you reaffirm who you are in Christ, the more your behavior (and beliefs) will begin to reflect your true identity!” So, the next time we’re tempted to use the measuring stick of comparison — let’s commit to measure UP by focusing upward on Christ and who we are in HIM! Lord, thank You that in Christ I’m chosen, holy and dearly loved. When I’m tempted to measure myself according to the world’s standards or my foolish comparisons, help me recognize Satan’s lies, refuse his temptations and rely on Your truth about me instead. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
TRUTH FOR TODAY: 1 Peter 5:9, “Stand firm against him [the devil], and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.” (NLT) 2 Corinthians 3:4-5, “Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.” (NIV)
REFLECT AND RESPOND: In what ways do you compare yourself with others? When you’re tempted to use the measuring stick of comparison — measure UP by re-focusing upward on who you are in Christ. © 2016 by Renee Swope. All rights reserved.
I’m a Word-lover, heart-encourager, story-teller, and grace-needer. I’m also a bit of a mess and have been known to take my dogs medicine (accidentally) and call the fire department a few times. I’ve been married to the most patient man on earth, for twenty-two years and I’m the mama of two grown-up man-cubs, Joshua (20) and Andrew (18), and a sweet Ethiopian princess, Aster (7), who our family adopted in 2009. My passion is to help women discover the power of their stories, the uniqueness of their gifts, the beauty of their experiences and the wonder of the passions God placed in them by equipping them with courage and confidence to make a difference right where they are, with what they already have!
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Stories of police brutality and violence against police, terrorist attacks, and negative political rhetoric have filled the news cycle of late, making it easy to forget the reality of human kindness in the world. So in the tradition of city-rankings (including the most and least churched cities, the most Bible-minded cities and the most post-Christian cities in America), Barna decided to release a new ranking of the top 50 most generous cities in America. Measured by the percentage of those who donated any money to charities and nonprofit organizations, including churches and religious organizations, El Paso, TX tops the list with a host of cities in the south and midwest well-represented among the most generous. The top five cities are as follows: 1 2 3 4 5
El Paso, TX / Las Cruces, NM: 92% Lexington, KY: 91% Memphis, TN: 90% Charleston-Huntington, WV: 90% Milwaukee, WI: 89% Looking closely at these top five cities, Barna broke the numbers down a little further to look at the socio-economic status of the city. For the El Paso, TX / Las Cruces, NM area, only 7 percent were considered “upscale” (adults with an annual household income of $75,000 or more and who do hold a college degree), compared to 13 percent “downscale” (adults with an annual household income of $20,000 or less and who do not hold a college degree). This goes to show that the most generous cities aren’t necessarily the most wealthy. For example, all but one of the top five cities had larger downscale populations than upscale: Lexington, KY (11% upscale vs. 18% downscale), Memphis, TN (11% vs. 25%), Charleston-Huntington, WV (9% vs. 15%), Milwaukee, WI (12% vs. 10%). Another interesting reality of giving in America is how much of it is directed toward churches. The majority of adults (especially in the top five cities) give to churches. Here is how the top five cities stack up in terms of what percentage of adults gave specifically to churches: 1 2 3 4 5
El Paso, TX / Las Cruces, NM: 87% Lexington, KY: 84% Memphis, TN: 69% Charleston-Huntington, WV: 64% Milwaukee, WI: 73%
Where does your city rank? About the Research The data in this study were analyzed by DMA. The label “DMA” stands for Designated Market Area and represents a unique geographic area that also serves as a commonly accepted media market as defined by The Neilsen Company. DMAs have been configured so that the entire U.S. is assigned to one – and only one – of 210 DMAs in the country and are based on the television viewing habits of the residents in each county. While there are 210 DMAs, this table contains data for the top 50 markets. The data reported in this table are based upon telephone and online interviews with nationwide random samples of 76,505 adults conducted over a ten year period, ending in April 2016. The maximum margin of sampling error associated with the aggregate sample is ±0.4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. Downscale: Adults with an annual household income of $20,000 or less and who do not hold a college degree Upscale: Adults with an annual household income of $75,000 or more and who do hold a college degree About Barna Group The Barna 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. © Barna Group, 2016.
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BLUEPRINT by james macdonald
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. . . . and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:11, 17, ESV 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.
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n the construction world, nothing good is built without a blueprint. The necessity of a plan is universally accepted. Any time a problem or question comes up, builders examine the blueprint. For every uncertainty or perplexity, they go back to the blueprint. Interestingly, the principle is not just true in the construction world. It also holds true in life. You can’t build your finances without a blueprint. You can’t build your family without a blueprint.
“GOD HIMSELF WROTE THE COMPLETE BLUEPRINT FOR YOUR COMPLETE HAPPINESS: THE BIBLE You can’t build your future without a blueprint. You can’t build your faith without a blueprint. Professionals in the construction trades would never try to build anything of value without a blueprint, yet all the time, people try to slap together a sort of life without a pattern or a plan. They reach for materials, cut without measuring, and hurriedly nail a bunch of pieces together at random. Bang, bang, cut, cut—and up goes all kinds of craziness in their lives. Even when things go wrong, and life starts to shift or crumble, they never go back to the blueprint, because they don’t have one. Even as they gaze in horror at what they’re building,
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many never realize, I need a clear plan for my life. I have to consult the blueprint. Don’t Christians get that concept? Sadly, most people—even a lot of Christians—don’t grasp the importance of operating from a blueprint, much less God’s blueprint, as they build their lives. Christians create extra problems because they know they have a blueprint but refuse or forget to check it for direction. God wrote the blueprint for human life. God Himself authored all the manufacturer’s specifications for your happiness. He knows how you’re put together. He knows how you work. He knows what will make you happy or miserable. He knows what will satisfy you and bring you joy. He wrote the blueprint for your complete happiness: the Bible. The blueprint protects us. When we’re confronted with a temptation, we should immediately reference the blueprint. “I feel tempted to do _______________, but God’s Word says I should do _______________. I choose to follow the blueprint.” The power to say no to temptation is the power of the Word of God. If you find yourself in a situation where some temptation is being pressed upon you, don’t even try to stand against it yourself. You don’t have the power to resist it in your own strength. Use the only offensive weapon in your arsenal: “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” The power to dismiss the enemy is the power of the Word of God. Satan whispers lies to us, such as, “Does God really love you? If He really loved you, then He would let you have _______________. That would make you happy.” Our response should be, “Let October 2016
me check God’s Word, because it’s the blueprint for human happiness. You want me to do _______________, but God’s Word says _______________.” Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44); lying is all he ever does. When James 4:7 tells us to “resist the devil,” that doesn’t mean to get out your boxing gloves. It means to draw your sword, God’s Word. Apply truth to the error that’s clouding your thinking. Want to make a choice that will change your life forever? Commit afresh to God’s Word as the blueprint for your life.
j ou r n al
To what extent is your life guided by the blueprint of God’s Word? What are some temptations you’re facing in life? What does the blueprint say you should do?
P r ay
God, You didn’t leave me here, lost and alone and wondering and wandering. You gave me a blueprint for life. Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for how it guides my choices. Thank You for its power to defeat temptation and every scheme of the enemy. I choose to build my life according to Your Word. By faith I believe that Your way is best, and a life built on You, with You, will satisfy my deepest longings. In the name of Jesus, amen.
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Viviendo con un motivo -Luis Palau
En las últimas 24 horas, más de 11.000 personas trataron de suicidarse. Según un informe de las Naciones Unidas, 1000 de esas personas consiguieron quitarse la vida. Y una gran porcentaje de tales suicidios tiene lugar entre la gente joven. Hace varios años un compañero de escuela de mi hijo se mató de un tiro en la cabeza. Tenía 16 años y era hijo de un médico rico y respetado. El muchacho no había mostrado señales depresivas inusuales. Sin embargo, un día regresó de la escuela y comenzó a llamar a algunos de sus amigos para decirles que se iba a matar. “Los muchachos no le creyeron,” me dijo mi hijo. “Pensaron que estaba bromeando.” Pero una hora más tarde el jovencito probó a todos que estaban errados. ¿Por qué? En parte porque sus amigos no respondieron de la manera apropiada cuando él los había llamado. Estos otros muchachos aparentemente creyeron algunos de los mitos referentes al suicidio. Uno de los mitos populares es que si alguien habla de matarse, en realidad no lo hará. El hecho es que los suicidas hablan del tema con por lo menos diez personas antes de intentar quitarse la vida. Es precisamente lo que hizo el compañero de mi hijo. A veces la gente simplemente escribe una nota y luego se mata. Pero la mayoría primero habla del asunto. Pueden tener planes específicos para el suicidio, pero a decir verdad quieren ser rescatados. Esta quizás es la razón por la cual la mayoría de los intentos de suicidio no son fatales--aunque pueden llegar a ser serios. La gente quiere saber que alguien se preocupa por ella. El suicidio es sólo su manera inmadura e impulsiva de llamar la atención. Otros de los mitos en cuanto al suicidio es que si mencionamos, precisamente, la palabra “suicidio” a alguien que sin dudas sufre de inestabilidad o perturbación emocional, sembraremos esa idea en su mente. Es falso. Cuando el compañero de mi hijo le dijo a varios amigos que iba a matarse, ellos debieron haberle tomado en serio, y no debieron haberse reído como si todo fuera una broma. El índice de suicidios va en aumento de manera alarmante--en todas las clases sociales y todos los tipos de personas. Un reciente estudio reveló que, entre los grupos profesionales, los psiquiatras tienen el índice de suicidio más alto. Y ellos son los que, supuestamente, ayudan a quienes no tienen esperanza. Cuando están pensando en la posibilidad del suicidio, muchos acuden a los cristianos. Si un amigo o conocido suyo le dice algo que sugiera intenciones suicidas, hágase de tiempo para ver a esa persona a la brevedad. No se deje engañar por los mitos sobre el suicidio. Tal vez su amigo nunca haya pensado en quitarse la vida, pero no tenga miedo de preguntárselo. Si su amigo le confiesa que por cierto está pensando en acabar con su vida, créale y actúe con rapidez, llevándolo a alguien que pueda prestarle ayuda. Pero no deje que la persona quede fuera de su vista, en especial si tiene un plan específico para el suicidio (método, lugar, momento). El suicidio no es un asunto para tomar a la ligera. ¿Por qué la gente intenta quitarse la vida? Hay muchas razones: tratar de llamar la atención, desear unirse a un ser querido muerto, enojo que se ha enraizado en el alma, pérdida de significado en la vida, enfermedades, soledad. Hágase el propósito prioritario de alcanzar y ayudar a sus amigos antes que las pruebas y dificultades de la vida los abrumen. Todos necesitamos un grupo de amigos que sea leal y nos apoye. Jesucristo vino para que todos podamos tener vida en abundancia (Juan 10:10). Compartamos estas buenas noticias con quienes están buscando significado a la vida, con quienes desean tener una razón para vivir. Nosotros la tenemos--Jesucristo mismo. Mostremos a quienes luchan con la alienación y la soledad que alguien en verdad los ama y se preocupa por ellos. Digámosles que en la vida hay una razón para vivir. Luis Palau
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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”.
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” --Psalm 23:4
Because God has kept me from disasters and even death in the past I look to the future, which may include great sufferings, with a certain confidence. Many times the near disasters and death have come because of my own stupidity and/or rejection of God’s ways. But He has wooed, nudged, pushed and at times slapped me hard to get me going in the path that leads to life. All this has shown me that His faithful love is with me and that, profoundly comforts me!!
About RUBEN MARTINEZ: Born in 1954 into a migrant family who worked the fields together every summer. He holds a Masters degree in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Westminster Theological Seminary. He started Living Word Evangelical Free Church in 1987. Ruben and his wife, Nancy, have 5 children; Stefanie (25), Gabriel (22), Grant (19), David (18) and Desiree (16). Ruben has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Rio Grande Bible Institute (6 years) and the EFCA National Board of Directors (3 years).
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Two Dude Ranch Family Vacations Offered in New RGV Children’s Arts Festival
On a June Monday at 8,000 feet, Maggie McCoy, 11, mounted her horse with uncertainty and caution at Medicine Bow Lodge & Adventure Guest Ranch in Saratoga, Wyoming. “By Friday, Maggie and the McCoy family were riding like a bunch of rodeo cowboys,” said Carey Kinsolving, co-chair of the RGV Children’s Arts Festival. “It’s amazing how much riding skills improve and confidence grows by spending a week in the saddle on the same horse.” Maggie McCoy won a week-long vacation for her family through the RGV Children’s Arts Festival. She submitted several pieces of art and writing. Medicine Bow Lodge ranch co-owner Tim Bishop contrasted the week-long ranch experience with the typical modern lifestyle: “We don’t take time to enjoy each other, to enjoy the simple things. Here they spend the day together and enjoy each other.” When the other RGV Children’s Arts Festival winner Danella Prinkey, 7, was told that she would cry on the last day at Coulter Lake Guest Ranch in Rifle, Colorado, she said, “l’ll be fine.” On the last day, Danella and her sister cried and begged their mother to stay one more day. When Veronica Prinkey tried to comfort her girls by suggesting that they might want to go home to McAllen to see their grandmother, the girls said their grandmother could come
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to the ranch. She added that they girls had not cried at the end of their Disney vacation. “I’ve seen this time and time again,” said Kinsolving. “When you ride the same horse for a week, eat great food and the cell phones don’t work at 8,000 feet, it’s a little piece of heaven that you don’t want to leave.” Kinsolving and his wife, Lisa, shot and produced five-minute videos of this year’s arts festival winners enjoying their dude ranch family vacation prizes, which can be viewed at www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org/rgv. The same website address contains questions from the Gospel of John that children can answer and illustrate to win one of two dude ranch vacations to be awarded during an event that will host the festival’s 20 finalists and their families on April 29, 2017 at the Art Village on Main Event Center. All children ages 5-12 who live or attend school in the Rio Grande Valley are eligible. There is no entry fee.
School.
Gold Spur sponsors for this year’s arts festival include BCFS Health and Human Services, La Copa Inn South Padre Island, Boggus Ford, Dairy Queen, DLC Pediatrics- Dr. Martin Garza, El Pato, Lone Star National Bank and Melba’s Dance
The best of the arts festival writing and art are featured in the “Kids Color Me Bible Gospel of John,” which is an online storybook Bible available for free viewing and downloading at www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org/kcmbgj. “As far as I know, this is the first time anyone has published a storybook Bible on an entire Gospel without skipping any verses,” said Kinsolving. The book project is about one-third complete.
October 2016
RGV Children’s Arts Festival winner Maggie McCoy, 11, rides through a stream at Medicine Bow Lodge & Adventure Guest Ranch in Saratoga, Wyoming. For details on how to win a week-long vacation at either Medicine Bow Lodge or Coulter Lake Guest Ranch, visit www. KidsTalkAboutGod.org/rgv.
Danella Prinkey, 7, drew a picture of Jesus feeding the 5,000 and won a week-long vacation for her family at Coulter Lake Guest Ranch in Rifle, Colorado. To win vacations at Coulter Lake Guest Ranch or Medicine Bow Lodge & Adventure Guest Ranch in Saratoga, Wyoming, visit www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org/rgv. Carey Kinsolving’s Kids Talk About God syndicated column is available as a free, weekly family devotional by email at KidsTalkAboutGod.org. Also, view a Biblelesson archive of all columns. Kinsolving is the cofounder of the RGV Children’s Arts Festival. Two Valley children will win dude-ranch vacations for up to five family members. One will go to Medicine Bow Lodge in Saratoga, Wyoming and the other to Coulter Lake Guest Ranch in Rifle, Colorado. Each will receive a check for $600 to help pay for travel expenses. For details go to KidsTalkAboutGod.org/rgv.
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In Ephesians 5, Paul tells us to awake from spiritual lethargy. I want to apply these verses specifically to marriage today. You can’t sleepwalk through marriage. Show me a marriage that is strong and vibrant and thriving, and I will show you a marriage that people are giving attention to. It’s sort of like making a fire. You begin with some kindling and newspaper and twigs, and then add some logs to it. Once the fire is going, you put another log on it. And another. You continue to feed it over time. In the same way, if a marriage is strong, especially over a period of time, it is because the husband and wife keep putting logs on the fire. They cultivate their romance. They strengthen the marriage. If you stop feeding the fire, it will start to weaken. You must constantly give it attention. You must be proactive, not merely reactive. When the husband neglects his role and the wife neglects hers, one problem turns into another, and soon it gets worse and worse. Eventually it reaches a state of crisis. It’s best to engage in “preventative maintenance” and strengthen the marriage every day. Verses 15 and 16 tell us how: by “walking circumspectly” and “redeeming the time.” To “walk circumspectly” conveys the idea of looking, examining, and investigating something with great care. It’s like the attention you would give to the words of a contract before signing it. “Redeeming the time” refers to making the most of every opportunity. Are you examining your marriage carefully, paying attention to detail? Are you taking advantage of every opportunity to strengthen your marriage? Are you making sure you have done everything you can do? Don’t sleepwalk through marriage; tend the fires to keep it alive and strong.
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Greg Laurie is Senior Pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, Calif. He began his pastoral ministry at 19 by leading a Bible study of 30 people. Since then, God has transformed the small group into a church of 15,000 plus, one of the largest churches in America. for more, visit www.greglaurie.com. used by permission from Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie, PO Box 4000 Riverside, CA 92514 Copyright © 2016 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
FIELDS OF FAITH OCTOBER 12, 2016
ONE DAY. ONE MESSAGE. ONE STAND.
Take a stand alongside hundreds of thousands of students across the United States and the world who will gather on athletic fields to hear fellow students share their testimonies, challenge each other to read the Bible and come to faith in Jesus Christ.
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FIELDSOFFAITH.COM October
2016
valleychristianmagazine.com 21
NEW MUSIC RELEASE:
TANYA GODSEY Love Lines The Last Horizon
God loves each of us as if there were only one of us. ~ Augustine In a culture caught up in a fury of differences, fear and uncertainty, the latest album from singer-songwriter, worship leader and speaker, Tanya Godsey, serves as a hope-filled and timely reminder of the unflinching love of God. Love Lines The Last Horizon releases on the heels of its first single, “We Are Your Song.” Praise for the new single and its aim to benefit the work of International Justice Mission was evidenced by the 50,000+ views and hundreds of shares the song’s lyric video received on Godsey’s Facebook page within the first 36 hours of its release. This warm reception sets the stage for the release of Tanya’s third studio album: a new collaboration with noted producer Ben Shive (Mercy Me, Rend Collective, Colony House) and a collection of songs inspired by both the journey of the human heart and the condition of the world in which we live. Tanya’s passionate, warm alto voice opens the album with “Wild Love,” singing of God’s all-knowing presence and His power to infuse His love into both the light and the dark. You circle the world, one sweeping sight/ You gaze on the guilty and the justified/ And still You breathe and still you breathe in every soul/ Wild love running free in our Father’s World From start to finish, the sincerity of the message in Love Lines The Last Horizon is framed with Tanya’s signature piano playing, fervid vocals and an array of cinematic touches paralleling the spectrum of human emotion. From the hopeful ache of “All Things Right” to the worshipful anthem of “Foundation,” the picture of God’s love is painted in brilliant colors. The result is a diverse and moving musical commentary of God’s love holding all things together: “not just the created world as we see it and know it, but how God holds all things together -- even us,” as Tanya states. Upon closer inspection, the album’s bold approach and delivery is in fact a hard won victory as it comes on the heels of Tanya’s life long struggle with
fear. “I tend to write about topics I’ve been given the authority to write about by way of my own struggle and process with God. I feel like I have a PhD in walking through the fires of fear. After years of being paralyzed by fear, I began to step out and walk into what Brennan Manning calls ‘ruthless trust.’ I started to pray the hard prayers and consequently became empowered by God’s grace to do the hard things, discovering God’s love was strong enough to quench my fears and cover my failures, limitations and questions. I started to believe that not only is His love perfect enough to cover every square inch and mile of the human heart, it’s perfect enough to cover my imperfect human heart. So, this album is my emancipation from fear-from believing I have to be good enough for God to love me.” She describes the process of this emancipation in a song titled, “A Beautiful World,” and the joy of this new found freedom in a blog entry chronicling the evening before the day recording was set to begin: “On the night of June 29th, 2015, I went to bed with a bit of a Christmas Eve twinkle in my eye. No, it wasn’t December 24th, but after four years of learning how to starve fear, work hard and pray harder, God had gifted us with the impossible. The following morning, I would begin my first day in the studio with one of my dream producers to record a new album that had been excavated from the depths of the soul mines. My heart was full of gratitude, anticipation and a missional desire to serve hope to the world.” But just as the joy of this freedom was setting in on the eve of the album’s beginning - crisis struck without warning - only hours from her unsuspecting proclamation of excitement. Tanya describes the unanticipated events in the early morning hours of June 30th, which also happened to be the first day of recording: “As a mother of two young children, I was accustomed to being abruptly awakened by a shake of the shoulder from a bad dream or a nagging cough. But in the wee hours of June 30th, 2015, I awoke to something I was not prepared for. I was startled by the sound of someone sobbing and pacing back and forth in the darkness of our bedroom.” She later describes those difficult shared moments with her husband as the unexpected and unlikely beginning of his dark and extended battle with depression and anxiety. While the framework for the album had previously been laid, these unanticipated events would reshape the trajectory of the record and further solidify Tanya’s passion to deliver a message of unwavering hope. Tanya explains: “Instead of writing from a place of sorrow and grief, I had this need and this desire to write songs about hope, and I think I was preaching those truths to myself.” The song, “Watchmen” is one such song. Inspired by Psalm 130:6, the song focuses on the truth of God as our one and only refuge and true source. “As I listened to Psalm 130:6 play over and over in my mind, I began to wonder if my hope was fixed on a concrete solution instead of a person and a relationship,” remembers Tanya. “Was my hope firmly fixed on finding the light instead of seeking its Source? I went back to Psalm 130:6 and read it again. ‘I wait for the Lord...’ ‘I wait for the LORD...’ I can’t wait for understanding, it may never come. I have to wait on the
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Lord. In the absence of answers, God will offer me what I really need - more of Himself.” “Quiet Street” is another song inspired by a revelatory experience. Anyone who has accepted an invitation into obedience will resonate with this song. “Oh the grass is green in my American dream. Bright rooms and picket fences and a backyard oasis,” Tanya sings in the opening lyrics. “I think it’s time we talk about what obedience often looks like,” shares Tanya. “Sometimes it’s costly. Sometimes it means feeling ‘the heat on your face’ when you are confronted with situations you have no control over, when God is shaping you and molding you through sacrifice and dependence. He promises to meet us with His presence in those places, but often asks us to dethrone our idols of safety and security first so we can enter into that place of deep trust.” The reaches of hope also extend into our relationships with one another as Tanya describes in “Worth The War.” This song explores love as a worthy commitment. For Tanya, “Reconciliation is a daily work we are called to with one another. There’s a difference sometimes between a peace keeper and a peace maker. Sometimes I’m going to have to engage in the real work that makes for peace instead of expecting it to happen with little or no effort. In so far as it depends on me, I am called to live in peace with others. It means, when I encounter conflict, I have to think about fighting FOR the relationship instead of always fighting FOR my own ideas. God models this kind of love so well. He lends His ear so willingly and ultimately just doesn’t give up on us.” Let’s stand and fight from the same side I’ve got your back so take my hand take a sword Love is worth the war The story of Tanya Godsey is a mirror to the making of Love Lines The Last Horizon. It is a story of perseverance in hardship, faith in the face of despair, emancipation from fear and the ultimate triumph of God’s love. “I think so many of us are just trying to figure out how to take a seat at the celebration of life where there is this beautiful chorus of hope being sung over us because of the Gospel and because of who Jesus is. And yet, we wake up in this homesick world where we’re going to experience both the light and the dark, the wound and the healing, the joy and the sorrow, and where we have to contend with the reality that as long as we are in this body, we are going to be in process.” “My greatest desire for this record is that it would serve as a tool for every listener as they press into their process with God, with others and the world around them,” continues Godsey. “I hope more than anything they’re reminded that there is no place the love of God cannot reach. When we’re too broken and weak to reach for Him, He is reaching, always reaching for us.”
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Newlyweds buy house first year? Dear Dave, Why do you recommend that newlyweds not buy a house during the first year of marriage? Laura
Dear Laura, Believe it or not, the first year of marriage is pretty tough. You’ll both have to make lots of adjustments and get used to the new schedules and habits, likes and dislikes, that go along with marriage. You need to spend that first year getting to know each other even better, and exploring and developing your relationship as husband and wife. Running out and buying stuff like curtains and furniture — or making major life decisions like buying a house — can wait. Devote the first year to deeper, more important things. In the process, make sure you’re on the same page emotionally and financially. Develop a plan to make your hopes and dreams come true, and start piling up a bunch of cash for the future. Then, a year or two down the road, you can start the house-hunting process. There will still be great homes at good prices, plus you’ll both have a better idea of what you want for the future!
—Dave
Dave s y a S
Get yourself out of it Dear Dave, I make $2,100 a month after taxes, and I have accumulated $46,000 in credit card debt. My husband makes more than I do, but he won’t help me. He says I got myself into this mess, so it’s my job to stop being irresponsible and fix it on my own. Do you have any advice? Peggy
Dear Peggy, You’ve got a load of debt hanging over your head right now, but I think you’ve got bigger problems than that. You told me you’re married, yet it sounds to me like you two are living entirely different and separate lives. This seems more like a roommate situation than a healthy, loving marriage. I don’t like your husband’s attitude, but he does have a valid point in one respect. You were irresponsible with money, and now you’ve got a pile of debt on your hands. My big question is this: Where was he while all this was going on? Were you hiding it from him? And where was the communication and decision making, financial and otherwise, couples should engage in? Married people can’t live this way and win in their relationship or with money. The two of you desperately need to seek marriage counseling together. This relationship is on the rocks. You and your husband obviously have no trust or respect for each other, and there’s a definite lack of communication, unity and shared goals. I don’t know what happened to bring things to this point, but the preacher didn’t pronounce you guys a joint venture when you got married; he said you were now one. * Dave Ramsey is America’s trusted voice on money and business. He has authored five New York Times best-selling books. The Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 8.5 million listeners each week on more than 550 radio stations. Dave’s latest project, EveryDollar, provides a free online budget tool. Follow Dave on Twitter at @DaveRamsey and on the web at daveramsey.com.
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A little maturity, extra work, and living on a simple budget will go a long way toward fixing most personal finance issues. But your marriage is in big trouble, Peggy. Please seek help! — Dave
October 2016
Title: GOD WITH US Author: Glenn Kreider
Publisher: P&R Publishing
God with Us begins with an introduction to the
basis of God’s interaction with humans: forgiveness, humility, and condescension. Glenn Kreider then gives the theological foundations for his exploration through the whole counsel of God to show how God interacts with humanity. God with Us starts with God’s involvement from the beginning, creation. In creation, God makes a place for humans to represent him on the earth he created. Perfection does not last long, but humanity’s corruption does not stop God from relating with his image bearers. God could have immediately done away with humanity, but God spared Adam of immediate death, and humanity endured through Adam’s offspring. Generations later, when humanity’s corruption is too much for God to tolerate, he spares Noah’s family and the animals. God’s interaction with humanity shows that he is gracious. The book of Genesis continues the story with Abraham. Kreider points out God’s graciousness in calling a man who does not know God until he is asked to leave his home and go to a land that God would show him. This “random” man becomes the one through whom the whole world would be blessed. Kreider then shares the kindness of God as revealed from Isaac, the son of Abraham to the conquest into the land of promise. These stories are filled with examples of God stepping into the lives of man and dealing with him in a manner that is contrary to the idea that God is harsh in the Old Testament. When the people of God reject him as king in the book of Samuel, God gives His people a monarch. A rough start with King Saul becomes a promise of eternal kingship with the line of King David. A rejected God graciously gives His people what they want. He stoops down to their level, but then makes the monarchy of Israel a way to eventually fulfill his purpose, culminating with King Jesus, who comes from the line of King David. Clearly, Jesus is the ultimate expression of God with His people. Kreider succinctly covers the Biblical story of Christ and demonstrates how the Divine humbly engages the world of humanity. As Jesus teaches about greatness, He challenges what most humans believe makes people great. Jesus teaches that those who want to be great are sacrificial servants. People typically value: positions of power authority, money, etc. What the world deems great is in stark contrast to what God values. Humility. Jesus is the prime example of humility as he teaches the disciples. God’s interaction is not complete without the hope of New Creation. Jesus gives the hope of eternal life, and the New Creation is the continuation and completion of God’s gracious presence with humans. God “remakes” that which is not as it should be. Then he dwells permanently with humanity forever - God with us. This topic is not just one to embrace and think about during the Christmas season. It is to be a meditation which moves us to know God and interact with him. He steps into the world of humans to be known. Kreider’s book is a great exploration through the Bible of God’s wonderful and kind interactions with undeserving people. To God be the glory!
Bookw Revie by
Miguel Paredes Is a teacher at Edinburg North and earned his Masters in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. He is married to Brenda and has four children: Diego, 14, Karla & Andrea, 11, and Charis, 7 .
October
2016
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VALLEY CHRISTIAN
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MAGAZINE EVENTS FIELDS OF FAITH OCTOBER 12, 2016
ONE DAY. ONE MESSAGE. ONE STAND.
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Raul “Rudy” Rodriguez attorney at law Some historians may argue that among the greatest restoration stories of mankind are the European Renaissance or perhaps the post-World War II era. The cultural movement known as the European Renaissance roughly took place during the 14th through 17th centuries. This moment in history saw the face of Europe evolve with respect to its arts, architecture and long held science tenets. It also saw a rediscovery of the Greco-Roman classical knowledge and a rebirth of the study of Latin and vernacular languages. It served as a bridge between the Middle Ages and the Modern Era. Closer to home, America saw its restoration take place in the years that followed World War II. During this era, couples who could not afford families during the Great Depression made up for lost time. The mood in America suddenly became optimistic. At that time, the unemployment rate of the Great Depression dropped dramatically and the economy improved substantially. The G.I. Bill empowered many honorable service members to finish high school and attend college. As their skills were improved, so was the financial well-being of their families. But, without a doubt the greatest restoration that can take place is when a person does as Romans 10:9 instructs us to do. Romans 10:9 says: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” The message is simple: invite Christ into your heart and make him your personal Lord and Savior. At that time, your restoration will be complete. Next He will do as Philippians 1:6 says, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” As you seek and strive to honor God with your life, He will reward you by allowing you to take on His characteristics. Hosea 14:4 says, “I will bring my people back to me. I will love them with all my heart; No longer am I angry with them.” I pray that you will invite Christ into your heart and allow Him to restore you! At my office, I also want to be part of your restoration plan, albeit in a different way. I pray that God will use me for His honor and glory in helping me address your needs. If you have been involved in an auto accident and/or other serious injury or if you have lost a loved one as a result of someone’s negligence, I will do my best to restore some sense of normality to your life. I will also help you in matters involving family law, criminal law and real estate and will issues. As always, I bear in mind that in honoring God with the way I handle my business relationships I will be honoring you my esteemed client.
Raul “Rudy” Rodriguez
www.raulrudyrodriguezlaw.com Phone: 956.380.1421 / Toll Free: 877.480.1421 Fax: 956.380.2920 / Mobile: 956.655.5455
511 W. University / Edinburg, TX 78539 e-mail: anointed511@gmail.com