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February 2016
Contents FEBRUARY 2016
Vol. 5 / Issue 10
On The Cover - p18
To submit story ideas, events, or comments: valleychristianmagazine@gmail.com
BIG DADDY WEAVE Live in Concert Feb 25th
Features
CONNECT WITH US: Twitter: @vcmagazine
15 Spiritual Bytes 17 FCA
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18 Music Spotlight
Texas Christian Publications c/o Valley Christian Magazine 3827 North 10th Street, 301 McAllen, TX 78501
My Story - Big Daddy Weave
20 Kids Talk About God
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22 Do You Know?
Valley Christian Magazine is a free monthly magazine published by
24 Books!
Copyright 2016.
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27 Events
Columnists
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.
6. Christian Torres Daring Faith
8 Lysa Terkeurst
Why Would God Let This Happen
60Printed in Mexico.
10 Greg Laurie
What To Do When You’re Worried
12 Mark Driscoll
What Are the Scriptures
14 James MacDonald Pick It Up
16 Luis Palau
Christian Torres
Una Conciencia Transparente
Publisher/Graphic Design
Christian@valleychristianmagazine.com
26 Dave Ramsey Dave Says
Stephanie Torres Accounting
stephanie@valleychristianmagazine.com
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2016
valleychristianmagazine.com 5
Daring Faith By Christian Torres
About: Christian Torres, Publisher, began Valley Christian Magazine in 2011 with a vision to share about God through a relevant magazine freely distributed throughout our community through articles and stories of real life situations showing how God fits in to your story. Christian is married to Stephanie and has 3 daughters Maddie (16), Natalie (13) & Courtney (11). They are members of Palm Valley Church.
I
have a confession to make. I’m truly terrified of cramped spaces and even more freaked out about things like: bungee jumping, ropes courses…you know daring things.
My family traveled to Costa Rica and one of the things my girls wanted to do was to go zip lining. I’ve been to church camp. I’ve zip lined before. Piece of Cake.
Oh did I mention that I’m afraid of jumping off of tall things, too?
So being the hero Dad that I am. I booked a zip lining tree canopy tour. The words tree canopy should have given away some clue but not to this old Dad.
We arrived at the location and I heard a scream come from waaaaay up the mountain and I saw the faintest little things shooting across between small clearings of trees. This was no church camp zip line. <gulp>
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After the 45 minute ride up the mountain in the back of an old truck, we made it to the top (the VERY TOP) of the mountain and hitched up for multiple lines that would take us all the way back down. Keeping the courage up and having fun the whole way, I lead my family back down to safe ground.
God is there. Hebrews 11:1 reminds us: Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
Trust God. Believe you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Phil 4:13) I knew that if I was scared and refused to go, I would influence my family through my fear and doubt.
In real life, we have things that come up that require us to lead in a way that is uncomfortable as jumping out of a tree.
Times like when your job is unbearable; when your marriage hits a rough patch; when the bank account is low; or maybe an area in your life is becoming unbearable. This is when it’s tough to not only lead but trust and believe.
Questions arise as to wonder if God is even around.
February 2016
Live your faith Daring. Do great things for Christ even when things are tough and you’re afraid. Lead well. Be the example you want your kids to see.
You may be unsure but God’s way are sure and true. (Psalm 18:30)
Pray:
God where do I need to trust you more? Where am I holding on afraid and not letting you lead? Help me to realize I can do all things when I trust you. Things are going to tough but I know you are greater. I may not understand why things are the way they are but you are not surprised. Show me. Give me the faith to be daring today. Amen
February
2016
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BY LYSA TERKEURST
I
wonder what would happen in our lives if we really lived in the absolute assurance of God’s love. I mean, as Christians we know He loves us. We sing the songs, we quote the verses, we wear the T-shirts and we sport the bumper stickers. Yes, God loves us.
I’m not talking about knowing He loves us. I’m talking about living as if we really believe it. I’m talking about walking confidently in the certainty of God’s love even when our feelings beg us not to. I’m talking about training our hearts and our minds to process everything through the filter of the absolute assurance of God’s love. Period. Without the possible question mark.
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February 2016
Not too long ago, I had a conversation with a precious mom whose eldest daughter is nearing 30 and has never had a boyfriend. The younger siblings have all gone through the whole dating thing and one is now engaged to be married. The eldest daughter sat on the side of her mom’s bed recently with tears slipping down her cheeks and said, “Why mom? Why can’t I find anyone to love me? What’s wrong with me?” This mom was asking me for advice in helping her daughter process these questions. These feelings are real. These feelings are tough. And I’m sure if I were able to untangle all the emotions wrapped in and around these questions, somewhere deep inside I would find this girl doubting God’s love for her. I remember being single, the only one of my friends without a boyfriend, and wondering why. I would see these nice boys and think
God could make one of them fall in love with me but He hasn’t. And that hurt. But here’s the thing I wish I had known then … I must process this through the filter of God’s love not through the tangled places of my heart. When I process things through the tangled places of my heart, often the outcome is, “If God loves me so much, why would He let this happen?” Instead when I process things through the filter of the absolute assurance of God’s love, the outcome is, “God loves me so much therefore I have to trust why He is allowing this to happen.” I took the mom’s hand who was asking for advice and told her to help her daughter rewrite the way she is processing this. It’s okay to feel hurt, lonely and sad. But these feelings shouldn’t be a trigger to doubt God’s love for her. They should be a trigger to look for God’s protection, provision and possible growth opportunities. I know this can be hard. But what if we really lived in the absolute assurance of God’s love? I want to help you walk in that truth. That’s why my team at Proverbs 31 Ministries and I are hosting a FREE online Bible study of my book, Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl. Sign up today and be equipped to: • Stop going through the motions of religion and learn how to experience Jesus in a personal way. • Overcome the issues that pull your heart away from the Lord by gaining passion and confidence about your faith. • Move past simply knowing about God and discover how to become vibrantly alive as you apply Biblical truths to your life.
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
February
2016
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What to Do When You’re Worried By Greg Laurie Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:6-7
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 © 2015 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
I’ve unnecessarily worried about things. I’ve fretted and have been filled with anxiety. So why is it potentially a sin? Because God isn’t going to worry, of course. But we it’s a lack of trust in God. When we worry, still need to pray, because we worry about we’re essentially saying, “God isn’t in control. He isn’t taking care of me in a lot of things. And sometimes we this situation. I’m not trusting in even will elevate worry as a virthe providence of God.” tue, saying things like, “I worry Wory doesn’t because I care.” empty tomorBut if you are a real ChrisBut is worry actually a virtue? row of its sorrows; it tian and believe the Bible, then you will know that I don’t think so. In fact, I think empties today of God is in control of all cirworry can be a sin. I’m not cumstances that surround saying that all worry is a sin, but its strength. your life, and there are no soI am saying that it can be. And I called accidents in the life of a would readily admit that worry is a believer. sin I have committed. Martin Luther once wrote in a letter to his wife, “Pray, and let God worry.”
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Greg Laurie
February 2016
That is an important thing to remember, because worry doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrows; it empties today of its strength. Philippians 4:6 tells us, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Turn your worries into prayers. The next time you are gripped by fear and worry, turn it into a prayer like this one: “Lord, I don’t know what to do, but I trust You. You are in control, and I commit this to You right now.” Look to the Lord, and let Him give you His peace.
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Divorce/Family Law Child Custody State & Federal Criminal Defense Phone: 956-380-1421 Mobile: 956-279-1163 511 W. University Drive Edinburg, TX 78539 fabianlaw@sbcglobal.net God is our help and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 February
2016
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Scripture is God speaking his truth to us in human words. The New Testament writers claim that the Old Testament is sacred Scripture, which literally means “writing.”(16) The word Bible comes from the Greek word for book. Holy Bible, therefore, means “Holy Book.” It was written in three languages (Hebrew, Greek, and a bit in Aramaic) over a period of more than fifteen hundred years by more than forty authors (of varying ages and backgrounds) on three continents (Asia, Africa, and Europe).
The Protestant Canon of Bible actually contains sixty-six separate books. Thirty-nine books, approximately three-quarters of the Bible, are in the Old Testament, which is a record of God’s speaking and working in history from when he created the universe and our first parents, Adam and Eve, up until about 450 BC. In the period between the two testaments, the people waited for the coming of the Messiah into human history. The twenty-seven books of the New Testament begin with the four Gospels, which record the life, death, burial, resurrection, and return to heaven of Jesus, and then proceed to instruct various Christians and Christian churches about how to think and live in light of who Jesus is and what he has done.
Thus, the Bible is a library of books that are one Book, showing a divine unity and continuity. This point is illustrated by the fact that the New Testament has roughly three hundred explicit Old Testament quotations, as well as upwards of four thousand allusions to the Old
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Testament. In many ways, the Old Testament is a series of promises that God makes and the New Testament is the record of the fulfillment of those promises and the anticipation of the fulfillment of the remaining promises at Jesus’ second coming.
The Bible is the best-selling book of all time. The Old Testament was originally written on papyrus—a form of paper made out of reeds. By the time the New Testament was written, parchments (prepared animal skins) were also used.(17) The pages were put together into scrolls.(18)
Thus, rightly interpreting particular sections of Scripture requires paying attention both to the immediate context and the overall context of all of Scripture.
What do you find most surprising about how the Bible came into being? 16Matt. 21:42; 22:29; 26:54, 56; Luke 24:25– 32, 44–45; John 5:39; 10:35; Acts 17:2, 11; 18:28; Rom. 1:2; 4:3; 9:17; 10:11; 11:2; 15:4; 16:26; 1 Cor. 15:3–4; Gal. 3:8, 22; 4:30; 1 Tim. 5:18; 2 Tim. 3:16; James
Chapters and verses were added to provide 4:5; 2 Pet. 1:20–21; 3:15–16. addresses (not unlike those on our homes) that help us find particular sections. In 1205, Stephen Langton, a theology professor who 172 Tim. 4:13. became the archbishop of Canterbury, began using Bible chapters. In 1240, Cardinal Hugo of St. Cher published a Latin Bible with the 18Ezra 6:2; Ps. 40:7; Luke 4:17, 20. 1,189 chapter divisions that exist today. Robert Stephanus, a Protestant book printer, was About Pastor Mark Driscoll: Pastor Mark Driscoll is a Jecondemned as a heretic for printing Bibles. As sus-following, mission-leading, church-serving, people-loving, Bible-preaching pastor. In 2010, Preaching magazine named him he fled with his family to Geneva on horseone of the 25 most influential pastors of the past 25 years. He’s back, he arbitrarily made verse divisions within grateful to be a nobody trying to tell everybody about Somebody. Langton’s chapter divisions. His system was With a skillful mix of bold presentation, accessible teaching, and unrelenting compassion for those who are hurting the most—parused for the first English Bible (The Geneva ticularly women who are victims of sexual and physical abuse and New Testament of 1557) and became today’s assault—Pastor Mark has taken biblical Christianity into cultural system of 31,173 verses. It is important to corners rarely explored by evangelicals. Various ministries trace their roots to Pastor Mark’s leadership. Mars Hill Church began realize that the Bible’s chapters and verses as a Bible study he and his wife Grace taught in their home. He were not applied with any consistent method is also the founder of Resurgence, a ministry that offers resources for Christian leaders, including books, events, classes, multimedia, and, while helpful, they are not authoritative. and a blog. He is the co-founder of the Acts 29 Network, which has Because the Bible was not intended to be planted over 400 churches in the US and 13 other nations. More read in bits and pieces, reading verses out of Info at www.MarkDriscoll.org context can lead to serious misunderstanding. Used with permission from Mark Driscoll. Copyright 2016
February 2016
BIG DADDY WEAVE’S BEAUTIFUL OFFERINGS TOUR 2016 LAUNCHES WITH NEW LINEUP FEATURING PLUMB AND JORDAN FELIZ Big Daddy Weave announces the return of their tremendously successful concept event, the 60-city Beautiful Offerings Tour 2016, featuring special guest artists Plumb and Jordan Feliz. The coast-to-coast tour kicks off January 27 in Auburn, California and wraps May 22 in Ocala, Florida. The 2016 edition of the tour launches on the success of Big Daddy Weave’s most-recent No. 1 song, “My Story.” The first single from Big Daddy Weave’s most recent album, Beautiful Offerings, “My Story” became the fifth consecutive Big Daddy Weave track to reach the top of the Christian music radio charts. The Beautiful Offerings Tour celebrates that having been redeemed and made beautiful by God, our lives and worship are offerings to Him. Each tour date sees Big Daddy Weave on stage for the entire evening, performing with all of the artists on the tour. The night features performances of the artists’ radio favorites during the first part of the evening, followed by all of the artists leading worship together. Mike Weaver, lead vocalist, shares, “Each time we do the Beautiful Offerings tour, I love seeing how different we all are when we begin, then how close we’re drawn together as it goes. All of the artists on the tour become one band for a season. It’s a special feeling. Then, because of the amount of worship in the night, it’s like the audience is in the band too. All of that gives me an even greater sense of anticipation for this tour. We are honored and excited for our friends Plumb and Jordan Feliz to join us and become an integral part of each one of these nights.” Join Big Daddy Weave, Plumb & Jordan Feliz when they arrive on Thursday, February 25 at the Boggus Ford Events Center in Pharr. Tickets available online at Ticketmaster.com. In person, you can purchase your tickets at the Box Office or at Viva Life Christian Bookstore in McAllen. For Group Discounts, Call Valley Christian at 956-314-0161. www.ValleyChristianMagazine.com
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2016
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Y
Pick It Up
by james macdonald
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
L
~Psalm 1:1–2, ESV et’s take an informal survey. Question:
a realistic goal for everyone all the time, then what is a
Who’s in favor of reading God’s Word?
healthy goal? Based on my own experience, I’d propose that a person who averages five, solid times in God’s
Most of us would respond “absolutely.” Reading and
Word each week is growing in his/her faith, but that may
studying the Bible on a regular basis is a widely accept-
look different for you during different seasons in your
ed spiritual discipline, and most of us would agree that
life. The Scriptures don’t lay out a definite schedule, so
it’s good for our souls. Yet how easily we turn the free-
the patterns we make for ourselves need to serve the
doms offered by a discipline into guilt-ridden hypocrisy
purpose of consistent time with God in His Word. If they
driven by legalism.
become a threat or a discouraging weight, then they are not serving their purpose: to facilitate our growing to
It’s like the poor pilgrim who sets out on a quiet time
love our heavenly Father more and more.
campaign. He’s so motivated at first and feels such a sense of accomplishment as he checks off the days he
Ultimately, we want to saturate our minds with God’s
reads. And then he falls behind on his pace. One day he
Word so it can be increasingly true of us that our “de-
oversleeps, or he’s sick, or he’s traveling, or . . . and be-
light is in the law of the LORD, and on his law [we med-
fore he knows it, he’s fallen so far behind that he has to
itate] day and night.” The goal is saturation, meditation,
do three or four “quiet times” a day in order to catch up.
immersion, growth, and ultimately love—not legalism,
The joy and freedom of the spiritual discipline of read-
hypocrisy, self-righteousness, compulsion, or guilt.
ing God’s Word give way to guilt and a sense of being enslaved to a checklist. Deep down, he might even suspect he’s missing the
This Book is a Gift from God to his Children.
The disciplines of a sincere faith are not intended to be an intimidating obstacle between you and God but a way of deepening intimacy
point. God never said, “Seven days you shall have a
with the One who has called you His child and wants
quiet time, and you shall not rest from it.” Relationships
the best for you. And this Book is a gift from God to His
are regular and intimate, but they are not mechanical. A
children. In the words of Abraham Lincoln, “I believe the
healthy pattern isn’t rigid. My wife likes to have a date
Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the
night each week, but if we miss one, she doesn’t hate
good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us
me. There’s much more at stake in my relationship with
through this Book.”
journal - - H o w h a v e y o u e x pe r i e n c e d t h e t e n s i o n b e t w e e n th e j o y o f r e a d i n g G o d ’s Wo r d a n d th e l e g a l i s m o f f e e l i n g f o r c e d to r e a d at a certain pace or schedule? - - To w h a t e x t e n t d o y o u d e l i g h t i n a n d m e d i t a t e o n G o d ’s Wo r d , a s Psalm 1 describes?
P ray Father God, forgive me for my self-righteous spiritual programs, trying to prove and grow myself by doing more for You. Replace that ugliness in me with a genuine desire to spend time with You in Your Word. Your Word is a gift to me. Teach me to delight in and meditate on it. Help me to love You more and more, and may that be my motivation in my spiritual disciplines. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
my wife and in my relationship with God than slavishly keeping a calendar. Regularity is an important factor but
The first step in developing a discipline of personal Bible
not the whole picture.
study is to pick it up. We don’t want to get lost in what others say about the Bible; we want to experience it for
So if reading the Bible every single day without fail isn’t
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ourselves.
February 2016
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.
He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. ~Psalm 23:3 I remember times being greatly sinned against and being wounded for years and years. What was sad was that I was not aware of the depth and extent of the wounds. I lived in ways that only compounded the wounds. This also meant I sinned against others, wounding them! But Christ came into my whole life and restored my soul. He gave me newness of life that has not only brought healing but also clear perspectives and wisdom and strength. Jesus’ Spirit has taught and lead me and now I’m no longer working against God but actually helping others! Although I continue to need change, I have a profound gratitude for His great help I don’t deserve!! 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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valleychristianmagazine.com 15
Una Conciencia Transparente -Luis Palau
Toda persona lleva encima un sentido de culpa, hay temores, desprecios y esencialmente, todo ser humano se encuentra vacío, confundido, atemorizado y lleno de inseguridad. En estos días se ha vuelto de moda la frase “tengo que encontrarme” ¿qué quiere decir la gente cuando usa esa frase? ¿Por qué millares de personas van al psiquiatra? Porque hay culpa en la conciencia, culpa que no está resuelta. El psiquiatra puede diagnosticar y hacer confrontar al individuo cuál es su problema; no van al Pastor ni al Sacerdote, van al psiquiatra, y ellos tienen una tremenda habilidad basada en estudio y experiencia, de analizar y confrontar los problemas del individuo; pero el psiquiatra sincero reconoce que no puede quitar las culpas ni limpiar la conciencia. Hay tres venenos que causan el quebrantamiento emocional; el primero es la amargura: muchas personas corren al psiquiatra porque la amargura los está destrozando, sea cual sea la razón, la amargura causa quebrantamientos emocionales; el segundo es la irresponsabilidad: una persona desordenada, indisciplinada crea problemas para sí mismo, para su familia y su empleo; el tercero es el pecado, el hombre moderno lo llama “sentido de culpa” pero es el mismo problema, es el egocentrismo procurando vivir la vida separado de Dios. Cuando una persona está amargada, es irresponsable, lleva un sentido de culpa hay cinco reacciones comunes; la primera: algunos reaccionan con hostilidad, se vuelven violentos, atacan a los demás, desprecian a sus seres más queridos, con su lengua desparraman veneno, tratan de destruir a otros para encubrir y tapar por reacción de su inconciente, el quebranto emocional. La Biblia dice: “Mirad que ninguna raíz de amargura crezca en vosotros y os destruya”. La segunda es: el alcoholismo o las drogas; muchas personas cuando ven que no pueden resolver su problema de culpa, no pueden liquidar su amargura, corren y huyen al alcoholismo y las drogas, con un esfuerzo del ser humano para llenar un vacío espiritual y moral, por tapar la conciencia o por huir de la realidad de la vida; por un momento pueden ocultar la memoria, pero esta no se va con un trago o con droga. Una tercera reacción en común cuando su conciencia no esta limpia es la infidelidad en el matrimonio; muchos individuos, hombres y mujeres, se vuelven infieles a su cónyuge, y muchas parejas se destruyen porque han sido infieles procurando ocultar la conciencia contaminada y manchada. Otra cuarta reacción común frente al quebranto emocional es la falsa acusación propia; por ejemplo: una persona en vez de decir “esto he cometido, está mal, debo arreglar mis cuentas y pedir perdón” se acusan falsamente a sí mismos y en vez de señalar la verdadera debilidad de su pecado señalan falsas causas como “Es que así nací yo, tengo mal carácter porque mi padre era así” En último lugar, una reacción común de una persona cuando se encuentra envenenada por la amargura es la irresponsabilidad o el sentido de culpa, es culpar a terceros, esa nunca será la solución. En la Biblia dice “Este es el mensaje que hemos oído de Dios, y os anunciamos que Dios es luz y no hay ninguna tiniebla en Él. Si decimos que tenemos comunión con Dios y andamos en tinieblas, mentimos, y no practicamos la verdad, pero si andamos en luz, como Él está en la luz, tenemos comunión unos con otros y la sangre de Jesucristo su Hijo nos limpia de todo pecado. Si decimos que no tenemos pecado, nos engañamos a nosotros mismos, y la verdad no está en nosotros. Si confesamos nuestros pecados, Él es fiel y justo para perdonar nuestros pecados y limpiarnos de toda maldad. Si decimos que no hemos pecado, le hacemos a Él mentiroso, y su palabra no está en nosotros.” Usted y yo podemos vivir con la conciencia limpia y transparente, la sangre de Cristo limpia la conciencia. Luis Palau
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February 2016
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”.
Two
fish. Five loaves. One little boy. When a small lunch was offered to Jesus, He took it and multiplied the simple offering, feeding five thousand. Like that little boy, the members of award-winning band Big Daddy Weave continue to submit their music, their ministry and their lives to Him with their seventh studio album, Beautiful Offerings (Fervent Records/Word Entertainment). Beautiful Offerings follows the biggest album of the band’s career, Love Come To Life, which yielded the rare feat of four back-to-back #1 singles – “Love Come To Life,” “Redeemed,” “The Only Name (Yours Will Be)” and “Overwhelmed.” “Redeemed” became an anthem of unprecedented impact. Big Daddy Weave members Mike Weaver (lead vocals, guitar), Jay Weaver (bass, vocals), Jeremy Redmon (guitar, vocals), Joe Shirk (saxophone, keys, vocals) and Brian Beihl (drums) never would have predicted that a vulnerable song written for the lead singer himself, initially deemed by Mike too personal to even turn in for Love Come To Life, would become the group’s best-selling track in their 16-plus year history.
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“I thought if I could somehow achieve something for God, that’s what He was going to use,” Mike admits, “but when we shared about brokenness, God used that more than He ever used any of the little successes that we had been given along the way.” “Redeemed” spent 11 weeks at No. 1, was dubbed “Song of the Year” at the first annual K-LOVE Fan Awards, garnered Dove Award and Billboard Music Award nominations and certified a gold single by the RIAA for sales of over 500,000 records. However, more than all the accolades Big Daddy Weave has achieved, it’s the stories about how the songs have impacted lives that fuel the band’s passion for recording and touring. In fact, they used “Redeemed” as the starting point for the fresh batch of songs hand-picked for Beautiful Offerings. “This record continues where “Redeemed” left off, celebrating what God has done over the last season,” Mike affirms. “Even as we saw and heard hundreds of amazing things happening in people’s lives, we also saw people who were barely approaching what God is offering. Many people were saying, “Thank God, I am redeemed,” but then going right back into their same old thing,” adds Mike. “We wanted to bring light on that with Beautiful Offerings. Being redeemed is more than the forgiveness and the fact that our past is taken care of. It’s a message of hope that calls us out of where we used to be into a new place. It’s as much about what we are redeemed to as what we are redeemed from.” “Every day is an opportunity to bless the heart of God through how we live, how we encounter our families, people we see in the grocery store, and everybody we meet,” adds Mike. “This isn’t us buckling down and trying to earn God’s love by pleasing Him. It’s a realization that because we are children of God, we can bless the heart of God by being subject to and directed by Him in every moment of our lives. Our lives then become something that is pleasing to Him. We become a beautiful offering.” The theme of Beautiful Offerings was the premise for a tour long before it became the title of the band’s next project. It was a concept the five men were already beginning to live out, so it proved a natural compass for the record. “We worked to find songs that echo where we are now, not just anything that was a song for a song’s sake,” adds Jeremy, who has produced all of the band’s music since their second album. “I went into this really trusting that the Lord is working out the details of it. Even in the sounds and the parts that were chosen, He really made it happen.” Through Beautiful Offerings, Big Daddy Weave wants to share the message, “Every one of us is beautiful because of what God has deposited in us. Our lives are an opportunity to literally be used for the Kingdom,” Mike explains. “Now we have an opportunity to live in response to who He is. Jesus is the beauty in the offering.” Taking that approach into worship, Joe observes, “A lot of times we don’t worship the way we should—in our all. We should be offering that. I believe that’s one of the biggest parts of what makes the offering beautiful. It’s not just leftovers; it’s from our gut. It’s from the very core of who we are.” Joe adds that the songs on the new album are “more chiseled and more focused and directed” as a result of the conversations the band members have nightly following the ministry time at the end of each performance, an intentional time of dedicated dialogue and one-on-one prayer with the people who attend their concerts. It’s been a transformational experience for the band as they’ve seen God work in powerful ways in the lives of people across the country and a theme that emerges in the lead single from the album, “My Story.” “My Story,” written with GRAMMY®-nominated songwriter Jason Ingram, chronicles not only the story of the band members, but also a larger, overarching narrative. “If I told you my story, you’d see hope, you’d see love, you’d see victory, all these things, but it’s not mine. My story is really the story of what God has done in our lives, and the goodness of that is that it awakens things in other people. Our story is really just part of His story,” Mike offers.
“The idea for the song, “Already Done,” written with Josh Wilson, showed up on the road in the moment of us seeing people receive ‘Redeemed,’” Mike explains. “What we were seeing on the road is people really experience relief from dealing with things in their past, and God challenging us to realize, ‘It’s more than being forgiven. You have a purpose; there is more to this life. There is a greater reason for getting up in the morning. You matter to the Kingdom.’” Meanwhile, keystone “I Belong To God,” co-written with Matt Redman and Allison Mellon, was inspired by the band’s recent trip to Cambodia. The group heard a story about a young man who had been abandoned by his earthly father and connected so strongly with the Gospel that he would strum a guitar and shout at the top of his lungs: “I belong to God! I belong to God!” The centerpiece of the new song was forged, with the rest of the cut centering around human trafficking, one of the most critical issues facing Cambodia today. “I don’t know that I’m going to recover from that trip. We saw and heard things that were so terrible that when I got back, I tried to forget about it all,” Mike admits of the trip. “I feel ashamed when I say that. I really felt that I connected with God’s pain in that place, but I was trying to keep the pain at arm’s length. I didn’t realize it was Him at the time showing me what He sees.” “Letting the truth of that song get a hold of you will really change the way you view God and the way you view others,” Brian adds. In truth, the transformation they’ve experienced in their own lives and the miracles they’ve witnessed in the lives of others post-“Redeemed” have dramatically challenged the way the five men in Big Daddy Weave approach everything, from the songs they sing to the way they tailor their concerts each night. “Our focus is definitely not just on coming out with touching songs. Ministry is on the top of the list in terms of what God wants to do night to night,” Joe maintains. While they’re humbled by No. 1 singles that ensure a large number of people hear their songs, the awards, the fame, the attention, those aren’t the things the band views as significant. Obedience is their standard. “The things I used to hold as important, or the things I wanted to have control over the past few years, the Lord has allowed me to truly let go of that stuff and not care about it anymore,” Jeremy admits. Mike echoes Jeremy’s thoughts, adding, “When we hear the Lord, we want to do what He says, whether it looks like success to the world or not.” After all, the story they’re telling with their music and their lives is not their own. “We just pray these songs touch people’s lives,” Brian offers. “I think that’s what we hope for with this record; that He just takes it further, it reaches more people and that His story comes through in all of this.” In story and song, the members of Big Daddy Weave simply want their legacy to be one characterized by loving people and telling of the Love that’s changed their lives—their own beautiful offering. “When you see the goodness of the Lord, and it’s evident, not just in life, but in the lives of those around you like we’ve been able to see, all we care about now is just pursuing that and finding more of that,” Jay says. “I think you see that in the songwriting of this record, and I think you see that in the eyes of each member of this band.” Every song, every concert, every prayer they pray with the people they meet, they are giving it all to Jesus. “It’s about who we give it to,” Mike concludes, “and God can feed everybody with it.”
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Why Did Jesus Say That A Prophet Has No Honor In His Own Country? John 4:39-45
“They knew Jesus when he was a kid. They just said, ‘Hi Jesus,’ but they didn’t know he was God,” says Stacey, 6. It’s hard to talk with people who have known you for a long time, especially about spiritual matters. They think they know you. In most cases, they’re right, but not with Jesus. When Jesus taught in his hometown synagogue at Nazareth, those in attendance said, “Where did this Man get these things?” (Mark 6:2). The Bible says they were both astonished and offended. They saw Jesus heal people, but they couldn’t get past the fact that they knew his mother, brothers and sisters. After all, Jesus was only a carpenter. He didn’t have the proper academic or religious credentials. Be careful about despising the ordinary. Remember how God spoke to Moses for the first time? He used a burning bush. In God’s hands, something ordinary can become extraordinary. In Pharaoh’s court, the common staff Moses carried miraculously became a snake. When the prophet Samuel traveled to anoint a new king for Israel, he thought Jesse’s oldest son would be God’s choice. “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart’” (I Samuel 16:7). The Lord chose a shepherd boy attending his father’s sheep. Furthermore, David was the least likely choice in a society that favored eldest sons.
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He was the youngest son. God seems to delight in taking the least likely route. Jesus didn’t come into this world with great fanfare as most would expect of the Messiah. The place where he lived, Nazareth, was small and unimportant. The profession he chose, carpentry, didn’t impress. “Isaiah 53 shows that Jesus had been expecting this all along,” says Nathaniel, 9: “He is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from him; he was despised, and we did not esteem him” (Isaiah 53:3).
Art by Addison Think about this: Christians can honor Christ today by witnessing to the power of God’s saving grace and teaching others how to allow Christ to live through them. Memorize this truth: “For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country” (John 4:44). Ask this question: How can you honor Jesus Christ today?
The Old Testament is full of prophecies about the Messiah. The Hebrew prophets foretold where Jesus would be born (Bethlehem), the lineage of his birth (David’s offspring) and the sufferings he would endure for our sins (Isaiah 53:6). How ironic that the one foretold by the prophets would have no honor among his own people. “The people kept waiting for a prophet to come, but there he was right in front of them,” says Julia, 7. At our own peril, we ignore people and things that are right in front of us. Are you someone who thinks that you would have been right there following Jesus if you had seen the miracles he performed and heard the messages he preached? It’s easy to imagine what you would have done if you had lived in Jesus’ time. Although Jesus isn’t physically present on Earth today, we do have a reliable record of his ministry. We have access to the Bible, Bible commentaries and inspirational books in abundance.
February 2016
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.
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Do You Know Jesus?
Do you know Jesus Christ? Many have heard of Jesus and know a little about Him. Many sing songs about His birth at Christmas and know that Easter commemorates His resurrection. Some think of Him as a teacher or perhaps the founder of a major world religion. But, do you know Him personally? Do you know that Jesus died and rose again, not to start a spiritual movement but because He loves you and wanted to provide a way for you to know Him?
The Bible tells the story of God’s love for people. In the beginning, God created us to reflect His image and to have a relationship with Him (Genesis 1:27). We were created good, and then sin entered the world. We essentially chose to try life on our own without God, instead of living our lives for God as we were designed.
God loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross to pay the price for our sins and bring us into a relationship with Him. Through Him, we can know the promise of eternal life and experience the joy of knowing God here on earth!
If you would like to have a relationship with God, the Bible tells us that the first step is acknowledging that we have sinned and that there is nothing we can do to earn God’s love (Romans 3:2326). Next, we believe and confess that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9) and allow Him to guide our lives. Where we once wanted to control our own futures, we now invite Jesus into our hearts to be Lord over our lives.
Knowing God’s peace, perspective, and purpose for your life begins with a personal relationship with Jesus.
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Follow these steps to a New Life with Jesus 1 God’s purpose is life and peace: God desires for you to have life and peace now and for all eternity.”I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10b
2 Recognizing the problem: sin and separation: We were created to know, love and glorify God. When we choose to go our own way, living life in willful disobedience to God, we are choosing to be separated from God both now and for all eternity.The Bible says we are sinners…“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 But God is love…“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 And God is also just…“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
3 We cannot save ourselves: Because God is Holy, He cannot allow sin to enter into Heaven. Most people attempt to save themselves by their own efforts, good works or church attendance. The Bible says… “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 14:12 How then can a sinful person enter Heaven where God allows no sin?
4 We are saved by grace: The good news is… in spite of our sin, Christ died for us.“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not of
works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9” But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 5 Responding to God’s gift by faith: “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
Would you like to accept Jesus as Lord of your life? “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2:4-5
If you would like to accept Jesus as Lord of your life, you can pray the following prayer: Lord, I confess that I have sinned against You and ask You to forgive me. I’m sorry that my sin has hurt You and other people in my life. I acknowledge that I could never earn salvation by my good works, but I come to You and trust in what Jesus did for me on the cross.
I believe that You love me and that Jesus died and rose again so that I can be forgiven and come to know You. I ask You to come into my heart and be Lord of my life. I trust You with everything, and I thank You for loving me so much that I can know You here on earth and spend the rest of eternity with You in heaven. In Jesus name, Amen.
What do I do now? Just like a new baby needs to be cared for and nurtured in order to grow physically, a child of God needs to be nurtured in order to grow spiritually. Here’s how you can begin growing in Christ:
1 Tell someone: Tell a pastor or Christian friend who will help you grow and find your gifts of service. “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” Ephesians 4:11, 12
2 Be baptized: This is your first act of obedience. “So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.” Acts 10:48
3 Join the church: The church is where God’s family encourages and supports one another.”How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” Psalm 133:1
4 Pray and read your Bible daily: God communicates His will for your life through His Word and prayer.”Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105
Seek a godly mentor: A mentor teaches you the ways of God and how to live a holy life. “Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.” Titus 2:3
© 2015 Proverbs 31 Ministries All Rights Reserved. Used with Permission. For more info go to www.proverbs31.org
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Introducing Christian Doctrine Third edition
Millard Erickson Baker Academic
Introducing Christian Doctrine does exactly what the title says it is doing. It is a good introduction to the teachings of Protestant Christianity. In essence, the book is an introduction to Christian theology, the study of God. Erickson clearly states that the teachings are based on the Bible, which is the primary source for Christian teachings. The book is nicely divided into parts: Revelation, God, Humanity, the Person and Work of Christ, the Holy Spirit, Salvation, Church, and Last Things. Most pastors and teachers of the Bible directly or indirectly touch on these topics when teaching God’s Word. Even though the book is not intended to be a thorough study of each topic, Erickson does expose the reader to many viewpoints of the different topics. In the topic of Salvation, the reader will be exposed to the various concepts of salvation from Liberation Theologies, Existential Theology, Secular Theology, and Contemporary Roman Catholic Theology. Exposure to different thoughts and ideas that are presented in the academic arena gives the reader an awareness of what may be influencing us without our full awareness of thoughts that infiltrate modern Christians. Examples of Liberation Theologies are black, feminist, or Third World theologies emphasize the “basic problem of society is the oppression and exploitation of the powerless classes by the powerful.” This emphasis can sway people to focus on issues in the present world rather than salvation for individual eternal life after death. Salvation can involve the introduction of other things that are helpful for thinking through the wonderful work God has done to reconnect humanity and God after having fallen away because of sin. Effectual calling, conversion, regeneration, union with Christ, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance, and glorification are all aspects of our salvation that can help the believer connect to his or her marvelous identity with the Savior, Jesus Christ. Each of the topics is treated in a manner that can be a little confusing and overwhelming, but it serves as a nice introduction to many topics that one can choose to study further using other resources. The book is a good primer. Does the Christian need to know all of these theological terms? Perhaps not, but it does not hurt to learn a little and see what the Bible says about these life transforming truths. Introducing Christian Doctrine is another helpful resource to help the believer dig into the Scripture and embrace the teachings that have been passed down for generations. Hopefully it is a resource that will help the reader appreciate God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit; and his mighty deeds that have given us the opportunity to know the God of the Bible.
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Bookw Revie by
Miguel Paredes Is a teacher at Edinburg North and earned his Masters in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. He is married to Brenda and has four children: Diego, 14, Karla & Andrea, 11, and Charis, 7 .
Books: Love | Marriage | Dating His Needs, Her Needs: Building an Affair-Proof Marriage by Willard F. Jr. Harley
In the classic bestseller His Needs, Her Needs, Willard F. Harley, Jr., identifies the ten most vital needs of men and women and shows husbands and wives how to satisfy those needs in their spouses. He provides guidance for becoming irresistible to your spouse and for loving more creatively and sensitively, thereby eliminating the problems that often lead to extramarital affairs. This revised and expanded edition has been updated throughout and includes new writing that highlights the special significance of intimate emotional needs in marriage.
52 Ways to Connect as a Couple: Discover How Fun and Easy Romance Can Be by Jay Payleitner
Popular author and speaker Jay Payleitner shows that becoming one includes more than just staying married. It’s not just about compromise. And it’s not just about sacrifice and mutual submission. And it’s not just about sex. It’s about unity. Solidarity. Integrity. But how do you nurture oneness in the real world? In these 52 short readings, you’ll find fun, creative ways you and your spouse can embrace a common purpose and shared dreams. Jay addresses head-on some of the obstacles to oneness and suggests out-of-the-box solutions for overcoming them. • Share dreams. • Never compromise. • Hit bottom together. • Pay off the credit cards. • Kiss in the kitchen. • Laugh together. Cry together. • Serve. Be served. Sometimes spiritual, sometimes silly, but always practical, winsome, and wise, these ideas for drawing closer to each other and enjoying your unique connection will inspire and equip you to make your marriage better than ever.
Waiting and Dating: A Sensible Guide to a Fulfilling Love Relationship by Myles Munroe
DON’T KISS DATING GOODBYE! There is a much better way! Dr. Myles Munroe is an internationally acclaimed teacher and conference speaker with several best-selling books to his credit. In Waiting and Dating, Dr. Munroe offers a balanced, biblical view for every believer who wants a prosperous and fulfilling marriage relationship. He offers some of the best advice you will ever find on the subject of finding the one with whom you will spend the rest of your life. In Waiting and Dating, you will learn: • The importance of sharing your faith in God. • The need for personal wholeness. • The importance of true friendship in a relationship. • The myths of finding the right person. • How to discern the right mate. • Much, much more! The principles in this book will guide you through what for some is the most confusing time of your life. For anyone looking for that special someone with whom to share their life, this book is essential, fun, and full of hope!
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Thankfulness and boundaries Dear Dave, My fiancé and I are getting married in May. He’s a youth pastor, and I’m in grad school. His mom and dad found a home they think we’ll like, and they want to gift us money for a down payment. I’m not sure how I feel about this under our present circumstances. Do you think we should go ahead and accept when I’ll still be in school and we’ll still have debt to pay off? Emily Dear Emily, You need to get to know each other before you buy a house together. I always recommend that young couples rent for a year and concentrate on each other, the new marriage, cleaning up any debts you have, and establishing an emergency fund. Then, after another year or so when you’ve had time to take control of your finances, the idea of looking for a home becomes much smarter. It sounds like your future in-laws are really generous people. They’re trying to do something nice for you two, but they kind of got out ahead of things with this idea. And in the process, they violated some boundaries in your relationship with your fiancé.
My advice is to have a conversation with your fiancé about all this and get on the same page about what is the smart thing to do. Then the two of you need to have a loving discussion with his parents. Let him do most of the talking, and say thank you a lot, but let them know you both feel it would be best to start out by renting something for a year or so. Then after a little time has passed, tell them if they still want to help with a down payment you’d both very grateful.
Dave Says
I think this approach would be good for the boundary issues and for your finances! —Dave
Welcome to life Dear Dave, Our son just turned 8 years old. Is it time to start giving him an allowance? Dan Dear Dan, There’s never a time for an allowance, no matter the child’s age. In my mind, that kind of thinking is the best way to plant the seeds of entitlement. You want your son growing up with the idea that he’s owed money simply because he’s alive. Instead, work out a plan to pay him commissions. Assign him weekly chores that are age-appropriate. Then, when the work gets done, he gets paid. And guess what? If the work doesn’t get done, he doesn’t get paid! Not only do we want to teach a healthy work ethic, but we also want him to learn that work creates money.
* 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.
Of course, there are some things a child should be expected to do without financial reward. Everyone needs to pitch in and do certain things to help out when they’re part of a family. But once you’ve taught him about work, make sure to also teach him about the three uses for money—saving, spending, and giving. Lessons on the basic handling of money are some of the best teachable moments you can have with your child. Not only does it make them more knowledgeable about finances, it helps them learn about life! —Dave
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2016
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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