Valley Christian Magazine - September 2015 by Valley Christian Magazine

September 2015

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September 2015

Contents September 2015

Vol. 5 / Issue 6

On The Cover

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

TIME OF MY LIFE TOUR - October 9th

Features

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18. FCA

10. Gerald and Faith Varlick

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Transforming Marriages

Texas Christian Publications c/o Valley Christian Magazine 3827 North 10th Street, 301 McAllen, TX 78501

20. Kids Talk About God

What can we learn from Jesus offering a woman living water?

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21. Books!

Columnists 6. Lysa Terkeurst

When I Don’t Get What I Want

8. Abram Gomez Heroes

12. Greg Laurie

What coveting is and isn’t.

14. James MacDonald Christian Torres Publisher

Christian@valleychristianmagazine.com

Stephanie Torres Accounting

stephanie@valleychristianmagazine.com

Black Oak Art Designer

James Alexander Distribution

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 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 2015.

/ Printed in Mexico.

Even Though

30. Dave Ramsey Dave Says

22. Music Review 26. Events

WH E N I DON’T G ET W H AT I W A N T By Lysa TerKeurst

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

ave you ever wanted something so badly your heart ached with each thought of it? It seems life would be so much better if you had that.

There would be more happiness. More contentment. More fulfillment. More satisfaction. More peace. We can envision ourselves with this thing, this person, this opportunity. And all things are better. So, why doesn’t God give us this longing of our heart? Because He wants us to willingly release it to Him. Ouch. Not the answer we want. Why would God let the aching desire linger and not make things happen? He could. He’s certainly able. But when He doesn’t, it seems unfair. Not good. Confusing. It’s easy to get down when we’re constantly let down.

We can so easily slip into feeling a little distant from God because we feel hurt by God.

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We hope this thing will happen … we’ll meet this right person … we’ll get this job … we’ll finally be healed … we’ll get that chance … we’ll see that family member turn their life around. Time and again it doesn’t happen. That’s when it’s easy to slip.

...I eventually had to make a choice. I could either be consumed with my unmet longing or trust the plans of our loving God. We can so easily slip into feeling a little distant from God because we feel hurt by God. That’s what happened when the man I thought I was going to marry told me he met someone else. That’s what happened when I didn’t get the job I was so certain was going to be the answer to all my financial problems. That’s what happened when my son didn’t get into the charter school we were so certain would have been perfect for him

Either way, I will see Your answer as the good answer and walk in trust. . But, in each of these things, I eventually had to make a choice. I could either be consumed with my unmet longing or trust the plans of our loving God. As an offering of trust, we must give up that

September 2015

which could so easily bring us down. Not give up as in a discouraged surrender. But giving up as in placing this desire in the hand of God and saying, “Either way, I will see Your answer as the good answer and walk in trust.” The Scriptures promise He rewards those who honestly seek Him: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). Sometimes I get so consumed with seeking my unmet longings, I don’t earnestly seek Him. But then I miss out on His reward. And His reward is the only thing that will fill the void in my heart. Yes, I still struggle with unmet desires. But not as much today as I did yesterday. And that is good. Not easy. But good.

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.

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HEROES: HOW GOD TAKES ORDINARY PEOPLE TO DO EXTRAORDINARY THINGS

am always blessed to read in Scripture how God used ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Even in real life, we often hear of stories of ordinary people that are doing great things for the cause of Christ. Let me reiterate a statement that I made last month in Part 1 - inside each and every one of us is a HERO.

Abram Gomez

We each have been given this unique ability by our Creator to make a difference in the lives of people He has placed around us. Isn’t that what makes a hero indeed a hero? As believers, we are called to be the light and to be the salt in this world. The Bible is a book of Heroes – ordinary people that God used to do extraordinary things. Biblical heroes like Moses, David, and Abraham were all chosen, available, and surrendered to His calling. I personally believe that God wants to use our gifts, talents, experiences, and lives to make an impact in our setting. Every person is in process, and what we experience is sometimes just preparation to get us ready for the next step that God has for us.

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

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Within the pages of the Bible, there is an inspirational narrative concerning the life of a young, Jewish orphan girl. It is stated that she had no father or mother, and that her older cousin Mordecai raised her. She really doesn’t fit the description of a hero, and seems to be the least likely candidate to make any kind of difference. Her name is Esther. She was simply an ordinary girl that God used to do something extraordinary. God would eventually use her life to save the Jewish people from annihilation. The thing that set Esther apart to become a hero for her people was the fact that she was willing to go through preparation. Although I believe there is a hero inside each and every one of us, we must all go through the developmental process to mold us into the person God is calling us to be. Every person is in process, and what we experience is sometimes just preparation to get us ready for the next step that God has for us. The word “prepare” is defined as “to make ready beforehand for some purpose or

September 2015

activity”. In the pages of the book of Esther, we learn that Esther was chosen to be a candidate as part of the King’s search for a new Queen. Her gift of beauty made room for her, and she began to undergo special treatment like the other women candidates. However, Esther would not be presented to the King for at least one year due to the fact that she was in preparation. Her beauty treatments required at least 12 months! It was her commitment to the prep that allowed her to maximize her opportunity with the King. We must remember that private preparation is often what leads us to an effective public demonstration. If Esther had chosen to skip out on the preparation process, she could have missed her moment of presentation. Some of us may look at the place we are at the moment, and treat it lightly as if it has no significance. But, what if that place is where your preparation is supposed to be happening? David was ready for Goliath because he allowed himself to be trained by the lions and bears. Sometimes, we think that the place God has us is too ordinary to be spectacular. What we fail to see is that through the ordinary, God is teaching us for the extraordinary moments He has in store for us. Spending day after day doing the same thing might have gotten routine for Esther, but she endured the process. It’s the mundane that leads to the miraculous. The revelation is in the routine. Lastly, we must recognize that it’s the process of preparation that produces the product. Esther would eventually become Queen, and would have enough faith and influence to persuade the King to save her people. She, throughout her story, was a developing hero and didn’t display admirable qualities from the start. But, the process makes the product. Just as a cake doesn’t start off a cake, but simply a collection of different ingredients, so to do we often start our journey of faith. The raw ingredients look nothing like the product, but they are necessary for the product to come to pass. Sometimes, preparation looks nothing like the promise God have you, but if you hold on, He has a way of working all things together for the good of those who love Him! Stay in the process. God is doing something in your life!

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GERALD AND FAITH VARLACK: TRANSFORMING MARRIAGES IN SOUTH PADRE ISLAND FamilyLife’s Weekend to Remember® getaway strengthens good marriages and gives struggling couples hope. By Mary May Larmoyeux

hen Gerald Varlack was called to the principal’s office back in 2005, he wasn’t a kid who didn’t know better. Instead he was a high school teacher … a married man with three young children … an elder in his church. “What’s up?” Gerald asked. With no further explanation, he was simply told, “Go to the office.” Gerald had an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. Had he been found out? Soon he had the answer. There, on the interim superintendent’s desk, was a stack of stapled papers. Evidence of Gerald’s ongoing affair. Copies of sexually explicit messages he had sent across the Internet to a woman who worked at his school. “What do you have to say about this?” he was asked. Gerald stared at the pile of papers. Dumfounded he answered, “I don’t have anything to say. That’s all true. I did that.”

“That was coming through our servers,” the interim superintendent said. “What if one of our students had seen it? I don’t think you are a danger to children or anything like that, but you need to resign.” Gerald expected to be reprimanded, perhaps even suspended from work. But forced to resign? He never imagined that.

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It was over. The gig was up. There was no arguing. Gerald had lost his job. But could he save his marriage?

Road to recovery With his wife’s forgiveness and extensive counseling, the Varlacks began to patch their broken marriage back together. Gerald was helped tremendously by a pastor who understood how to introduce someone to the real Jesus, who is loving and merciful and forgiving. Much healing in the Varlacks’ relationship had already occurred when Faith was listening to 96.9 KVMV back in 2006. That’s when she first heard about FamilyLife’s Weekend to Remember marriage getaway. Held in dozens of cities each year across the U.S., one was coming to South Padre Island. Although the Varlacks’ relationship was then on the road to recovery, they were still struggling. They wanted their marriage to change for good, but didn’t know how. At Faith’s prompting, they decided to give the Weekend to Remember getaway a try.

“It is because of my faith that I now see it’s ok to cry.”

That weekend they learned vital communication skills … that it’s important to listen to one another for understanding. And they understood why keeping score in their marriage hadn’t worked. That “I give my 50 percent and

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you give your 50 percent” is just a myth. They were taught that a successful marriage requires 100 percent effort from both husband and wife. And, for the first time, the Varlacks realized that Jesus Christ wants to help them love one another. “It was life-changing,” Gerald says. “I was sitting through the sessions and going, ‘Wow!’” After that first marriage conference, Gerald and Faith pledged to always be a part of it. And they’ve done just that. Faith says they learn something each year because they are in a different place in their marriage. And then, in 2009, Gerald and Faith became volunteer directors for the South Padre Island Weekend to Remember getaway.

The upcoming Weekend to Remember getaway With a team of volunteers, the Varlacks are now preparing for the marriage conference that will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn South Padre Island on October 9-11. They know firsthand that it will be an incredible time for couples to escape from their daily routines, learn how to connect with one another, and understand God’s blueprints for marriage. The format of the weekend will combine general sessions (with messages delivered by a three-person speaker team) as well as time for projects to be completed as a couple and a romantic evening on Saturday.

“Every person we have persuaded and even dragged to the event has been transformed by it.”

The Varlacks recommend the Weekend to Remember getaway to everyone. They say they’ve watched God revolutionize not only their own marriage through it, but also countless others. Gerald says it changes the way husbands and wives approach and care for one another. “Every person we have persuaded and even dragged to the event has been transformed by it,” he says. Gerald and Faith have witnessed struggling couples leave marriage getaways with hope, realizing there are a lot people just like them. And they’ve seen others with good marriages leave with a relationship that was even better. Although Gerald hates to look back at the deep pain he once caused his family, today he is grateful that his sexual sin came to light. “It is a part of our testimony,” he says. “Why we are here [as conference directors] today.” It means so much to the Varlacks to come to the South Padre Island Weekend to Remember getaway, year after year, and experience transformed lives. They are passionate about helping marriages. Living proof that nothing is impossible with God. Copyright © 2015 by FamilyLife. All rights reserved. To learn more about the Weekend to Remember getaway (or to register for a conference), go to familylife.com/events or call 1-800-FLTODAY (800-358-6329). Also, visit www.familylife.com to read articles that will strengthen your marriage, listen online to the nationally syndicated radio broadcast FamilyLife Today, learn about FamilyLife’s resources for blended families, and much more.

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What is the Best Posture for Prayer? By Greg Laurie

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

“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” — Ephesians 6:18

I heard the story of three ministers debating the best posture for prayer.

The third said that they were both wrong. The only position in which to pray was to lie on the floor, flat on your face.

One minister shared that he felt that the key was in the hands. As they were talking, a telephone repairman had been working in He always held his hands together and pointed them up- “Sometimes we think that the background, listening. Fiward as a symbolic form of perhaps the Lord will hear our nally, he couldn’t take it any prayers more readily if they are longer. He blurted out, “For me, worship. prayed in a church building. But the most powerful prayer I ever prayed was while I was dangling Another minister suggested that is not necessarily true.” upside down by my heels from that real prayer was conducta power pole, 40 feet above the ed on one’s knees. That was the ground!” only way to really pray.

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Listen: the posture of prayer is not the most important thing. The main thing is to pray! You can pray in any position, at anytime, anywhere. You can pray publically, privately, verbally, silently. You can be kneeling, standing, sitting, lying down, or even driving. You can pray with your eyes open or closed! (Ever make eye contact with someone while praying?)Sometimes we think that perhaps the Lord will hear our prayers more readily if they are prayed in a church building. But that is not necessarily true. Daniel prayed in a lion’s den.David prayed in a field. Peter prayed on and under the water. Jonah’s prayer was heard from the belly of a whale! It doesn’t matter where you are . . . Just pray!

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“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’” (Romans 12:19, ESV).

e live in an unjust world. Children dying of diarrhea. People slaughtered in genocides. Refugees fleeing their homes. Ethnic cleansing. Human trafficking. Greedy banks. The list goes on and on.

Instead, God says, “leave it to the wrath of God.” Whose responsibility is vengeance? God’s. Not ours. When we try to get even with

J o u r na l

“In the end, He will make all things right.”

What’s a personal injustice that you’re tempted to avenge on your own?

And then the list gets more personal—from injustices against others, to injustices against us, to an injustice against me. Child abuse. An unfaithful spouse. A betrayal by someone you trust. A very personal wound.

people who have injured us, we are taking what belongs to God (and we always make more of a mess and find our stabs at revenge unsatisfying). In essence, He reminds us, “I see exactly what they’ve done to you. I may let the clock go around a few more times, but I have a perfect memory. Trust Me with the whole thing.” He assures us, “I will repay.”

It’s just wrong. What’s startling is God’s recommended response to a personal injury. Don’t seek revenge; leave it with God.

There’s a day coming, circled in red on the calendar. We don’t know how many pages we’ll have to flip until God shows up and balances the books of justice, but “Beloved, never avenge the day is coming. Bibyourselves, but leave it “Whose responsibility is lically it’s called “the to the wrath of God, for day of the Lord,” “the vengeance? God’s. Not ours.” it is written, ‘Vengeance great and magnificent is mine, I will repay, day” (Acts 2:20), or “the says the Lord.’” great and awesome day of the Lord” (Joel 2:31). Sometimes God rights wrongs in this lifetime. The world says, “Don’t get mad. Get even.” But Eventually God will right all the wrongs, even God says, “Leave it with Me. I’ll handle this.” the score, and bring awful judgment on every wrongdoer who has not sought forgiveness unWhen our desire for revenge wells up within der the finished work of Christ. us, it’s tough not to take matters into our own hands. Take heart! God knows how hard this Take the injustices of life that outrage and injustice thing is for us, so He prefaces His crush your spirit, and entrust them to God. action plan with this tender word, “Beloved” Vengeance is God’s job. In the end, He will (one who is dearly loved, close to His heart). make all things right. “Beloved, never avenge yourselves.” Clear-cut, definitive guidance.

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Contrast imperfect human revenge vs. perfect divine justice. Why do our own attempts at revenge always disappoint us?

P r ay Father God, You are the Holy Judge. I confess that I’m torn apart over the wrongs that have been done to me, and I want revenge. Yet for my own sin, I want mercy. What a mixed-up paradox I am. Please help me to let go of my desire for revenge and to entrust vengeance to You. You see. You know the cost of sin and the pain in my heart.

Thank You that You are my Defender. I love You, I trust You, and I choose to obey. Vengeance is Yours. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

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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¿Cómo ser usado por Dios? Dwight L. Moody es un ejemplo para nosotros, todos podemos ser usados por Dios; pero Moody vivió de tal manera, que Dios pudo utilizarlo. Él fue un hombre completamente rendido a Dios, un hombre de oración, profundo y práctico estudiante de la Biblia. Pero hay cuatro puntos más por lo cual, su amigo Torrey cree que Dios lo utilizó. La cuarta razón es que Moody fue un hombre genuinamente humilde, y su humildad se demostró de diversas maneras; a pesar de ser famoso, siempre reconocía su falta de capacidad, daba la gloria a Dios y además, daba lugar a otras personas. Por ejemplo, en las conferencias de verano, cuando venían grandes predicadores, aunque él era el famoso, siempre hacía que predicasen y enseñasen los grandes maestros de la Biblia y su humildad se demostraba en su actitud. Filipenses 2: 3-4 dice: “Nada hagáis por contienda o por vanagloria; antes bien con humildad, estimando cada uno a los demás como superiores a él mismo; no mirando cada uno por lo suyo propio, sino cada cual también por lo de los otros.”

Luis Palau

La quinta razón por la cual Dios usó a Dwight Moddy fue su completa falta de amor al dinero, siendo ésta una de las tentaciones de la vida. En 1 Timoteo 6:10 dice: “porque raíz de todos los males es el amor al dinero, el cual codiciando algunos, se extraviaron de la fe, y fueron traspasados de muchos dolores” Todos corremos el riesgo de querer enriquecernos falsamente, o de querer apoderarnos de dinero que no nos corresponde, de tratar de evitar impuestos que debemos pagar; mucho dinero corrió por las manos de Moody, pero él usó hasta el último centavo para las escuelas, los institutos, sus campañas y libros; cuando él murió, sólo tenía unos pocos centavos en el bolsillo, todo lo había dedicado a la obra de Dios. En sexto lugar, el dr. Torrey dice que Dios usó a Dwight Moody por su gran pasión consumidora por la salvación de los perdidos. Él amaba a los hombres perdidos, desorientados y descarriados; trabajó hasta el último momento de su vida predicando el mensaje de salvación, siendo obra interna del Espíritu Santo. Nadie puede fabricar en su alma el consumidor deseo por ver a los perdidos salvados, por naturaleza somos egocéntricos, amar a quien no conocemos es obra del Espíritu Santo. Como dice en Hebreos 13: 2 “Ministrando pues éstos al Señor, y ayunando, dijo el Espíritu Santo: Apartadme a Bernabé y a Saulo para la obra para la cual los he llamado. “ Es el mismo espíritu que llenó el corazón de Moody. En ltimo lugar, Dios lo usó a Moddy porque fue definitivamente ungido con el poder de lo alto. En Hebreos 1:8 Jesús dijo: “pero recibiréis poder, cuando haya venido sobre vosotros el Espíritu Santo, y me seréis testigos en Jerusalén, en toda Judea, en Samaria, y hasta lo último de la tierra.” Cuando el Espíritu Santo descendió sobre los discípulos en Jerusalén, ellos que habían sido cobardes comenzaron a ser poderosos proclamadores del mensaje de la salvación; de la misma manera, Moody predicaba el mensaje del evangelio, pero él era uno de esos predicadores que predican intelectualmente, sin poder, hasta que un día dos señoras humildes, miembros de su congregación se acercaron y le dijeron: “A usted le falta poder, nosotras estamos orando para que usted reciba el poder de lo alto.” Moody se ofendió y les respondió: “Pues, yo soy un predicador del evangelio”, entonces las mujeres dijeron: “Si, usted predica bien, pero le falta el poder del Espíritu Santo”. Esas palabras se metieron en el alma de Moody; un día estaba en una cruzada en Nueva York y él no pudo tolerar su falta de poder, entonces fue a la casa de un amigo, al entrar a la casa sin avisar, vio a su amigo junto a la familia comiendo, todos se asombraron y alegres lo invitaron a comer, pero Moody respondió: “Déjenme solo, denme una pieza porque yo iré a orar con Dios y no saldré hasta que reciba el poder del Espíritu Santo”; él entró a esa pieza y pasó horas enteras orando, después de un rato Dios se acercó a Moody como nunca antes y él recibió la unción del poder de lo alto. Salió de esa habitación y él mismo confesó que fue una experiencia con Dios que llenó su alma de luz, amor, compasión, alegría y gran poder; él dijo que desde ese día en adelante, aunque usaba los mismos bosquejos y los mismos sermones, en su predicación había un gran poder, y en vez de convertirse pocas personas, se convertían cien, doscientas, trescientas personas por noche. Estas son las marcas de un hombre que Dios utiliza. La base de todo esto es que Moody fue ungido por el poder de lo alto. Si demostramos estas características, Dios nos va a usar en nuestra generación.

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Luis Palau Luis Palau ya entró en la historia moderna como uno de los contados hombres que le hablaron a más personas en el mundo. Su mensaje fue, y es escuchado por más de 800 millones de personas en 112 países a través de la radio y la televisión, y tiene el privilegio de haberle hablado a más de 22 millones de personas cara a cara en 80 países del mundo, organizando, junto a un selecto grupos de colaboradores internacionales y con el apoyo de invitaciones locales, congresos, seminarios, charlas informales, conferencias y recitales-conferencia llamados “Festivales”.

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Students from across the Rio Grande Valley will be joining thousands of other youth on athletic fields all across the nation on Wednesday, October 14, 2015, to share their Christian faith with fellow students during the ninth annual national Fields of Faith event. This rapidly-growing, interdenominational outreach event will be held at more than 500 lo locations throughout the nation on this same date. “The impact of Fields of Faith has been incredible in just these past few years,” said Les Steckel, FCA president and former veteran NFL coach. “It’s all about young people in these communities coming together on their school’s athletic field and challenging each other to go back to the fundamentals of reading God’s Word and coming to faith in Jesus Christ.” Get Involved Today! You can make a difference by helping your school’s FCA Huddle attend a Fields of Faith near you!

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What can we learn from Jesus offering a woman living water? “We should get it because it is good, and it is God,” says Chandler, 8. Children see things through uncomplicated eyes. What else do we need to know? Living water is good, and it’s God. If we would only remember that God is good, most of our worries would be recognized instantly as silly and unfounded. When teaching about God’s goodness, Jesus asked a simple question, “Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?” (Matthew 7:9). His reasoning was simple: “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11). Part of our sinfulness is pretending we’ve got it together. Spiritual thirst is an inner soul longing for reality that only God can quench. If we doubt God’s goodness, we’ll look in all the wrong places for satisfaction. Instead of being humble and admitting our emptiness, we’ll continue to chase things or people that promise fulfillment. “Even though the woman was a Samaritan (remember Jews and Samaritans never mixed), Jesus said that if she had asked, he would have given her the Holy Spirit,” says Elizabeth, 12. “We can also learn that if we delight ourselves in God and his ways, we shall never be discontent or ‘thirsty.’ Jesus will give us everything we need physically, spiritually and mentally.” Jesus went out of his way to overturn the ingrained prejudices of his day. In general, women were considered second-class citizens. Furthermore, Samaritans were the lowest of the low. The prejudice and hatred was so great that most Jews wouldn’t even walk through Samaria.

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Remember the parable Jesus told of the Good Samaritan? Calling a Samaritan “good” must have sounded like an oxymoron to Jewish ears. “God so loved the world” means that God doesn’t play favorites. All people created in his image possess infinite value. Ethnic and cultural prejudices diminish that value. Ask God to help you see all people through his eyes. God’s eyes make all the difference.

“We can all have living water if we believe in Jesus,” adds Melinda, 9.

The

reason Elizabeth equates living water with the Holy Spirit is because of what Jesus said later in his ministry: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37-38).

Memorize this truth: “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:13-14). Ask this question: Have you trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as your savior, who is a fountain that will satisfy your soul?

If you want your life to flow, trust Christ as your savior so that God can pour out his love through you to quench the souls of thirsty people. Ideally, every Christian should be a fountain whereby God’s blessings flow to others. “We can’t live without water, and we can’t live eternally without Jesus Christ,” says Annika, 11. That’s exactly the connection I believe Jesus wanted us to make. We can all have living water if we believe in Jesus,” adds Melinda, 9. Think about this: God wants to satisfy the inner longings of your soul by pouring his life into you.

September 2015

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

Uncensored Pastor, seminary professor, blogger, conference speaker and author Brian Cosby releases Uncensored: Daring to Embrace the Entire Bible Oct. 1 from David C Cook. In the book, Cosby dares Christians to embrace the entire Bible by exposing the dangers of cherry-picking only the ‘socially correct’ verses rather than holding fast to the whole counsel of God. Uncensored is a wake-up call to Christians who find themselves embarrassed by portions of Scripture, as well as an exploration of why believers can confidently embrace all of God’s Word. The Bible is brimming with passages that make many Christians blush, squirm and reel with embarrassment. The Israelites stoned adulterers, slaves obeyed masters, Jesus taught that sinners go to hell, and, at God’s command, his people killed both young and old, even animals. Uncensored demonstrates why even these and other embarrassing parts of the Bible that seem to betray God’s loving character are important, while further providing an affirmation of the doctrine of Scripture, tools for biblical interpretation, answers to common objections raised against the faith, and spiritual direction for Christian living.

By Brian Cosby Publisher: David Cook

“Jesus didn’t call us to a half-hearted, partially-committed, self-empowering journey called ‘Christianity;’ he called us to deny ourselves, take up his cross, and follow him (Luke 9:23),” says Cosby. “He’s called us into an upside-down kingdom, where we die to live, give up to gain, and worship a King who wore a crown of thorns, not gold. When we question or ‘decide’ which passages in the Bible we’ll follow, we make ourselves the judges of truth and reveal our own hidden shame and embarrassment; namely, that we don’t want to be identified with the suffering Servant.” By truly understanding and accepting all the scriptures, Cosby shares how this will help the reader gain a healthy, balanced and impactful faith while avoiding the temptation to cherry pick verses out of context. Part One of Uncensored shows how the fundamental unity of the Old and New Testaments helps put many of the “offensive” passages in their proper perspective. The second part examines eight of the most frequently “picked over” themes in the Bible and why an unashamed affirmation of these doctrines is needed for a healthy, God-honoring faith. And in Part Three, Cosby discusses where we go from here, beyond a cherry-picking faith, and how

to identify our role in Jesus’ mission to build his church (Matt. 16:18). It also gives some anchor-setting hope, so readers might joyfully live out a healthy, balanced faith. “If the Bible is truly inspired by God as his self-revelation, and profitable for his people, then I should embrace the whole counsel of God for a healthy, balanced and fruit-filled faith,” suggests Cosby. “When I only selectively choose which parts to meditate on (day and night), I fail to become that tree planted by streams of water, bearing fruit in its season (Ps. 1:1-3).”

Brian Cosby is Senior Pastor of Wayside Presbyterian Church (PCA) on Signal Mountain, TN and Visiting Professor of Church History at Reformed Theological Seminary in Atlanta, GA. He holds degrees from Samford University (B.A.), Beeson Divinity School (M.Div.), and Australian College of Theology (Ph.D.), and is the author of a number of books, including: Giving Up Gimmicks: Reclaiming Youth Ministry from an Entertainment Culture, Suffering and Sovereignty: John Flavel and the Puritans on Afflictive Providence, God’s Story: A Student’s Guide to Church History, and When You Are Weak: How Boasting in Jesus Makes You Strong. Cosby and his wife Ashley reside in Tennessee with their three children.

7 Secrets to an Awesome Marriage By Kim Kimberling, PhD Publisher: Zondervan

All of us want an enduring marriage, a beautiful marriage we can believe in. That kind of marriage happens through intimacy. Intimacy requires hard work and a guide. Dr. Kim Kimberling is that guide and this book and its tools will show you how communication and intimacy in marriage can be yours. Kimberling offers insights like connecting every day in spite of what’s in the

way, learning how to fight in the right ways, stopping the insanity of doing the same thing over and over even when it isn’t working, and finding that the best sex ever is well within the context of Christian marriages. Once these 7 secrets are a part of your marriage, you can stand together and fight anything that would ever try to tear your marriage apart. Whether you have just celebrated your

first anniversary or your fiftieth, 7 Secrets to an Awesome Marriage by Dr. Kim Kimberling is for you. If you have a good marriage, this book can help you have a great marriage. If you are struggling, Kim Kimberling will help you turn the corner and make your marriage into what you want it to be.

Spiritual Parenting By Michelle Anthony Publisher: Dave C Cook It’s not about perfect behavior. It’s about passionate hearts. It’s hard enough to train kids to behave, but good behavior isn’t what Jesus calls for in the Bible. He wants hearts and souls that are shaped in vibrant faith and love toward God and others. In Spiritual Parenting, Dr. Michelle Anthony places the dependence upon God for our child and calls the reader to a heart posture of obedience and faithfulness.

The end goal is a vibrant faith that is passed on from one generation to another. Parents are, by the power of God’s Spirit, to obey and depend on God in order to create an environment God can use to beckon our kids to Him. Isn’t it time to embrace this simple, but revolutionary concept?

September

2015

Dr. Michelle Anthony is the Vice President and Publisher of Learning Resources at David C Cook. She is author of Spiritual Parenting, Dreaming of More for the Next Generation, Becoming the Spiritually Formed Family, and The Big God Story. She is also the co-editor of A Theology of Family Ministry, with her husband Dr. Michael Anthony. Michelle has over 25 years of church ministry and leadership experience in children’s and family ministries. In her free time, Michelle enjoys being with her husband and two adult children, reading a good book, the beach and a good cup of coffee. www. MichelleAnthony.org

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Music Review:

THE AFTERS

he only true alchemy in this world occurs when trials turn to gold, the debris and heartbreak of life transformed and polished into shining beauty by a loving, unseen hand. We try to catch a glimpse of this remarkable change in action, yet human eyes fail us. However, once these storms of life pass, we see the afterglow through signs as sure as Noah’s ancient rainbow. A loved one overcomes. Morning breaks after an impossibly long night. Grace thunders through spiritual drought with a mighty downpour of living water. All of this, and more, affirms the fact that yes, life is beautiful. Such alchemy transforms The Afters’ fourth studio album, Life Is Beautiful, though the title came innocently enough to vocalist-guitarist Josh Havens. He’s been carrying it in his head ever since the release of the Oscar-winning 1997 film of the same name. But by the time the music came to fruition, Havens said he was wrestling with an ordeal that tested him like no other—and this from a guy who, along with his wife and kids, survived a near-fatal car wreck several years prior. “My son had some unexpected problems at birth and had to spend some time in the hospital ICU,” he recalls. “And I prayed that God would turn my trials into testimonies.” The result: “Waiting for an Answer,” a song Havens says was inspired not only by his son’s struggles with a punctured lung, but also the children and parents in that ICU who coped with much more: “I don’t have to know how/ Or see you turn this around/ To believe in you now…” “I had a friend who lost his child,” Havens continues. “He went through years of depression. I can’t even imagine going through that. But he said something to me I’ll never forget: ‘The thing that challenged my faith the most in the short term is what strengthened my faith the most in the long term.’ I hope to move through the struggles to find a deeper faith in God. I want to be the person who grows closer to God through the hard times.” That spirit surrounds Life Is Beautiful, an album that dares to affirm all that matters through its every detail, right down to the artwork. The Afters solicited fans, friends and family to send in photos that answered the question, “What are the beautiful things in your life?” The album design assembles a collage of those pictures, much as the songs explore the facets of finding beauty in ashes, the everyday, and all spaces between and beyond. Take “Every Good Thing,” the debut single that rockets from backbeat intro to melodic pop

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chorus on a feel-good tide of riffing guitars and handclaps. Praise to the maker comes for “every heartbeat, every day we get to breathe … every second chance.” Rarely do catchy songs come this infectious and insightful; “Every Good Thing” lifts the listener to a place where they can see the source of true joy, even as they feel it through the music. “We wanted something strong, upbeat and positive,” Havens says. “We were looking back over the last year and we were struck by how many times we’d wake up and see those horrific headlines in the news. We’re reminded every day of how many bad things there are in life, so we wanted to write a reminder of all the good things that God does in our lives every day.” The verse they turned to for inspiration, fittingly, was James 1:17: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” Definitive as that statement sounds, Life Is Beautiful began with challenging questions the group members pondered while on a writing retreat in Colorado. “As songwriters, we never want to make the same album twice,” says guitarist-vocalist Matt Fuqua, who co-founded The Afters with Havens while the two worked as Starbucks baristas in Mesquite, Tex. “For us we try to go in asking: ‘What can we do that’s different? How can we stretch ourselves? How can we take things further? How can we do

September 2015

more?’ It was intentional to be really honest with our audience, and to be honest with ourselves by sharing things that are personal and meaningful.” “Broken Hallelujah,” a tender anthem inspired in part by the summer’s wildfires in Colorado. Writing went into high gear after a friend sent pictures, snapped from his church, that showed the flames creeping precariously close. Over 200 families from that church lost their homes in the fires: “Nothing left to hold onto/ I raise these broken hands to you/ Here’s my broken hallelujah.” “There were times,” Havens recalls, “when we were in tears writing that song. We opened the book of Job and saw a man who experienced more loss than we could ever fathom. In the midst of all that, he shaved his head and took off his clothes so that he truly had nothing left, fell to his knees and worshiped God. ‘Broken Hallelujah’ is a song about praising God, even when the only thing we have to offer is our worship.” Havens sums it up thus: “Our hope for our record—and a lot of heartache went into this album—is that it will encourage people to see how God is working in their lives. He’s not just there on the sunny days. No matter what we go through in life, God is still with us and life is beautiful—God is beautiful.”

The Best Medicine Dear Dave, My wife and I are recent graduates with advanced degrees. We also have about $300,000 in student loan debt. We’re thinking about buying a rental property, and the plan is to get a mortgage with monthly payments of $400 and charge $800 in rent. We could use the extra to help pay off our debt. Do you think this is a good idea? Jeremy Dear Jeremy, Are you serious? You’re in a financial crisis, and you ask if it’s okay to buy a rental property? No, no, no! Right now, you guys are acting like Congress. You have a huge mess on your hands, and you’re both going to have to work like crazy to clean it up. That means living on rice and beans for the foreseeable future. It means no vacations, and you should not see the inside of a restaurant unless you’re working there to make extra money. Again, no! You should not buy a rental property. Even if you did, this plan assumes that it’s constantly occupied and the renter actually pays. Those are two pretty big assumptions. Use whatever money you have to get out of debt, and live simple, inexpensive lives until you get this behind you.

Dave Says

Stop trying to borrow your way through all of your dreams, Jeremy. Doing that will only turn those dreams into nightmares! —Dave

No, No, No! Dear Dave, My wife and I are recent graduates with advanced degrees. We also have about $300,000 in student loan debt. We’re thinking about buying a rental property, and the plan is to get a mortgage with monthly payments of $400 and charge $800 in rent. We could use the extra to help pay off our debt. Do you think this is a good idea? Jeremy Dear Jeremy, Are you serious? You’re in a financial crisis, and you ask if it’s okay to buy a rental property? No, no, no!

* Dave Ramsey is America’s trusted voice on money and business. He has authored five New York Times bestselling 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.

Right now, you guys are acting like Congress. You have a huge mess on your hands, and you’re both going to have to work like crazy to clean it up. That means living on rice and beans for the foreseeable future. It means no vacations, and you should not see the inside of a restaurant unless you’re working there to make extra money. Again, no! You should not buy a rental property. Even if you did, this plan assumes that it’s constantly occupied and the renter actually pays. Those are two pretty big assumptions. Use whatever money you have to get out of debt, and live simple, inexpensive lives until you get this behind you. Stop trying to borrow your way through all of your dreams, Jeremy. Doing that will only turn those dreams into nightmares!

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September 2015

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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 www.raulrudyrodriguezlaw.com Fax: 956.380.2920 / Mobile: 956.655.5455

Phone: 956.380.1421 / Toll Free: / Fax: 956.380.2920 / Mobile: 956.655.5455 511 W. University / Edinburg, TX877.480.1421 78539 e-mail: anointed511@gmail.com 511 W. University / Edinburg, 78539 / e-mail: rrodlaw@hotmail.com 28 valleychristianmagazine.com SeptemberTX 2015