Magazine Issue #78
Christian Torres
Publisher // Graphic Design // Sales Christian@valleychristianmagazine.com
Stephanie Torres Accounting
stephanie@valleychristianmagazine.com
Stella Gallegos Sales // Events
stella@valleychristianmagazine.com
Veronica Guerra Schmidt Sales
ronnie@valleychristianmagazine.com
Marcie Gallegos Distribution // Sales
info@valleychristianmagazine.com
Valley Christian Magazine is a free monthly magazine published by Texas Christian Publications a 501c3 non-profit ministry located in the Rio Grande Valley. For advertising information call 956-314-0161. Questions, story ideas, events, or comments call 956-314-0161 or email info@ValleyChristianMagazine.com.
On The Cover: Newsboys Headlines the Big Church Night Out at the State Farm Arena in Hidalgo on October 1 It is the purpose of Valley Christian Magazine to be a magazine that points people to Jesus Christ. How to trust Him. How to do life with Him. Supported by local businesses, ministries & faithful believers. Valley Christian is a free resource for us all.
4  valleychristianmagazine.com
September 2017
Social Media Facebook: @valleychristianmagazine & @valleychristian Instagram: @valleychristianmag Twitter: @vcmagazine Copyright 2017
//
Printed in Mexico.
Valley Christian Magazine 3827 N 10th Street Suite 301 McAllen, TX 78501 956-314-0161 www.valleychristianmagazine.com
index September 2017
6
Mike Haman
8
KariAnne Wood
6
Single Saved & Searching When Words Leave You Wounded
10 Greg Laurie
Come and See!
12 Valley Christian Events
Big Church Night Out, South Texas Wedding & Quinceanera Expo
14 James MacDonald The Truth About Lies
16 Barna
8
How Teens Spend Their After-School Hours
18 Time with Our Creator Hearing From God
19 Valley Christian New Reads Spotlight
-More Than Just Making It by Erin Odom -The Undoing of Saint Silvanus by Beth Moore
20 Luis Palau
Como Llegar A Ser Un Cristiano Verdadedo
21 Kids Talk About God
How Can We Know If Someone Is A True Teacher From God?
22 Louder Than The Music - Music Review New Hope Oahu - Kingdom (Live)
23 Dave Ramsey - Dave Says
-Separate Accounts? -Balance Rebuilding and Repaying
24 Raul “Rudy” Rodriguez The Restoration Story
19 September
2017
valleychristianmagazine.com
5
Single, Saved & Searching By Mike Haman
Recently, Mike Haman, executive pastor of Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana taught a family series for his congregants. One of those messages was specifically for those who are single. It was too good not to share with all of you. His points were as follows:
1
Trust God and rest. You are not insignificant about singleness. God has things He wants you to accomplish in this season, just like in every other season. You can’t have enough “Jesus” for both of you. God didn’t send you to save this new mate, so be sure you are trusting God and hearing from the Holy Spirit. If you need anything more than Jesus to make you happy, Satan will leverage it against you.
2
Hold to God’s standard. If he doesn’t honor God as a single man, he’ll break your heart as a married man. It’s better to remain single and lonely, than to be lonely in a marriage. Don’t step outside of God’s promise. Learn to say, “I don’t” before you say, “I do.” Use God’s word as a standard for any future mate.
3
Observe his character. If he’s always up and down emotionally, and you don’t know what to expect, it will likely never change. You need Steady Eddie not Sexy Steve. If there are things that aren’t consistent in his character, this is a concern. Your future husband isn’t random, it’s Kingdom. Take the time to observe his behavior with his parents and family, co-workers, strangers, and friends. Does he honor authority? Does he attend worship service regularly? Is he engaged in service in the community? Does he hold down a job? Does he exhibit the qualities you may want your future children to one day have?
4
Keep walking and worshipping, while God is working. Wait well. Waiting can be the hardest part. Don’t be distracted from serving and loving the King during a ‘waiting’ season in your life. God orchestrates, we manipulate. We can’t make it happen, and God won’t bless it, if we attempt to try.
about mike
Mike Haman is the executive pastor of Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Originally from Missouri, Pastor Haman has been serving in ministry for more than 20 years. His most passionate calling is to be father to his three children and husband to his wife, Rachel. He is currently an instructor in Single Mom University powered by The Life of a Single Mom. The Life of a Single Mom is a nonprofit organization that exists to see that no single mom walks alone. To date, the organization has worked with more than 1,500 churches to establish a formal single mom’s support group, ministry, and outreach program. More than 50,000 single mothers annually connect to services. For more information, visit www.thelifeofasinglemom.com.
6 valleychristianmagazine.com
September 2017
September
2017 
valleychristianmagazine.com
7
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14 (NIV) From the outside, everything looked perfect.
It was constant.
I had a husband I loved; happy, healthy children; a career filled with creative opportunities; a beautiful farmhouse filled with yard-sale finds. Standing on the outside looking in, my life looked like a storybook.
It was faithful.
It seemed like I had it all. But if you looked closer — if you peeled back the layers and dug a little deeper into my heart, you’d know. You’d see that I was battling a demon with a grip on me so tight it left me weary and broken.
Words that wounded me to my core. Daily I struggled. Daily I lost the battle. And then, in my darkest hour, at my lowest point, lying on my bed sobbing in prayer, with tears dripping off my cheeks, God used all that ugliness and self-doubt to His glory. In the midnight of that moment, He whispered the words I had been longing to hear …
My weight. Truthfully, I’d always been a little heavy. The kind of heavy that comes with its own set of names, like chubby or pleasingly plump or stocky or tubby or chunky.
… straight to my heart. You are loved.
Or fluffy. When I was younger, I remember overhearing a friend of the family whispering to my mother. “Maybe she’ll grow taller,” she said in low undertones. “She’s just got a little bit of extra weight on her. It’s actually kind of cute. She’s not fat. She’s just fluffy.” As I listened to the hushed conversation, I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs. I wanted to shout so loud it could be heard across seven counties. I wanted to yell, “I’m right here. I hear you, and I’m NOT FLUFFY.” But I didn’t. I didn’t speak. Instead, I acted like I didn’t care. Like the words didn’t hurt — and I pushed my emotions down inside, layering it on top of frustration and hurt. And slowly dipped another Oreo. As I grew older, food became my comfort. Food became my friend, my confidant and my protector. Food was there for me on days when I was flying high and needed to celebrate, and it was there to make me feel better through the frustration and the hurt.
8 valleychristianmagazine.com
I used it as a buffer against hurt and anger and sorrow and feelings of “less than” and “I’m not good enough” and all of the words others spoke so casually — so offhandedly — about my weight.
September 2017
I can’t accept it. I don’t deserve it. You are worthy. Why, Lord? Why? Who am I? You are a daughter of the King. As those words of strength, healing and acceptance washed over me, slowly I felt the burden I was carrying melt away. I felt the guilt and the pain and the hurt wash away. I glimpsed the joy just beyond the curtain that was mine for the taking, and in that glorious, amazing moment, my heart shifted. It was a beautiful reminder: God is the God of second chances. “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” In today’s key verse, Psalm 139:14 reminds us of this truth: We are fearfully and wonderfully made by the King of the Universe, so we have no reason to fear others’ wounding words.
Yet I’m still challenged. I still have miles to go. There are still days when the clouds roll in and the storms gather on the horizon and the pitfalls come my way, but this time it’s different. Instead of reaching into the pantry, instead of filling my emptiness with food, instead of rolling back into the darkness, I simply remember that still, small voice … … and adjust my crown. Dear God, thank You for loving me in my weakness. Thank You for teaching me to embrace my imperfectness and for filling up the emptiness within me. Thank You for lifting me up and reminding me I am Yours. Father, I ask today for the peace that surpasses all understanding, and I lay my burdens and struggles at Your feet. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
TRUTH FOR TODAY: Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.” (NIV) 1 John 4:19, “We love because he first loved us.” (NIV)
REFLECT AND RESPOND: Is there something you struggle with daily? How does it affect your walk with God? The enemy puts many speed bumps in our path to distract us from focusing on our heavenly Father. Take a moment to lay that burden down. Remember you are loved. Ask God for help facing your struggle today.
KariAnne writes the decorating and lifestyle blog Thistlewood Farms from the back porch of her vintage farmhouse in the rolling hills of Kentucky. She followed God’s call for her heart and jumped with her family from the busy Dallas metroplex to the middle of the country, where she lives with her husband and four children. If you turn down the winding country road to KariAnne’s farmhouse, you might find her painting mismatched chairs, listening to the music of the crickets in the pasture, singing Scripture, or walking hand in hand with her knight-in-shining-armor husband as the sun sets over the river. She loves sweet tea with lime, thunderstorms, good books, milk glass, and yard sales, and she is an imperfect DIYer saved by grace. See more about KariAnne at www.thistlewoodfarms.com Used by Permission Proverbs 31 Ministry www.proverbs31.org Copyright 2017 © 2017 by KariAnne Wood. All rights reserved. Valley Christian Magazine and Proverbs 31 Ministries thanks Tyndale House Publishers for their sponsorship of today’s devotion
September
2017
valleychristianmagazine.com
9
“Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?”
T
—John 4:29
There is a lot of power in the simplicity of a changed life. After Jesus spoke with the woman at the well in Samaria, she immediately went out and began to tell others. The Bible tells us that she “left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, ‘Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?’ ” (John 4:28–29). Her testimony was so powerful that people believed as a result. The passage goes on to say, “Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, ‘He told me everything I ever did!’ ” (verse 39). That is the power of a changed life. When the Jewish leaders questioned the man whom Jesus healed, he replied, “I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!” (John 9:25). It’s so important when you can share the before and after of what God has done for you. Maybe people would never imagine that you used to be what you were or that you used to do what you once did, because you have been so transformed by Jesus Christ. And when you share that story, it can speak to them in a special way. It is interesting how often the apostle Paul, who was a brilliant orator, a great communicator, and a wonderful intellect, would use his testimony to speak to people. When he was speaking before the Roman governor in Acts 24, he began with his own story of how he came to faith. Then he went to the essential core message of the gospel. Your testimony, your story, is a way to begin building a bridge. It’s a bridge to get to the bigger story, which is Jesus.
10 valleychristianmagazine.com
September 2017
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 © 2017 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
VALLEY CHRISTIAN
Get Your Event Here!
MAGAZINE EVENTS D E N O P POST : TBD NEW DATE
find
e
at:
events
.com/ gazine
nMa
ristia lleyCh
a
www.V
re mo
s vent
Call 956-314-0161
The Truth about Lies 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.
The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God’”. Matthew 4:3–4, ESV
Our Journey devotionals are brought to you by Change Partners of Walk in the Word.
T
he only power that temptation has over you is deception. And that’s all that’s really needed because it’s usually enough. If something is tempting you, it’s because Satan has made it look better than it is, or your flesh has lied to you, convincing you through your sinful nature that something very bad for you is actually good for you, or at least well-deserved by you. But it really doesn’t matter what the lie is.
“The Truth Is Always Able To Defeat Any Lie.” The truth is always able to defeat it. You’re probably familiar with the account of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1–11)—how He answered each appeal of Satan with confident rebuttals from the Word of God. Amazing, isn’t it—the Son of God (who is truly the Word of God) quoting the Word of God to claim victory over the enemy of God. Why would we expect to do less ourselves? Jesus is our model. Some poeople say He wasn’t truly capable of sinning, that He used His deity to conquer temptation. But that’s not true, because He “was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15, NKJV). They’ll say, well, if He never sinned,
14 valleychristianmagazine.com
how could He have felt the full weight of temptation? To which I would say: Which contestant in a weightlifting competition feels the most weight of the barbell? The ones who tried to lift it and failed? The ones who dropped it? Or the one who held it high over his head? All of it?
believe what the world says is true, that God is trying to make you miserable and keep you from things that would make you happy—or you’ll believe the Word of God is true, that He is trying to protect you from things that would make you miserable.
Hear the lies? Hear the deception? It’s always buzzing around any temptation that comes circling you.
Name the lie, insert the truth.
So allow me to share with you a most practical statement of victory that has made all the difference for me in using my faith to fight temptation, and I pray you’ll experience the same result. It’s just a really basic formula: “Name the lie, insert the truth.” Name the lie, insert the truth. The appeal of lust, for example? It’s a lie. The Word of God says that one man with one woman for a lifetime is His sole design for sexual union. Anything outside of that blessed relationship is sure to lead to misery. That’s the truth. And when believed—by faith—it’s a deal-breaker for deception. Other temptations—like the appeal of materialism, bitterness, unforgiveness, or substance abuse—are all lies. Name the lies—the ones that commonly sound the most tantalizing to you. Insert the truth—specific statements and principles from the Bible that categorically refute the lies you’re being dealt. You could find yourself today or tomorrow in all kinds of conditions where even old, familiar lies sound irresistibly inviting. And yet the same parameters stand constant. Either you’ll
September 2017
And live to tell about it.
j ournal How have you experienced blessing and reward from embracing God’s Word by faith? What are the most important things you could do to limit your susceptibility to deception?
P ray
Heavenly Father, thank You for offering me escape from temptation. Thank You for exposing deception, for unmasking the results of sin so that I don’t dive headlong into things that can only cause me harm. Guard me, Lord, with the truth of Your Word. Enable me to stand firm on its solid foundation. Protect my brothers and sisters today as well, that together we’ll enlarge our testimony of the freedom You provide through Jesus Christ, in whose victorious name I pray, amen.
Open 24 Hours A Day
CREATIVE TERMITE &L.J. PEST CONTROL MCCOY - CERTIFIED APPLICATOR
“When you get CREATIVE you can say Buenos Noches to Roaches!” Complete Business, Home & Yard Pest Control
Call L.J. at 956-239-1995
September
2017
valleychristianmagazine.com
15
This article is part of Barna’s back-to-school series exploring brand new research on education, from parents’ expectations and college trends to students’ schedules and school violence. Smartphones are changing the way an entire generation spends their time. Teens (or iGen, as some have named them) have come of age in a world dominated by devices and unfettered access to the web—and it’s dramatically altering their behavior. According to a recent article in The Atlantic, author Jean Twenge shows that although teens are partying and drinking less, they are feeling more depressed and isolated than ever as they spend increasing amounts of time glued to their smartphones. In his new book, The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place, Andy Crouch explores the important role of the family in helping young people to navigate the demands of current technology. Recent research conducted by Barna for Andy’s book provides some insight into how young people spend their time when they aren’t at school (as reported by their parents), further illustrating the impact of technology on their lives. Between the school dismissal bell and the call for dinner, how do kids fill their time? If you picture an idyllic afternoon of bike rides, playgrounds and ice cream trucks, think again. These days, it’s almost impossible to imagine an off-the-grid, device-free existence, and this is especially true of children who have come of age in a tech-saturated world. In fact, most of the after-school activities of children involve technology. A significant majority of children (64%) watch television or movies after school, regardless of their age group. More than four in 10 (42%) play video games, but this is much more common among children ages 9–12 (48%) and 13–17 (49%). More than one-quarter (27%) spend their free time on social media or texting with friends, though this is primarily an activity among the 13–17 age group (48%). Half as many 9–12 year olds (25%) do the same, as well as only 13 percent of those eight or younger. One in four (25%) spend time browsing online, another activity dominated by teens. Screen time is not the only activity that consumes the afternoon and evening hours for children. In fact, the most
16 valleychristianmagazine.com
September 2017
common activity for any child is still doing homework (65%) (though certainly this now sometimes requires engagement with technology) and watching television or movies (64%). The third most common activity is interacting with family members, an after-school reality for over half (56%) of American children. But unsurprisingly, teenagers (54%) and 9–12 year olds (57%), having formed more non-familial relationships, are less likely to spend time with their family than the two younger age groups (60% of 5–8 year olds and 69% of those under the age of five). Around four in 10 kids (39%) engage in some kind of informal play or activity, an activity those under 5 do twice as much as teenagers (56% compared to 28%). Reading books beyond schoolwork is still fairly popular (32%)—but mostly among those without schoolwork (42% under age 5). Activities outside the house like extracurricular activities or classes (25%), playing organized sports (23%) or hanging out with friends (22%) are much less common. The least common of all after-school activities is reading the Bible/devotions/prayer (8%), but this is much more commonly reported among parents who identify as
Read The Tech-Wise Family for more insight into “the proper place for technology” as well as a series of practical nudges, disciplines and choices that can help you and your family keep technology in its proper place. What the Research Means “The best and richest experiences of learning, it turns out, are embodied ones,” notes Andy Crouch in The Tech-Wise Family. “They require and build on physical experience and activity. This begins with the most basic things typical children learn in their first years of life. They learn, beautifully, awkwardly, and sometimes hilariously, all the aspects of living in a body.”
Christians (9%) than non-Christians (3%). Unsurprisingly, it’s also a popular after-school activity for families with practicing Christian parents (12%). The life-stage of parents has an understandably acute effect on the after-school activities of their children. For example, younger parents—those in their 20s—are less likely than middle-aged parents to report their children doing more traditional activities like homework (40% compared to 77% among parents in their 40s), playing organized sports (11% compared to 27% among parents in their 40s) or doing extracurricular activities or classes (13% compared to 35% among parents in their 40s). They are also less likely to report activity directly involving technology like playing video games (30% compared to 48% among parents in their 40s), being online other than for homework (17% compared to 29% among parents in their 40s) or spending time on social media or texting with friends (8% compared to 33% among parents in their 40s). The only activity younger parents are more likely to report is informal play or activity (48% compared to 35% among parents in their 40s). This makes sense for one obvious reason: Children of parents in their 20
“As we go on to learn more complex and abstract things,” says Crouch, “the body continues to play an important role. At the most basic level, everything we learn is encoded in chemical and electrical connections between neurons in our brains. Cognitive scientists observe that the physical act of reading a book, with its bound pages, helps strengthen the learning of the concepts inside. Likewise, physically taking notes with a pen or pencil on paper—the act of forming physical letters by hand, with the twists and turns of the letter forms and the accumulating fatigue and need for rest—turns out to aid memorization and learning, even if we never consult the notes again.” “The truth is that our children,” continues Crouch, “just like us, will spend far too much of their lives tethered to glowing rectangles. We owe them, at the very minimum, early years of real, embodied, difficult, rewarding learning, the kind that screens cannot provide. And that is why a family that cares about developing wisdom and courage will exert every effort to avoid the thin simplicity of screens in the first years of life.”
Comment on this research and follow our work: Twitter: @davidkinnaman | @roxyleestone | @ barnagroup Facebook: Barna Group About the Research In partnership with Andy Crouch, Barna Group conducted a public opinion survey among 1,021 U.S. parents, nationally representative of parents with children ages 4–17 who live in their home at least 50 percent of the time. The survey was conducted in January and February of 2016. The sampling error for this study is plus or minus 3 percentage points, at the 95% confidence level. Minimal statistical weighting was used to calibrate the sample to known population percentages in relation to demographic variables. Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash About Barna
are almost guaranteed to be pre-teen, and most would be either toddlers or preschoolers. Therefore activities like doing homework and playing organized sports or interacting with devices and technology are much less common (or in some cases non-existent) at these ages, when informal play or activity is more frequent. It will be interesting, however, to see how these families of Millennial parents incorporate other activities—or digital devices—as the children begin school or become teens.
Barna research is a private, non-partisan, for-profit organization under the umbrella of the Issachar Companies. Located in Ventura, California, Barna Group has been conducting and analyzing primary research to understand cultural trends related to values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors since 1984. © Barna Group, 2017
September
2017
valleychristianmagazine.com
17
Giving Praise and Glory to God for His Goodness Author: Grandfather El, Contributors Grandchildren: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali
Heavenly Father, I praise You for: Blessing me with salvation and drawing me to Heaven and off the road of destruction which would have led to an eternal hell. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 Promising to supply all of my needs in the present and in the future until my entrance into eternity in Heaven. “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 Knowing I am a child of Yours and I can draw from Your wisdom, which You give me generously, without finding fault with me. You have no limit to how many times I can come to You for help in finding what to do and what not to do in any situation. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5 Father, I am so grateful for the wonderful opportunities You give me to become more spiritually mature, to love You more deeply, and to serve others. Thank you for the comfort of Your awesome promise in Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Thank you for providing me with blessings and power through the practice of praise and for the positive effect that it has in my daily life. I bring these praises to You, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
18 valleychristianmagazine.com
September 2017
More Than Just Making It
Hope For The Heart Of The Financially Frustrated Author: Erin Odom Publisher: Zondervan
When you’re trapped in a cycle of financial frustration, and you feel like you’ve tried everything only to end up with more month than money yet again, More Than Just Making It is your promise and pathway to thriving again. Take it from someone who’s been there. Erin Odom grew up in the private schools and neatly manicured lawns of Upper Middle Class America, but was thrown into low-income living during the economic crash. She was a stay-at-home-mom, her husband was supporting the family on a teacher’s salary, and despite the fact that they had no debt to their name, they were scrambling to make ends meet. Suddenly Erin found herself standing in line for food stamps, turning down play dates because she couldn’t afford the gas, and ultimately walking into bankruptcy court in the eighth month of her third pregnancy. More Than Just Making It tells the story of their breaking point, as well as the triumph of their comeback. It took hard work, creativity, and faith in God’s provision to reset their bank account as well as their hearts, but ultimately they found a new way to thrive and freedom from financial anxiety. You can do the same. Learn how Erin and her family saved enough money to put $30,000 down on a home, buy a minivan in cash, and begin sending their daughter to private Christian school. More Than Just Making It will encourage readers to rise above their circumstances, empower them with money-saving tips, and reimagine the good life as God designed it outside the myth of the American Dream.
The Undoing of Saint Silvanus Author: Beth Moore Publisher: Tyndale
Exciting fiction premiere from beloved New York Times bestselling author Beth Moore. Only God knew why Jillian Slater agreed to return to New Orleans on the news that her father had finally drunk himself to death. It’s not like they were close. She hadn’t seen him—or her grandmother, the ice queen—in almost 20 years. But when Adella Atwater, the manager of her grandmother’s apartment house, called and said Jillian’s expenses would be paid if she’d fly in for the burial, a free trip to New Orleans was too intriguing to resist. What Adella didn’t tell her was that the apartment house wasn’t a house at all and, whatever it was, bore the dead weight of a long and painful history. As soon as Jillian meets the odd assortment of renters and realizes that her grandmother had no idea she was coming, she hatches a plan to escape. But the investigation into her father’s death quickly unfolds and Jillian is drawn into the lives of the colorful collection of saints and sinners who pass through Saint Silvanus. She soon discovers there is more at stake than she ever imagined. Who is behind the baffling messages and the strange relics left on the steps? Is it possible that her family is actually cursed? Or is it just this crazy old house that holds them all under its spell? Jillian walks into a web of spiritual and personal danger borne out of her family’s broken history, and despite Adella’s wiliest efforts, only God himself can orchestrate the undoing of all that is going on at Saint Silvanus.
September
2017
valleychristianmagazine.com
19
Como llegar a ser un cristiano verdadero -Luis Palau
Recibir a Cristo en su vida Para llegar a ser un verdadero cristiano, usted debe dar un paso final: recibir a Cristo en su vida. Si usted recibe a Cristo en su vida, nace de nuevo: «Respondió Jesús y le dijo: De cierto, de cierto te digo, que el que no naciere de nuevo, no puede ver el reino de Dios» (Juan 3:3). Nacer de nuevo es una experiencia espiritual y genuina que revoluciona la vida y como resultado su nueva vida empezará a tocar a su familia, a sus seres queridos, su trabajo, su sociedad e incluso puede tocar a la nación. Pero el primer paso comienza dentro de usted. Para recibir a Cristo usted debe depositar su fe en el Señor Jesucristo, creer en él de todo corazón; Romanos 3:21-26 dice: « Pero ahora, tal como se prometió tiempo atrás en los escritos de Moisés y de los profetas, Dios nos ha mostrado cómo podemos ser justos ante él sin cumplir con las exigencias de la ley. Dios nos hace justos a sus ojos cuando ponemos nuestra fe en Jesucristo. Y eso es verdad para todo el que cree, sea quien fuere. Pues todos hemos pecado; nadie puede alcanzar la meta gloriosa establecida por Dios. Sin embargo, en su gracia, Dios gratuitamente nos hace justos a sus ojos por medio de Cristo Jesús, quien nos liberó del castigo de nuestros pecados. Pues Dios ofreció a Jesús como el sacrificio por el pecado. Las personas son declaradas justas a los ojos de Dios cuando creen que Jesús sacrificó su vida al derramar su sangre. Ese sacrificio muestra que Dios actuó con justicia cuando se contuvo y no castigó a los que pecaron en el pasado, porque miraba hacia el futuro y de ese modo los incluiría en lo que llevaría a cabo en el tiempo presente. Dios hizo todo eso para demostrar su justicia, porque él mismo es justo e imparcial, y a los pecadores los hace justos a sus ojos cuando creen en Jesús» (NTV). Que millares de sus compatriotas le abran el corazón a Cristo es la mejor labor social que uno puede hacer. El país sufre porque nosotros, quienes lo poblamos, provocamos el sufrimiento. Si yo consigo ?en el nombre de Dios, por el poder del Espíritu Santo y la Palabra de Dios? que millares de personas nazcan de nuevo, la vida del ellos cambiará; mayor bien no se puede hacer a ningún país. Eso es obra divina y nosotros como cristianos, al presentar el mensaje de Cristo, provocamos un cambio radical, muy profundo, un cambio de fundamento. Dios ofrece su justicia y vida eterna a todos los creen en Jesús, y son declarados justos a los ojos de Dios, por la obra de Cristo en la cruz. ¿Ha recibido a Cristo por la fe en su corazón? Para nacer de nuevo (Juan 3:3), ponga su fe en Jesús mediante una sencilla oración. 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”. Copyright 2017 Used by Permission.
20 valleychristianmagazine.com
September 2017
How can we know if someone is a true teacher from God (John 7:14-24)?
“When eating a fruit, think of the person who planted the tree,” says an ancient Vietnamese proverb. Good teachers are like those who plant fruit-bearing trees. Psalm One says that a wise person, who meditates in God’s Word day and night, is like a tree planted by rivers of water that brings forth fruit in its season. “God’s teachers speak for God and not for themselves,” says Emily, 12. “They get all their teachings from the Bible and nothing else. The only reason they teach is for God’s glory.” Jesus taught only what he heard from his Father. His followers called him Rabbi, a title of dignity given by the Jews to their doctors of the law and their distinguished teachers. Jesus’ haters called him demon possessed and sought to kill him. Jesus warned about false teachers when he said, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits,” (Matthew 7:15-16a). “So if someone says, ‘Once you do 20 good deeds, you will go to heaven when you die,’ and that is not what it says in the Bible, then they are not a true teacher of God,” says Andrea, 11. The kind of teaching or preaching that advocates good deeds as the road to heaven appeals to our ego. It feels good, but it’s deadly. It glorifies self instead of God. The gospel of grace whereby Jesus died on a cross to pay the penalty for our sins shows the depths to which we have fallen. The fact that God had to exert such extreme measures to make our salvation possible is a severe blow to our ego. It shows that we cannot save ourselves. We need a savior. We must trust in Christ and his work on the cross, not ourselves or anything we can do (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Artwork by Andrea Aguilar, age 12 (Finalist in 2017 RGV Children’s Arts Festival) “By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God,” (I John 4:2-3a). Think about this: Whether Jesus is both God and man in one person and salvation is by grace through faith alone in Christ alone are two essential issues that will often separate the true teachers of God from the false ones. Memorize this truth: I John 4:2-3a previously quoted. Ask this question: Are you listening to true Bible teaching? Kids Talk About God is a syndicated column by journalist Carey Kinsolving. To access more columns and other free, Bible-based books, videos and artwork, please visit www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org. To learn more about the RGV Children’s Arts Festival, please visit www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org/rgv.
The Apostle Paul reserved a special curse for those who teach a false gospel: “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed,” (Galatians 1:8). Yes, there is a special curse for those who teach another way of salvation or a mixed teaching such as Christ plus our good deeds, penance, etc. If there is one thing you want to avoid at all costs, it’s being under a curse from God. Life is too short to have God opposing you. Those who teach God’s Word have a heightened responsibility. God will hold them accountable. “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment,” (James 3:1). The first order of business when deciding if someone is a true teacher of God is to discover what they teach about the person of Jesus Christ. The Apostle John says this is priority one.
September
2017
valleychristianmagazine.com
21
Music Review by Jono Davies:
NEW HOPE OAHU - KINGDOM (LIVE)
For more reviews go to www.louderthanthemusic.com
New Hope Oahu is listed as one of the top ten most innovative churches in America with Outreach Magazine listing them as one of the “top five churches to learn from.” New Hope Oahu is known for redeeming the arts and technology with thousands attending services each week between their 5 campuses and via the Internet. NHO’s previous 3 albums have each charted on The Billboard Overall Christian Music Chart, with their last release, “Greater Together”, debuting at #1. The Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts has also recognized New Hope Oahu’s albums as “Religious Album of the Year” for the past 3 years. Their new LIVE album showcases the worship experience from their prior album’s more popular songs.
Yet the main body of the album has more of an atmospheric worship sound and feel. It’s the kind of sound that a lot of worship bands use as they record their live albums these days. This is very much in the same shed as Jesus Culture, Hillsong, Bethel and others. The songs on this album gradually build and are given space to become outpourings of praise to God. This is an album that captures the sound and songs that are coming out of New Hope. If you are into the music and what seems like the general style and sound of church worship teams at the moment, then this as a live album is well worth checking out.
The album ‘Kingdom (Live)’ does everything you expect a live worship album to do, and to sound like. The songs are powerful and drenched in truth. Everything a listener will want from a live album.
Review by Jono Davies LTTM Rating 3.5 Out of 5 Stars Standout Tracks Kingdom
The strongest song on the album is the title track ‘Kingdom’. This is a really wonderful track. The same could be said about ‘Trust’, which is anoth-
22 valleychristianmagazine.com
er song that falls into the upbeat side of things.
Trust How We Worship
September 2017
Separate accounts? Dear Dave, I have a full-time job, but I also have a small Etsy business on the side selling 10 products that makes about $200 a month. I don’t see the money from this part-time work getting any bigger in the future. Should I keep a separate account for this business, or just roll it into our regular checking account? Sydney Dear Sydney, It’s very important to have a separate account, or accounts, for small businesses for two reasons. One, it’s a huge help when it comes to taxes and tax season. It will also give you a much clearer picture of how your business is actually doing. Whether you’re talking about revenue or tracking expenses, it will give you an easy-to-read report card.
Dave Says
Even if the business is small and is going to stay small, I would want to know – almost as an intellectual exercise – which of my products were winning in the marketplace. This would help you concentrate on the ones that are making you money, and allow you to focus less on the ones that aren’t doing so well. So yeah, you need to keep a separate business account, and preferably a separate checking and savings account on your business. Make sure 100 percent of the income from the business goes into those accounts, and only expenses associated with the business come out of those accounts. With really small side businesses, your checkbook register can almost become a simplified profit and loss statement. —Dave
Balance rebuilding and repaying Dear Dave, My wife and I have had marriage problems, and a lot of them were related to money. We’re working through those issues and are on Baby Step 1 of your plan. In the process, we’re talking more and things are getting better. We have $40,000 in credit card debt, along with a combined income of around $70,000, so I talked to her about taking an extra job or two. She said she would rather I be at home so we can spend more time together in working on our marriage. What should I do? James Dear James, First and foremost, I would urge you two to begin seeing a good marriage counselor together. Money problems and fights over money are the number one cause of divorce in our country today. Continuing to deal with these issues, with the help of a good, caring counselor, will create even more communication.
* 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.
I think you’ve both realized you’re going to be in a mess if you don’t address your income and money management issues. However, her concern about spending more time together and becoming closer is valid. Since you’ve just started the rebuilding process, maybe you could put off the extra jobs for a month or two – but no longer. That should give you both time to talk, hug on each other a lot, and start developing a solid plan together for the future! —Dave September
2017
valleychristianmagazine.com
23
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