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Contents JUNE 2016
Vol. 7 / Issue 3
On The Cover
To submit story ideas, events, or comments: info@ValleyChristianMagazine.com
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what you’ll find inside: 8
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Texas Christian Publications c/o Valley Christian Magazine 3827 North 10th Street, 301 McAllen, TX 78501
Lysa Terkeurst
The Problem with Pintrest
10 Greg Laurie I Believe God
956-314-O161
12 Mark Driscoll
7 Ways Fathers Provoke their Children
Valley Christian Magazine is a free monthly magazine published by
14 James MacDonald
How To Make A Happening Marriage
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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16 Luis Palau
La Oferta Superior
17 Ruben Martinez Spiritual Bytes
18 Proverbs 31
Bible verses to get through a bad day
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valleychristianmagazine.com 7
H
ave you ever looked at social media and felt like everyone else’s marriage was more romantic, their style more hip, and their house more beautifully decorated than yours?
The comparison struggle. is. so. real.
I’m thankful that my pastor and friend, Steven Furtick, agrees. And he’s here with us on the blog today with some practical tips on how to start seeing beyond the traps social media can lure us into.
“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)
What – or who – is your standard of comparison? Often, we are insecure because of unrealistic images against which we judge our spirituality and success.
Pinterest is a visually driven social media platform strategically designed for nonstop, twenty-four-hours-a- day, seven-days-a-week reminders that your kids are not as well dressed as your neighbors‘ kids, that your home is decorated in the most amateur fashion imaginable, that the pictures you take are bland and artless, that you did a terrible job planning your wedding, and that you live a generally tedious, monotonous existence— unlike everyone else, whose lives are categorically awesome at all times.
Yes, I have a bit of a problem with Pinterest.
Of course, I’m not against social media in general or even Pinterest in particular. Social media is just a tool. And the results it generates reflect the intention of the user. That’s where the trouble starts.
See, any time you’re considering your real life accomplishments or problems from a Pinterest perspective, you are judging yourself against an illusion. When we compare our underwhelming reality to other people’s staged, cropped, filtered photos, we jump to the wrong conclusions. Because we started with the wrong context.
I call it The Pinterest Perspective.
PCMag defines Pinterest as: A socially oriented photo-sharing site in the form of an online pinboard.
I want to challenge you today. When you are faced with the temptation to compare yourself to the glories of others, try contemplating the glory of God instead, in the way Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 3:18.
I have a slightly different definition:
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The problem with Pinterest is the problem within us. It‘s the perfect platform for our tendency to pretend, to pose, and to perform, all in an effort to bolster a shaky self-esteem.
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I know this sounds a little abstract – (really pal, contemplate? Contemplate this laundry basket…)
But it can be really simple. To contemplate simply means to think about. To consider. To dwell on.
And there are practical ways we can compare less, and contemplate more:
• Some of our social media scrolling can be so routine that we don’t even realize we’re doing it. But decreasing your time on it might be as easy as moving apps around on your phone. Take the Bible app or First 5 and put it on the first screen in the easiest place to see. Place the social media icons on the last page. This will force you to make the conscious decision to swipe all the way over to your social media accounts, while your Bible apps remain front and center.
• Instead of going on Instagram or Facebook first thing in the morning to see what everybody else is doing and reading their comments on your feed, spend some time in God’s Word. It would be good to do this before you go to sleep as well. Feed yourself something more substantial, and see if you feel stronger.
• Make it a point to write down and say out loud what you’re thankful for several times a week, if not daily. Focusing on what you’ve been blessed with is one of the first steps to getting out of the comparison trap.
God has so much He wants to show you, but maybe you’ve allowed yourself to become blinded by the images and illusions of this world. 2 Corinthians 3 promises a new point of view and a new level of freedom for those who will dare to remove the veil. 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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“ I Believe God ” 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
“Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.”” —Acts 27:25
As the storm threatened and the boat pitched back and forth, when it looked as though everyone was going to die, the apostle Paul encouraged the others on board: “Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me” (Acts 27:25).
This was faith, you see. It is faith when we can say, as things are unraveling around us, “God is in control. I know He is going to get me through this, and I know that He is faithful.” Paul was confident. He knew that God was the Master of his circumstances and the Captain of his boat. He knew that God was in is in con- control.
I love those words. They are not the God words of a person in denial or out of There was a time when Jesus touch with reality. The fact is that trol. I know He told the disciples to launch Paul uttered them when they were is going to get me out into the deep for a catch still in the worst of the storm, with no tangible hope. They had the through this, and I of fish, after they had been fishing for hours and hadn’t hope that had been given to Paul know that He is by God, the promise they would be caught anything. Peter said, “Master, we have toiled all delivered, but there was nothing visfaithful. ible to indicate that it really was going night and caught nothing; nevto happen. ertheless at Your word I will let down the net” (Luke 5:5). The word that
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Peter used for Master is a unique nautical term that means “Captain of this boat.” Then the Bible tells us they caught so many fish, their nets were breaking. So here is the question: Are you willing to let Him be the Captain of your boat? Are you willing to say, like Paul, “I believe God”? 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.
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The Bible tells fathers to do two things: bring children up in the ways of the Lord and do not provoke them. How can a father avoid provoking his child? There’s no shortage of parenting books out there. But you’ll find very few dedicated to the subject of fathering. What does it look like to father well? Thankfully, God’s word includes much guidance for fathers. The Bible is filled with good dads (starting with God the Father) and bad dads (starting with Adam, our first father). Proverbs is in large part a collection of wisdom written by a dad to his son. In his letters to Timothy and Titus, Paul offers profound direction as a spiritual father. Fathers, we have a sacred responsibility. Elsewhere in Scripture, Paul warns fathers: “Do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). Dads, this is our God-given job description. We must strive to fulfill it “according to the power at work within us.” For starters, it helps to think about what the verse means. Both parts of the verse are equally important—do not provoke and do bring them up—but understanding what it looks like to “not provoke your children to anger” is arguably less obvious. In order to help, here are some examples of ways dads can provoke their kids. By God’s grace, father your children by avoiding these pitfalls:
1. Make more withdrawals than deposits Encouragement is a deposit; criticism is a withdrawal. We provoke our children to anger when we make far more withdrawals than deposits. When it comes to encouragement, don’t be stingy with your kids. Say things like: ▪ “You did your best, and I appreciate that.” ▪ “You’re a blessing.” ▪ “I love you and I’m here to help you.” ▪ Thanks for hanging in there. I know this is tough. Let me pray for you.”
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In addition to verbal affirmation, write them notes, send them texts, pull them in for a hug and a kiss on the forehead. Inevitably, as fathers we’re going to make withdrawals because our kids will sin and we’ll need to address that. But we provoke our children to anger when all we do is point out the flaws and fail to provide any solutions or hope. We need to be their coach, not their critic.
2. Resort to physical or verbal abuse Fathers provoke their children to anger through physically using their size advantage. This could be physical—hitting, shoving, kicking, intimidation— or verbal abuse. Some fathers goad their children. They’ll shame their kids in front of other children by saying things like, “You’re so stupid,” “You failed again,” “You’re fat,” “You’re an idiot,” and “You’re a loser.” Such violence is sinful, reprehensible abuse that shapes an identity that is death for the child. Some either grow up to rage against their parents, particularly their father, or they just leave.
3. Be emotionally absent Whether it’s intentional or not, some dads do everything they can to avoid engaging their children. You’re always doing something and can’t be interrupted, whether that’s woodworking, fixing the car, doing yard work, using your phone, or watching TV. You’re physically present but emotionally absent. Dad never gives hugs or says, “I love you.” A lack of emotional attention provokes a child to anger. Imagine a child who craves emotional attention and appropriate physical touch from dad. He never offers his affection, and so eventually the child starts looking elsewhere, out of frustration and desperation. For a daughter especially, this can leave her in a very dangerous position.
4. Publicly humiliate and criticize Rather than pulling a child out of the fray for a loving, heart-to-heart talk to address some issue, fathers provoke their children to anger by cutting them down in front of their family and friends. When it comes to correction, we can belittle our children in an attempt to shame them into submission, or we can provide them a vision of the man or woman God is calling them to be, saying, “I see in you these gifts, abilities, godliness, and maturity. What you’ve done grieves Jesus and it grieves me. But I’m here for you, and I want to help you grow.” In this way, our communication becomes a loving invitation rather than harsh castigation.
5. Be no fun Some dads are just no fun. They don’t know what to do with a Popsicle, a whiffle ball, a swimming pool, or a bike. Kids should have predominant memories of enjoyable times with their dad. Which means when your kids are little, you have to be silly. You’re going to wear some outlandish outfits. You’re going to sit in on some tea parties. You’re going to wrinkle your clothes during living room wrestling matches. If a dad is making memories, if he loves his kids and they know it, when it comes time to discipline them, it will be in the context of a dad who loves them. God our Father is like that. Proverbs says it and Hebrews repeats it: “For the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights” (emphasis added).
6. Don’t be generous I learned generosity from my Grandpa George. We were very close. He lived in a cul-de-sac, and he had a rule: whenever the ice cream man comes around, run out and stop him. Grandpa George would then have us invite all of the other kids in the neighborhood over, he would tell everybody to order whatever they wanted, and then he would pay for it all. When the ice cream man came, I’d get excited, all the kids would get excited, and I’d look at my Grandpa George’s face, and he was happy. He was happy because he liked to be generous. That’s the heart of a father. That’s the heart of God the Father.
7. Never say “I’m sorry.” Did you have a hypocritical dad who pointed out your sin but never admitted to any of his own? How frustrating was that? As fathers, we’re going to sin against our kids. You’re going to bust them for something that they didn’t do. You’ll fail to listen. You’ll blow it. What do you do? Repent. Go to your kids and say, “Dad’s a sinner. I was wrong. I’m really sorry about what I’ve done and the way it’s affected you. Would you please forgive me?” Fathers, we don’t need to be right; we need to prove to our children that God is always right, and sometimes that means we’re wrong. We are not only an earthly father, we are an earthly father who needs their heavenly Father.
Bring them up Fathers, we have a sacred responsibility. If the Holy Spirit is in you, you’ll want to become a father like God the Father, and bless your children the way he has blessed you. We cannot do this apart from his grace and power—praise God we can rely on his wisdom and strength rather than our own. About Pastor Mark Driscoll: Pastor Mark Driscoll is a Jesus-following, mission-leading, church-serving, people-loving, Bible-preaching pastor. In 2010, Preaching magazine named him one of the 25 most influential pastors of the past 25 years. He’s grateful to be a nobody trying to tell everybody about Somebody. With a skillful mix of bold presentation, accessible teaching, and unrelenting compassion for those who are hurting the most—particularly women who are victims of sexual and physical abuse and assault—Pastor Mark has taken biblical Christianity into cultural corners rarely explored by evangelicals. Various ministries trace their roots to Pastor Mark’s leadership. Mars Hill Church began as a Bible study he and his wife Grace taught in their home. He is also the founder of Resurgence, a ministry that offers resources for Christian leaders, including books, events, classes, multimedia, and a blog. He is the co-founder of the Acts 29 Network, which has planted over 400 churches in the US and 13 other nations. More Info at www.MarkDriscoll.org Used with permission from Mark Driscoll. Copyright 2016
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how to make a happening marriage by james macdonald
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.
If
there were one secret to transforming any average marriage into a happening marriage, would you want to know what it is? This single piece of advice could change your marriage—and your life. Here it is: Live in such a way that no other human relationship compares in importance to your bond with your spouse. The person you crawl into bed with every night—make that person number one. This comes straight from Jesus. He taught, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife.” This doesn’t mean you should move to California to get away from your parents (or in-laws). Rather, Jesus was teaching the primacy of the marriage relationship. According to Jesus, your parents, your kids, the buddies you had before you got married, and your closest friends—all of those people put together—don’t add up to the importance of the
“SHARING EXPERIENCES AS A COUPLE PROMOTES THE MARITAL ONENESS GOD DESIGNED.” one person you married. Regardless of any other success in your life, a broken-down marriage is a foundational break in your life. God can forgive and heal, but next to your relationship with Him, your marriage is your first priority. And the goal is oneness. Jesus described this oneness by saying a man should “hold fast to his wife.” This joining is a strong bond, like Super Glue-ing two people together. It’s an emotional oneness in which a husband and wife share each other’s feelings, joys, and pains. And His reference to one flesh includes sexual intimacy, the culmination of emo-
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He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Matthew 19:4–6, ESV
tional oneness. A healthy marriage aims for unity in every way. Jesus continued, “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” God puts a man and a woman together, and He doesn’t want anyone to separate them. Sadly, though we start our marriages as one, we often slip into different kinds of separation. Separate ways. It’s so easy to embrace separate schedules, cars, and events—often for good reasons. But dividing doesn’t always mean conquering. Watch out! Too much time apart, even doing good things, is an enemy of marital oneness. Proactively ask, “How many activities can we do together in the next week?” Separate interests. Divergent hobbies and pastimes can lead to separation. Find at least one common activity you both really enjoy, and pursue it together. Learning, exploring, and spending time together will make your spouse feel like number one. Separate vacations. It’s not wrong for a husband to go on a fishing trip or for a wife to get away with her girlfriends. But time apart cannot replace vacationing and spending extended time together. Relaxing and sharing experiences as a couple promotes the marital oneness God designed. Separate bank accounts. It’s not wrong for a husband and wife to each have a personal allowance, but an effective family budget needs a single operating account. Coordinating your finances and being transparent in your spending is a growth point for many couples, and it grows oneness too. Separate beds and separate bedtimes. This is not just about sexual intimacy. Something powerful happens when a couple ends their days,
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as much as they are able, by going to bed at the same time. When they lay their heads on the pillows together, they can talk about the day, pray together, and open up to one another. Each example of separation is also an opportunity for oneness. Start making a “together” list of activities, practices, and interests you will pursue with each other. Renew your resolve to guard your oneness. Over time, as you make your spouse your consistent priority, your marriage can become a happening one.
j ou rna l
Self-examination: How are you doing in each of these categories: leaving your parents, holding fast to each other, and becoming one flesh? What areas of separation do you notice in your marriage? What activities do you most enjoy doing with your spouse?
Pr ay
Lord, marriage was Your idea, and You designed us for this unique relationship. Thank You for my spouse. Help me to spend less time thinking about ways my mate can improve and more time considering how I can improve. I can’t control my spouse, I can’t control the outcome, but I can do my part to honor and obey You. I entrust myself and my marriage to You. Just as You joined us together, please hold us together, regardless of what trials or circumstances we encounter. Remind me that oneness requires countless little decisions each day mixed with significant choices to make my spouse my number one relationship. Grow us together as Your children. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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La Oferta Superior -Luis Palau
Cristo ofrece a los que creen la palabra de Dios, a los que creen en Dios y en Cristo once aspectos: Primero, le ofrece vida nueva; segundo, Él da vida eterna; tercero, alumbra el camino; cuarto, se vuelve el Buen Pastor; quinto, Él sacia el hambre; sexto, nos enseña la verdad; séptimo, nos hace libres; octavo, nos da la victoria sobre la muerte; noveno, está constantemente con nosotros; décimo, da esperanza y finalmente Él nos da dirección.
2Corintios 5 dice: ?De modo que si alguno está en Cristo es una nueva criatura, las cosas viejas pasaron, he aquí, todas son hechas nuevas? Eso es vida nueva. Quizás está pasando por problemas que el mundo ni sospecha, está agonizando cosas que quizás no quiere contarle a otro ser humano, no tiene porqué hacerlo, basta con que Dios lo conozca, y Él quiere darle una vida nueva; usted necesita nacer otra vez, y el Señor dice que si alguno está en Cristo, si cree en Él, arrepentido, las cosas viejas pasaron, es hecho una criatura nueva y todas las cosas toman otro color.
Cristo da vida eterna, no es sólo una nueva vida, en 1Juan 5 dice:?Este es el testimonio, que Dios nos ha dado vida eterna, y ésta vida está en Su Hijo, el que tiene al Hijo tiene la vida, el que no tiene al Hijo de Dios no tiene la vida.? La vida eterna la poseemos al momento de creer en Cristo. Esa vida no es algo que se obtiene, la vida eterna es alguien que viene a morar a nuestro corazón, Cristo es la fuente de la vida, en Juan 1:4 dice: ?en Él estaba la vida, y la vida era la luz de los hombres?, Cristo es la vida.
Jesús dice en Juan 5: ?De cierto, de cierto os digo: el que oye mi palabra, y cree al que me envió, tiene vida eterna; y no vendrá condenación, más ha pasado de muerte a vida.?
Jesús le da vida nueva, cambio de rumbo, de conducta, cambio del ser; le da vida eterna, a los que creen, Cristo le ofrece alumbrar el camino de la vida. La vida es complicada, el camino es oscuro, la confusión es evidente, el mundo está en un estado de caos total, los más alumbrados líderes en su momento de honestidad en privado confiesan que no saben cual es la solución; es un milagro de Dios, es su intervención, Su mano en la historia que hizo que no explotáramos todos en un reventón atómico incomprensible. ¿Quién nos puede alumbrar el camino? Cristo es quien alumbra el camino. Jesús dijo en Juan 8:?Yo soy la luz del mundo, el que me sigue no andará en tinieblas, sino que tendrá la luz de la vida.? Cuanto más oscura la noche, tanto más brilla la luz, que es Jesús.
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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Colossians 1:12-22, Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light….to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach... When a policeman stopped me and started writing the ticket, but then handed me a warning, I rested. When it looked like my son’s 1970 VW Bug’s turn signal, wiring harness, was going to have to be replaced but turned out that only the fuse needed replacing, I rested. When the surgeon came out after 8 hours and told us the liver transplant on my brother went very well, I rested. When I meditate and understand all my sins are forgiven through the cross of Christ, I rest! When I meditate and understand that God is very good and that He is absolutely in charge, I rest. God gave us a whole day to think on Him and find rest for our souls. So why we don’t do it is beyond 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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Bible Verses to get through
B A D D AY S When t he li ttl e t hings get to u s , t here are a few t hings we shoul d always keep cl ose to our hear t : N O M A T T E R H O W C R A Z Y W E F E E L T O D AY W E A R E ST I L L LOV E D A N D CA R E D F O R Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? MAT THEW -
G O D I S AT W O R K I N O U R L I F E A N D O N E B A D D AY I S N ’ T G O I N G T O C H A N G E T H A T ! Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. ISAIAH -
W E ’ R E N O T I N C O N T R O L O F O U R D AY BUT WE SERVE A GOD WHO IS I li up my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip — he who watches over you will not slumber... PSALM -
G O D C A N U S E O U R B A D D AY S F O R H I S G O O D P U R P O S E Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. JAMES -
B A D D AY S M AY C O M E A N D G O B U T T H E Y N E V E R L A S T For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. CORINTHIANS - ŠPROVERB S MINISTRIES
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2016
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Two Valley Children Win Colorado & Wyoming Dude Ranch Family Vacations
Sixteen Valley children and their families gathered Saturday night at the Art Village on Main Event Center in McAllen, all hoping to win a week-long vacation for their families at Coulter Lake Guest Ranch in Rifle, Colorado or Medicine Bow Lodge & Adventure Guest Ranch in Saratoga, Wyoming. This year for the first time, the RGV Children’s Arts Festival awarded two dude ranch family vacations, one to a child in each of two age groups. Lendsa Lozano, marketing director for Lynn Lee Dairy Queens throughout the Valley, announced the winner of the younger division (kindergarten through third grade). As she opened the envelope to announce the winner, one could almost hear the hearts of children thumping with anticipation. “The 2016 RGV Children’s Arts Festival winner of a week at Coulter Lake Guest Ranch in Rifle, Colorado is Danella Prinkey-Vizcarra,” said Lozano. Six-year-old Danella was so excited she broke into song. It was her second song of the night. She sang her first spontaneous song, “Peter and John Went to Pray,” when Carey Kinsolving, festival cochair, interviewed her in front of the audience of finalists’ families. For about 15 minutes after Danella learned she had won, her excitement took the form of jumping up and down. Danella entered the Valleywide festival through Covenant Christian Academy, where she is a student. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey S. Prinkey of Edinburg. Edna De Saro, vice president of marketing for Lone Star National Bank, announced the winner for the older children (fourth through sixth grade, up to age 12). After De Saro recognized all the parents of finalists, she opened the envelope. “The 2016 RGV Children’s Arts Festival winner of a week at Medicine Bow Lodge & Adventure Guest Ranch in Saratoga, Wyoming is Maggie McCoy,” said De Saro. Maggie’s winning art and writing can be seen in Chapters 26, 29, 31 and 32 of the “Kids Color Me Bible Gospel of John” at www.KidsTalkAboutGod. org/kcmbgj. “Of all the finalists, Maggie had more
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entries selected for our online book than anyone,” said Kinsolving. “She is a prolific and outstanding artist and writer.” Maggie McCoy, 11, is the daughter Sixteen Valley children attended the RGV Children’s Arts Festival of Dr. and Mrs. Joseph McCoy of Awards held at the Art Village on Main Event Center in McAllen McAllen. Maggie’s parents and three siblings will on Saturday, April 30. Danella Prinkey-Vizcarra, 6, won a weekvacation with her at Medicine Bow Lodge & Adven- long vacation for her family to Coulter Lake Guest Ranch in Rifle, ture Guest Ranch for a week in June. Maggie is Colorado. Maggie McCoy, 11, and her family will ride through and home schooled by her parents. over the many streams that run through Medicine Bow Lodge & Adventure Guest Ranch in Saratoga, Wyoming. Both winners and
families will vacation in June. Back row, from left: Zack Viegas, Both of the winners’ art pieces are now captured Rhiannon Snyder, Cassy Leftwich, Claire Bauer, Tristiana Ruiz, in glass. Artist Yoli Cantu of McAllen Stained Glass created a three-dimensional, fused-glass render- Holly Hargrove, Hadie Tovar; Front row, from left: Eliana Huerta, Ria George, Maggie McCoy, Danella Prinkey-Vizcarra, Antonio ing for each artist. Also, Cantu donated four scholGonzalez, Paisley Kievet, Ojobamiyo Okonji, Kanani Cunningham, arships to each artist for a class in designing and Diego del Rio making fused glass art.
In addition to winning dude ranch vacations for their families, Danella and Maggie won checks for $600 each to help pay for travel to Colorado and Wyoming. All 16 finalists received passes for four people to enjoy a Dolphin Watch or Eco Tour cruise courtesy of Breakaway Cruises at South Padre Island and a coupon for a free ice cream cake at any of the Lynn Lee Dairy Queens throughout the Valley. Gold spur sponsors of the arts festival include El Pato, pediatrician Dr. Martin Garza, orthodontist Dr. Joel Martinez, Dairy Queen, Lone Star National Bank, Rioplex Broadband, Gerry and Ann Guerra and Melba’s Dance School. Children ages 5-12 who live or attend school in the Rio Grande Valley can find five new questions to answer and illustrate for next school year at KidsTalkAboutGod.org/rgv. Those interested in receiving a sponsorship package may call 956-772-1920.
Lensda Lozano, marketing director of Lynn Lee Dairy Queens (left), and Edna De Saro, vice president of marketing for Lone Star National Bank (right), announced the winners of the RGV Children’s Arts Festival on Saturday, April 30 at the Art Village on Main in McAllen. Yoli Cantu of McAllen Stained Glass made three-dimensional, fused-glass renderings of each winner’s art. Winners are Danella Prinkey-Vizcarra, 6, (left) and Maggie McCoy, 11, (right).
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. 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.
June 2016
Vision 30K God has been using FCA to change the lives of Coaches & Athletes since 1954. The gospel is our message. The Bible is our Playbook. Jesus Christ is the center of all that we do. Last year, FCA ministered to over 2,000,000 Coaches & Athletes across 47 countries. With over 300,000 6th-12th Grade Athletes & Coaches living right here in South Texas, our goal is to see over 30,000 have a life changing experience through our weekly Bible study fellowships called “FCA Huddles”, over 20,000 at our annual “Fields of Faith” fatherings at HS Football Stadiums in October, and over 3,000 at one of our many FCA Camps. Every $120 ($10/month) of support you giv will change one of thee lives this year. Join us this year by changing the life of just one student! Go to SouthTexasFCA.org for more information or email Nathan Jones at njones@fca.org
June
2016
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ONETHING LIVE: LOVE MAKES US STRONG
Live Album Captures the Theme of Unity, Vibrant Worship Experience at International House of Prayer’s Annual Onething Conference in Kansas City, MO
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ecorded during the International House of Prayer of Kansas City’s (IHOPKC’s) annual Onething young adult conference last December and marking the eighth live Onething album to date, Onething Live: Love Makes Us Strong releases today from Forerunner Music, the official record label of IHOPKC. Featuring some of the most memorable songs from the 14th year-end premier event, Onething Live: Love Makes Us Strong captures the energetic atmosphere and vibrant worship of the conference led by Forerunner Music artists and members of IHOPKC’s worship team, while sharing a spirit of unity found amongst the 15,000+ worshipers in attendance and an estimated 500,000 participants via live broadcasts during the 4-day event. The 13-track album, centered around the unifying theme of “Love Makes Us Strong,” includes new songs from established Forerunner Music artists Misty Edwards, Laura Hackett Park, Jonas Park, Jon Thurlow, Jaye Thomas and more, as well as new songs from four IHOPKC worship leaders appearing on a Onething album for the first time: Brenton Dowdy, Lauren Holmes, Christina Reynolds and Chris Tofilon. Also featured on the album is the compelling rendition of the song, “Even Unto Death,” sung by guest worship leader and critically lauded singer-songwriter Audrey Assad and Assad’s “I Shall Not Want” covered on the recording by Misty Edwards. NewReleaseToday.com says of the album, “Every single song could be added to your Sunday morning worship set. The leaders at IHOPKC all write and sing songs with an amazing passion and with unashamed praise and gratitude to our Savior that is inspiring and emotionally moving. The eternal love of Jesus is beautifully expressed in these compelling songs. These are great songs to pray along with and express your own yearnings for holiness and God’s presence.”
National and local media also took notice of this year’s conference and the diversity it brought by bringing together church leaders and young worshipers of many different denominations from all over the world. Jonathan Hall, a member of the IHOPKC senior leadership team told The Kansas City Star, “Often in the West, we think of dying churches and white hair filling the pews, but … Jesus’ disciples were teenagers or in their 20s. A lot of guys have zeal for their faith in these early years, and it’s good to capture that…And so this is a time to gather and celebrate Christian teaching.” CharismaNews.com reported that “Southern Baptist Convention President Ronnie Floyd asked over 15,000 attendees at the International House of Prayer Onething 2015 Young Adult Conference in Kansas City to kneel in prayer and ask God for an awakening. Floyd led the prayer after exhorting attendees that the nation urgently needed a spiritual awakening.” Floyd was invited by IHOPKC founder Mike Bickle to speak at the event after Bickle heard him call Baptist leaders to pray and fast.
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June 2016
IHOPKC includes a university (IHOPU) with ministry, music, media, and missions schools. The organization is committed to justice and compassion outreaches involving human trafficking, inner-city programs, and adoption. IHOPKC’s vision is to work in relationship with the wider Body of Christ to serve the Great Commission, seeking to walk out the two great commandments: to love God and people. The International House of Prayer is an evangelical missions organization that has a growing community of about 5,000. Visit www.ihopkc.org for more information.
Mixing the money Dear Dave, I’m getting married this summer, and I’m on Baby Step 4 of your plan while starting to invest for the first time. My fiancé is getting onboard with your advice, and he’s currently in the process of paying down his student loan. Should I put my emergency fund money, minus $1,000, toward his student loan debt? Elizabeth Dear Elizabeth, Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! I’m really proud of you guys, too, for your mature behavior where money is concerned. First, don’t pay anything of his until after the wedding and you two are home from your honeymoon. At that point, “mine” and “his” becomes “ours,” and you can realign your money situation to reflect your total money makeover as a couple. Make sure that “we” have an emergency fund of at least $1,000 in the bank at that point. Then, if you like, you can throw the rest of what you previously had in your emergency fund at the debt.
You can both also pile up cash between now and the big day, so that after you two are official you’ll have even more cash on hand. Who knows, you might be able to knock out that student loan completely and begin your life together debt-free. That would be awesome!
Dave s y a S
—Dave
How much house? Dear Dave, Based on your annual income, how do you determine how much house you can afford? Ryan Dear Ryan, I always tell folks never get a home loan where the monthly payment is more than a fourth of your take home pay. I’m talking about basing this on a 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage. Twenty-five percent of your monthly take home pay is the absolute most you should have going out the door toward a mortgage payment. I realize that’s a pretty conservative number in most people’s minds. You can actually, technically qualify for almost twice that figure. But I think having that much of your paycheck going toward house payments is pretty dumb. Your shortest, quickest path to wealth is being debt-free. And when most of your money isn’t flying out the door to make payments on stuff, it’s easy to build wealth and increase your level of generosity!
* 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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—Dave
June 2016
How To Survive A Shipwreck
Help Is On The Way And Love Is Already Here By Jonathan Martin Publisher: Zondervan
Life is turbulent. On that, we can all agree. Disappointed dreams, broken relationships, identity crises, vocational hang-ups, wounds from the past—there are so many ways life can send us crashing up against the rocks. In this deeply personal book, Jonathan Martin draws from his own stories of failure and loss to find the love that can only be discovered on the bottom. How to Survive a Shipwreck is an invitation to trust the goodness of God and the resilience of your soul. Jonathan’s clarion call is this: No matter how hard you’ve fallen, no matter how much you’ve been hurt, help is on the way—just when you need it most. With visionary artistry and pastoral wisdom, Jonathan Martin reveals what we’ll need to make it through those uncharted waters, how we can use these defining experiences to live out of our depths, and why it will then become impossible to go back to the half-life we once lived.
Heart Made Whole
Turning Your Unhealed Pain Into Your Greatest Strength By Christa Black Gifford Publisher: Zondervan
In Heart Made Whole, Christa Black Gifford shares her own stories of loss, betrayal, and personal tragedy, chronicling clear steps to redemption to help those in pain invite the true Healer into the tangled mess of their broken hearts. Gifford reminds readers that pain is not their enemy, however, unhealed pain can become their greatest foe if it’s not taken to Jesus. Growing up as a preacher’s kid, Gifford had been submerged in Christian culture for decades when she uncovered the truth--that there were broken parts of her heart that weren’t on friendly terms with the God who lived inside. Through disappointments and traumas, she had learned to guard her heart from God, keeping her angry, entrapped, and disconnected. As struggles and hardships continued, she finally learned to run towards her relationship with God when things got hard, instead of running away from Him like she had in the past. The more that she did this--building her heart’s capacity for intimacy and deep relationship--the more her heart began to heal from the inside-out. She teaches the reader to access the solution that’s already living inside of them--the God who forever made their heart a home. When trials and tragedy hit our lives in a fallen world, our hearts can get smashed to bits, and we end up putting God on trial and blaming Him for the mess. But Christa helps readers understand that they don’t have to live controlled by their circumstances – or angry with God. Instead, she provides powerful insight and practical steps to turn the painful fire that comes to destroy us into an unexpected friend that can produce our greatest healing. The condition of the heart determines the condition of life—and the heart can be bound up and healed, producing freedom and abundant life. With personal workbook sections for each chapter Christa helps readers experience steps to turn their pain into the healing and wholeness available to every believer.
June
2016
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MAGAZINE EVENTS
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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