- WORD ON THE STREET MAGAZINE (WOTS) is a UW-Stout affiliated publication released twice per semester that has been in publication for 16 years. WOTS is written, laid out, and printed by members of Street Level Ministries on UW-Stout and UW-Superior campuses. We also print a version of the magazine on Cebu Island in the Philippines. We’re Christians who love Jesus and want to write about life, God, and college. [email protected] ReadWots.com

MEET THE WOTS STAFF: from three cities and 2 countries

UW-STOUT, Menomonie, WI UW-Superior, Superior, WI Cebu City, Philippines

2 FEATURED ARTICLES PHILIPPINES EXCLUSIVES INTEREST STORIES

TOLERANCE OR SALTED ANTHONY’S INTOLERANCE? CONVERSATIONS STORY

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Christian Athletes Summer Camp 2015! You Don’t Know Beans page 4 page 16 page 10

Modern Genocide: Iraq The 90s is the New 80s Band Interview: page 8 page 6 Hello December page 15 Signs You’re Starving Find Great Hangouts for Satisfaction page 7 page 18

3 Athletes you Didn’t Know were Christians 5Word on the Street, a branch of Street Level Ministries, wants to know what interests our readers. So when Street Level hosted their annual Block Party at the beginning of the semester, we did a poll asking students what they’d like to read about in the magazine. Thank you to everyone that participated! We chose one article, but all of your votes and suggestions will be considered in upcoming issues. The topic chosen is “Jesus in athletics”. Here are links and a short description of five athletes you may not have known were Christians. Type in the direct links below or go online to www.iamsecond.com and search for these athletes to hear their testimonies. Being a Christian is a way of life, not just a belief. God, if you let Him, can permeate everything you do. Being an athlete can be a way to shine for God using what you are passionate about. Listen to these guys tell about how they came to know God and the influence He has in the ring, on the field, on the ice and in the end-zone.

Josh Hamilton -Outfielder for Cincinnati Reds

“The next night I asked God; I said I need help. I’ve been trying to do this so long that I can’t do it anymore. I can’t try anymore because I fail on my own. You do with me what Mike Fisher you want to do with me. I -Hockey player for surrender.” Nashville Predators -www.iamsecond.com/seconds/josh-hamilton/ “At 19 I made it to the NHL. I made it. I made my dream. Everything was good on the exterior, but on the interior it was not Clayton Kershaw good at all.” -Pitcher for L.A. Dodgers -www.iamsecond.com/seconds/mike-fisher/ “When I kind of relinquished control of my life was the day I got drafted. That was life changing…It is just an amazing providence God had in my life. Landry Jones God was there the whole time I -Quarterback for just didn’t bother to look.” Pittsburg Steelers -www.iamsecond.com/seconds/clayton-kershaw/ “I had nothing I needed, I had everything. So I didn’t Vitor Belfort think I needed God.” -MMA Fighter in Ultimate Fighting -www.iamsecond.com/seconds/landry-jones/ “A lot of people say man, how can you serve God when you are there, you are punching, you are kicking someone? What about hockey or American football? Everyone is a fighter.”

-www.iamsecond.com/seconds/vitor-belfort/ 4 Delicious!

Think about your favorite food. Maybe it’s Crispy Pata, Pork Chop, Chocolate Cake, Ice Cream, or Pizza. Is your mouth watering yet? One of my favorites is Spaghetti, but I don’t love all the spaghetti in the world. There are only some that get my taste, and I believe you As food gets its taste from the can relate to this. We all have preferences the principles we live in taste and not all cooks have the same by and the things we value. For instance, ingredients used, we speak taste, so they prepare food differently. A when we fall in love with a person, we tend lot depends on which ingredients are used, to talk about him/her all the time. “Bukang according to the things that we and how much of each ingredient is there. bibig” in our language, because what is inside of our hearts bursts through our feed our hearts with – these are Speaking of ingredients, salt is a very speech. important and essential factor in cooking the things we believe in and the every kind of food. Have you tried a simple Now, if your words were to be converted to fried fish without first seasoning it with food, what would it be? Would it be fresh things we value. salt? The right amount of salt releases the and delicious, seasoned perfectly, or stinky, tastiness of food. It brings out all of the flavorless and spoiled? As we continually desire to have a delicious food’s best qualities. Indeed without salt, taste in every word we speak, let us not If you answered spoiled food, then we know food is never good. Keep this in mind as forget to season our hearts with salt, which there is something wrong. We may excuse you read the following Bible verse: is the Word of God, each and every day of ourselves by saying people just do not know our lives. Let us ask God that our hearts what we have gone through. We blame our “Let your speech always be will constantly seek His Word and that it family background or our sad childhood. gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you will be what will fill our hearts. As And we can definitely think of other ways to may know how you ought to answer each mentioned earlier, our speech is the output justify our speech. person.” of the input in our hearts. Let us make God’s Word the primary input every -Colossians 4:6 But this is what we know: that you can second of our lives and as a result it will be change it and turn your spoiled-food-taste the primary output of our mouths as well. Just like with food, the words that you words into fresh and delicious words that attract others to Jesus. Jesus Christ already speak reveal what is inside of you. As food Lastly, let us be watchful with the things died for your sins 2000 years ago including gets its taste from the ingredients used, we that we see and hear. speak according to the things that we feed your speeches that were negative, bad, foul our hearts with – these are the things we and offensive. This is the good news! “Above all else, guard your heart, for believe in and the things we value. How do Through God’s grace to all of us—no everything you do flows from it”. we feed our hearts? First, it is through our exceptions—we have the hope to restore - Proverbs 4:23 lifestyle. One famous saying goes, “You are our hearts. God promised that He will clean what you repeatedly do.” What materials our hearts as white as snow (Isaiah 1:18); ABOVE ALL ELSE! guard your heart! Let us do we frequently read? The movies or TV He will remove our defiled hearts and give not allow lies, anything negative and shows that we always watch? The websites us a new heart (Ezekiel 11:18). especially sinful things inside our hearts. that we always surf through the internet? Let us not allow things that will stain our The music that we always listen to? The Without Christ in our lives, we are full of hearts to enter. But this is possible only speeches that we always attend? These insecurities. These insecurities were why I through the grace of God. Indeed God’s things effect and steer the words we say kept bad-mouthing other people and grace is amazing because He not only because they’ve impacted our hearts. gossiping about others. Perhaps we find forgave and gave us a new heart but he satisfaction when we are able to hurt others also gave us the strength to guard our Secondly, your environment feeds your and feel more powerful than them, but God hearts, if we ask Him. heart and drives your words. The people is able to give us new hearts when we ask that surround you significantly shape who for forgiveness from Him and live to love Remember Luke 6:45, “For the mouth you are. These are the “ingredients” of others as he did, even in our conversations. speaks what the heart is full of”. Let our your speech because these are what enter When we desire to be like Jesus, we will hearts be full of God, so each day our the passages to your heart: your eyes and start to have compassion and love towards speech will be seasoned with salt. ears. And what we put in our hearts other people so that we are able to speak eventually becomes what we believe in, goodness towards them. 5 If time proves anything, it has certainly shown that you can’t keep a good decade down. Welcome back, 90s, you’ve been missed.

If you’ve recently sang at the top of your lungs when “MmmBop” resurrected from the dead on the radio, or if you’ve found yourself especially drawn to flannel as of late, you’ll know that the 90s is quickly sending the 80s out the door. Perhaps we have a lot of comments about the remakes of TV shows are revival of the 90s music. Take a trip back to your early childhood with us as we remember some of the greatest gifts the 90s gave us.

away from. A “scrub”, according to the hit, has no car, still lives GAMES with his mom, takes advantage of women, and has no money. Thanks TLC, for the warning. No tabs, no iPads, no Xbox. Most childhoods in the 90s were spent rescuing Super Mario’s princess. Only to be told that the Most importantly, we remember the cassette tapes that we princess is in another castle. The game was released in late 80’s have collected and the Song Hits booklet that we always carry but during the 90s, it still was a big hit! AND Brick Game! It is on our backpacks in case a random jam comes up. When the one of the most awesome things in the 90s. It also taught us to lyrics were unavailable, we would play and rewind the cassette wait for our turn because we had to share. tape over and over again until we get all the words and when we were unsure, we invited friends over to listen with us. We In the late 90s came the Dance Revo! The mat that made also remember the VHS Player and the rewinders that look like everybody want to dance. And who will forget the Tamagochi toy cars. Mania? We all wanted to own one and those who had one would cry when the pet died. We also had the Magic Spring that we would put on the stairs. We collected POG circles and MOVIES Magic Cards and we played “Apir-Apir” and we gained some Robin Williams will be remembered as a legend, particularly for and lost some. the numerous 90s films that encouraged the smiles of many kids—Aladdin, Flubber, Hook, and Patch Adams. One of his best MUSIC roles was Alan in Jumanji. Your favorite part might be the man- eating lion, the suffocating vines, or the rabid monkeys. Who The fellas from One Direction owe a profuse “thank you” to the knew rolling dice could be so treacherous? Pop in Jumanji for boy bands birthed out of the 90s. The catchy hooks crooned by your next dorm movie night to keep the 90s alive. *NSYNC or the Backstreet Boys will never leave your memory, whether you like it or not. Some classics are “Bye, Bye, Bye,” There is no doubt about it; Disney movies were a 90s staple. “Tearin’ Up My Heart,” “I Want it that Way,” and “Quit Playin’ There are too many to choose from, but we would all agree that Games with My Heart”. Go ahead, look them up if you need a one has undeniable superiority: The Lion King. Its catchy tunes, refresher. My sincerest apology for the days of humming that loveable characters, and colorful animations made us rewind will follow. that VHS tape over and over and over. We would have killed our older brothers if they ever taped over our beloved movie Creed’s smash hit “Higher” was the anthem to end all anthems. with something as inane as wrestling. Scott Stapp belted out the infamous question “Can you take me higher?” and followed up with such contemplative statements Jurassic Park. Need I say more? There is nothing better than as “where blind men see”. The next time you’re out for dinosaurs chasing scientists to take you right back to your karaoke, you’d better pick this great tune. childhood. Admit it. That Velociraptor looked SO real.

“No Scrubs” by TLC was, and still is, the go-to song for Before he was Sweeny Todd, Captain Jack, or the Mad Hatter, independent women who don’t give their love to just anybody. Jonny Depp was Edward Scissorhands. Even though his face was (And those women that are sick of the “Single Ladies” song by creepily pale, he lived alone in a giant mansion, had freakish Beyonce.) This song classified a new type of guy to stay far hands and a talent for landscaping. Edward Scissorhands is a 6 90s classic and reminded us all that scissors and waterbeds don’t mix.

We all wanted to have super powers when Batang X happened and followed the journey of three boys to the Magic Temple and after the BREAKPOINTE Friday Nights movie, we all rapped “Kalansay, tabi-tabi Fellowship Time. 6:30PM Cross Pointe Cebu Church Small group Bible conversations and fun! po sa bangkay, lulubog, lilitaw sa Crown Bldg., North Road 6, North Reclama- saradong hukay.” tion Area, Cebu City 2nd Fridays of the Month Across SM City Cebu Praise Night.6:30PM Beside Sun Gold Night of music and worship TV 3rd Fridays of the Month We had 5 colors to choose from in the Contact : AJ Legaspi Trivia Night. 6:30PM cast of Power Rangers (until there was 0933.525.6150 We challenge you to beat the champs! Tommy), and we yelled “it’s morphin’ time!” At 4:30, Ang TV! Si Sarah ang Munting Prinsesa at si Cedie and Munting SECONDWIND MINISTRY Friday nights Prinsepe, Daddy Long Legs, sina Julio at 7PM—9PM Julia: Kambal ng Tadhana —- Not only we Living Word Church of Cebu international Small group Bible Study followed these morning cartoons but we Banawa Good Shepherd Road sang their theme songs out loud though Landmark: Julie’s Bakeshop Intended for every individual member of we were not sure what the words were. the group to interact and reflect in the Contact : In the afternoon, we enjoyed Maria at process of studying Gods word for the goal Jun—0932.129.8915 of increasing intimacy with Christ. ang Pamilya Von Trapp and during the Hannah—0922.316.5145 weekends, Superbook and Flying House.

Where would 90s educational TV be MARANATHA 2nd Fridays of the Month without Sineskwela & MathTinik? We CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP YOUTH Youth Bonding Night. 7pm Bonding night includes movie time, learned Values and History through sports or other fellowship activities Hiraya Manawari and Bayani. Joy bubbled Maranatha Christian Fellowship within us every time we got to watch an Vicente Gullas Street Cebu City, Cebu last Fridays of the Month episode during the school day. Youth Prayer Meeting. 5pm Across 7-ELEVEN, Julies Bakeshop Youth Worship Night. 6:30pm Marimar dominated primetime and so & Palawan Pawnshop. Monthly youth worship gathering; did anime! We would all run home to not worship and word and ministry time. miss Dragon Ball. Do you remember the Saturdays naughty Chin Shan (voice by Andrew E)? Contact : Mary Ann 032.253.2491 E-Ball Ministry. 4pm Of course, we would never forget Venue: Sacred Heart Gym/Tinago Gym Samurai X, Lupin, Hunter X Hunter, A great time to hangout and play basket- Ranma 1/2 and Sailormoon. ball or cheer for your teams.

April 2-4, 2015 SNACKS Fresh Fire Conference. 9am - 10pm Venue: Maranatha World Outreach We loved the comic strip that came with Annual Youth Conference every bar of Bazooka. We collected them and let our classmates read them. We liked our recess snacks. We had GoodyGoody and Boogeyman. Then METROPOLITAN YOUTH Friday Nights there were Cracker Nuts and RikRik. PAWNyt. 7PM Metropolitan Christian Fellowship and

Family Ministries Inc., PAW means Prayer Adoration and Worship. There were a lot of great things about the Mezzanine Floor, GMT Building, It is a weekly gathering of college students 90s and these three columns are not P. Del Rosario St., Cebu City and young professionals. enough. If you have never heard of those, Across Elicon House, beside USC Main you definitely are from a different It is an avenue for everyone to share their decade. If you are familiar with the things Contact : Japhet joys and even their deepest hurts. Also a mentioned, you really are a 90s kid. Don’t 0922.877.1802 wonderful time to minister and share love. you miss it? 7 MODERN GENOCIDE

“THEY ARE SYSTEMATICALLY BEHEADING CHILDREN, MOTHERS AND FATHERS. THE WORLD HASN'T SEEN AN EVIL LIKE THIS FOR A GENERATION. THERE'S ACTUALLY A PARK IN MOSUL THAT THEY'VE BEHEADED CHILDREN AND PUT THEIR HEADS ON A STICK… THIS IS CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.”

- Mark Arabo, National Spokesman for Iraqi Christians

More than a war our parents fought Middle Eastern culture, it has a rich presence in their past. A vicious catastrophe against our Christian and non-Muslim Beginning in the 1st century AD, Christianity was embraced by family is taking place 6,211 miles away. It’s a grotesque wave of the Assyrian people. These new believers went out and formed evil claiming the lives and security of thousands. To turn a blind the Syrian Orthodox Church, the Chaldean Church, and eye would be ignorant, even hateful. "People are afraid of Protestant denominations. Like many people groups, however, what's coming next. I'm not going back," said Lina, who fled time brought problems. The Iraqi military carried out a large- Mosul with her family as the militants swept in and came to scale attack on these Assyrians in 1932. The military dashed Alqosh, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) to the north. "Each day villages and made a mission of disintegrating churches and we went to bed in fear," the 57-year-old woman recalled as she monasteries. The year 1991 brought its own challenges when sat in a house for displaced people. "In our own houses we the Iraqi Government was slapped with sanctions during the knew no rest." Like other Christians who fled here, she spoke Gulf War. The Christians who lived for years with their Muslim under the condition that she be identified only by her first neighbors packed up and headed west. Saddam Hussein and his name. Lina finished her statement saying, "I fear there will be a regime persecuted the Kurds and some Shia areas more than day when people will say: 'There were once Christians in Iraq.’” the Christians and then decided to move on. Overall, the government’s desire was for the oil-rich areas inhabited by Although almost no one thinks of Christianity when they picture 8 Christians. Christians could be found making their homes in the capital of Baghdad, the northern cities of Kirkuk, Irbil and Mosul.

Please, watch the news Iraq is a pot brim-full and ready to boil over completely. The news and social media in recent weeks have been full of endless horror stories springing from the Middle East. From opposition armies being beheaded by ISIS and displayed on fence posts for all to see, to Christians forced to convert to Islam, pay an infidel tax, or die by the sword, the stories are as heart-wrenching as they are barbaric. As ISIS moves forward with their plan to annihilate Christians and other religious minorities throughout Iraq and Syria, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel had this to say, “They are beyond just a terrorist group, they marry ideology, a sophistication of strategic and tactical military prowess…. This is beyond anything we have seen, and we must prepare for everything. And the only way to do that is that you take a cold, steely hard look at it and get ready.” because it’s happening so far away? Sadly, we have the option to remain blissfully ignorant, but thankfully, we also have the option Mark Arabo, a national spokesman for Iraqi Christians and a to watch video footage, read the news, immerse ourselves in their Chaldean-American businessman, said the “evil” being carried pain and join with these Christians in prayer and support. out by ISIS militants in Iraq now includes shocking beheadings Sometimes we say things like, “I guess we need to be thankful for of children. "They are systematically beheading children, the freedoms we have and not take them for granted.” This is true. mothers and fathers. The world hasn't seen an evil like this for But is this all the Christian should learn from what is going on in a generation. There's actually a park in Mosul that they've the world today: that we don’t really have it that bad in America? beheaded children and put their heads on a stick. And they We’re so privileged here, but instead of using our resources for have them in the park. This is crimes against humanity. The God and others, we become self-centered; a trait that has sadly whole world should come together. This is much broader than come to define many American Christians. Please don’t live your a community or faith. This is crimes against humanity and they life just trying to learn how to not take things for granted. Read the are doing the most horrendous, the most heartbreaking things articles; see the faces. Understand that these people are your you can think of," he explained. brothers and sisters, and they deserve your prayers and acknowledgment. Don’t forget, God is the only stable One we can Not the first time, not the last time rely on – not American safety and comfort. Persecution, which means to treat someone cruelly or unfairly especially because of race or religious or political beliefs5, has How you Can Help been around since the beginning and is nothing new to the Has this stirred your interest in giving aid to those suffering in Iraq? Christian church. Note, however, that the majority of Voice of the Martyrs (VOM), which is an inter-denominational Christians, especially in the west, have probably never faced organization, is currently assisting 2,000 Christians in Iraq by persecution that could endanger their own life. Acts 8:1 says, sending humanitarian items like clothing, water and food supplies. “Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with Members of the public are encouraged to donate to VOM through the killing of Stephen. A great wave of persecution began that their donation page at www.persecution.com. day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the Apostles were scattered through the 6 You can also give to Barnabas Aid at: https://barnabasaid.org/ regions of Judea and Samaria.” Here a great Christian servant They offer specific options for where your donation money is was stoned to death for everyone to see and it has been going allocated. on ever since. In no way are the actions of ISIS acceptable, but there is absolutely no doubt that God’s plan for this world and the Christians in it will stand. The Bible goes on to record how 1 Answers.yahoo.com persecution only advanced the Gospel. You can read Philippians 2 www.huffingtonpost.com 1:12-18 for more details. This has been seen not only 3,4 www.christianpost.com 5 www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/persecute throughout history, but also in places like China, where the 6 All verses quoted from blueletterbible.org underground church is thriving in the face of intense Pictures: irannewsupdate.com/images persecution. While the terrorists intended harm to the church, God allowed the scattered Christians to share Jesus with people in the countries to which they had been exiled.

What does this have to do with us? Can you read this and remain unmoved? Does this seem surreal 9

Coffee IQ a little Take a second to low? Coffee smarts are easier to come steep in our field guide. Make your by than you may think. Boost your next trip to the café an informed caffeine know-how experience. in no time flat.

THE COUNTERPARTS Cappuccino: Divided up into thirds: One-third Frothed Milk (Mustache espresso, one-third steamed milk, and one-third mustache Material): A smooth, almost material. Warning: Don't taint your taste buds with that gas silky foam that sits on top of station cappuccino - go straight for the good stuff at your cappuccinos, lattes and local coffee shop. mochas. The frothing comes from air being injected into the milk that is steamed. Talk about a two-for-one.

Steamed Milk (It isn't just mad; it's steaming): Just as it’s described, this milk is heated with steam until it Americano: Composed of one or more shots of reaches a temp around 150 espresso topped off with hot water. Classic, simple, eye- to 155 degrees Fahrenheit. opening. Another plus? It’s usually a cost-effective option! Never has warm milk had it so good.

Espresso (Yahoo!): This isn’t a specific bean, but is another way of preparing coffee. The process basically requires shooting pressurized Café Latte: Consists of one shot of espresso and hot water through finely two parts steamed milk with the option for additional ground coffee. Then, presto! frothed milk. To kick it up a notch, ask the barista for a You have espresso! flavor shot in your latte. We’d recommend vanilla, hazelnut, cinnamon or caramel.

10 NO CHEAP SHOTS Breve: If you prefer your latte to be a Espresso taste: Espresso should have all the good little creamier, try this. A rich latte with half flavors of the coffee bean without the bitterness. and half substituted for regular milk.

For this part, we interviewed two expert baristas from the Blind Munchies Coffeehouse in Menomonie. Here’s what they said:

WOTS: What does a perfect shot of espresso taste like? Café Mocha: Similar to Café Latte, but with the addition of chocolate and the BARISTAS: When looking for a good shot of option of whipped cream. Do you want some espresso there are two characteristics you want whip with that? to see.

One: Does the espresso exhibit good crema? French Press: Not the Paris newspaper but a way to prepare coffee using Crema is the froth-like foam that sits on top of the coarse-ground coffee and boiling water combined in a bleaker-style device shot of espresso and occurs towards the tail-end with a screen plunger. The plunger is used to strain coffee grounds from your of the shot being pulled. You can tell if you have a coffee. good crema by rolling the cup to see if you can get the crema to stick to the sides. Another way to tell is to look at the color of the crema. There should Steamer: A flavored latte minus the espresso. Add a flavor of your choice to be a nice ivory coloring to it. make it a sweet sipper certain to put you in sleep mode. Two: Does the espresso have a pleasing aroma? Roasting: Chemically changes the coffee bean through heating it to various Does it smell like a rich, cup of coffee or does it degrees for specified periods of time. smell burnt and/or weak? If the shot smells like the latter, it will taste the same. The espresso Body: The way the coffee feels in your mouth in regard to weight or should have strong coffee scent. thickness. The body is where you discover the coffee's richness, which includes aroma and flavor. Fancy, huh? Do’s and Don'ts of Ordering Coffee:  Don't order like you’re at a Starbucks unless Iced Coffee Drinks: These drinks involve similar ingredients to their hot you are there. counterparts with the addition of ice and cold milk.  If you ever find yourself in Italy, do not ask for a latte, otherwise you will receive a glass of Barista: The person you should be nice to who makes and serves you coffee milk. and coffee drinks.  If you don't understand the coffee menu or an item on the menu, ask the barista. They KNOW YOUR BEANS would rather have you ask as opposed to guessing.  Don't talk on your cell phone while placing Light Roast: Beans are light brown in color, with a slightly tan body and no your order: it’s rude, and you may end up oil present on the surface of the bean. The flavor of the light roast can be with the wrong drink. considered a toasted grain taste with lots of acidity.  If the coffee shop doesn’t have what you want, ask if they’d create a drink for you. Be Medium Roast: The name already says it all. The bean is roasted to a daring. medium brown color with more body than that of the light roast. The medium still doesn't have any oil on the surface. Unlike its lighter Now that you’re an informed coffee drinker, bop counterpart, medium boasts a balanced flavor, aroma and acidity. down to your local coffee shop and hone your skills. Dark Roast: This will be the darkest of them all, as you can guess by the name. The surface of the bean will be covered in oil. The dark roast is where you can really start tasting the flavors of the roasting process. The coffee can be described as bitter and smoky or even as having a burnt taste to it.

11 HAVE TODAY’S CRIES FOR TOLERANCE BECOME A SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE FORM OF TYRANNY?

Years ago, it was rare to hear the word “cell” in everyone.” (Romans 12:18)1 True tolerance everyday conversation. When uttered, it meant a says it’s OK to allow your roommate to like cold, iron-barred structure for inmates; today it’s as the Vikings (or Packers), to permit your common as the devices glued to our palms. “Sick” dad to listen to Styx hits while he works used to mean you weren’t feeling well – now it’s on his car, or to allow your little sister to become a coveted description for clothing, cars and put up a One Direction poster without tunes. No one would argue that some word your interference. Some issues are a meanings change drastically over time. Such is the matter of choice, taste, culture, case with the current crowd favorite, “tolerance”. generation or location.

Type “tolerance” into your Google browser, and this Time has done odd things to definition will pop up: “the ability or willingness to our concept of tolerance. tolerate something, in particular the existence of Our practice of this ideal opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily has morphed more than agree with.” You might tolerate your roommate’s the Teenage Mutant bizarre choice of music just as much as you tolerate Ninja Turtles in the the pouring rain on your way to class. You aren’t past two decades. partial to either of these things, but you allow them Tolerance has to go on alongside you because of tolerance. become the Tolerance typically results in peaceful or passive cool kid of disagreement between two parties. the current generation. Intolerance, on the other hand, is defined as, Ask anyone “unwillingness to tolerate views, beliefs, or on the behavior that differ from one's own.” Maybe you’re street, and intolerant of the moldy ramen your roommate you’ll hear new tolerance defined as: valuing leaves in the fridge for weeks on end, so you and affirming everyone else’s opinion and covertly dump it out when they’re in class. You lifestyle. What we’re really saying when we don’t agree that letting food go bad in a common plead this new tolerance is: “You have to fridge is acceptable behavior, so you do something agree with and affirm what I believe.” about it. Intolerance usually results in action. Suddenly, we are no longer merely living peacefully with one another’s beliefs and Life would be pretty difficult without a measure of choices; we want full approval of all of our tolerance. If you erupted in dispute every time you personal choices. But disagreement is still were confronted with beliefs, opinions or behavior acceptable in our free and modern society, that didn’t make sense to you, you’d end up isn’t it? Today, tolerance holds a picketing friendless and homebound, because travel of any sign that reads: “Everything I do is kind would be out of the question. Tolerance, in the acceptable; disagree with me and you bear classic sense, should be used to help us peacefully the scarlet letter “I” for intolerant.” coexist alongside one another. We live in a Disagreement these days can lead to generation, culture, and on a campus with people ostracism and even labels like “bigot,” and very different from ourselves. The Bible speaks “ignorant”. But should we be so quick to about how we are to live in this kind of culture, “Do embrace a tolerance that disagrees with all that you can to live in peace with nothing and has been badgered into silence?

12 By definition, in order to “tolerate” anything, we must originally disagree with it. You don’t have to tolerate someone who agrees with you. You may need to tolerate your roommate chewing tobacco even though you think it’s disgusting – gross, but not necessarily wrong — so you put up with it without interfering. Increasingly, however, the ability to disagree has been robbed from those who would insist that absolute truth exists— those who stand on the belief that a standard for truth has been given to humanity in the form of the Bible. It’s amazing to watch tolerance become intolerant when someone tries to live according to what they believe. The open embrace of tolerance in these situations quickly becomes a pointing finger that says “You HAVE TO agree with us, condone our behavior, hop on our bandwagon and embrace our belief.” In refusing to allow views that oppose popular trends, the new tolerance essentially says, “Tolerate us. Or else.”

And here’s where it gets tricky. We’ve pleaded tolerance in so many areas of life for so long that we’ve forgotten about occasions where intolerance might actually be needed, helpful, or even right. During her sophomore year, my friend spent a scary semester in the dorms with a roommate who was beginning a love affair with crack. Her roommate had nothing but a bottle of Pepto Bismol and a pack of Newport Lights in the Today, tolerance holds a picketing sign that reads: “Everything I do is acceptable; disagree with me and you bear the scarlet letter “I” for intolerant.” fridge, and she was losing weight rapidly. She would go days without coming home and was beginning to forget important things like where she put her credit card and the fact that she was supposed to attend classes. In that case, would “tolerance” of her lifestyle have been right, or was it time to speak up and help her? It would have been easiest, and more comfortable, to stand, passively tolerating the situation and avoiding confrontation, only to watch her plummet and potentially end up dead. Is it possible that, in some cases, intolerance exercised in love could actually be a life-saver?

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We are all intolerant. I don’t tolerate people breaking into my For the Christian, tolerance is not the greatest house; I would call the police. New tolerance says that you’d be good; God’s limitless, selfless, rescuing love is. violating their rights as an individual to do what they believe is right: stealing. It’s a dizzying ride on the tolerance merry-go- we would be left alone, hopeless, and without love – a round. It’s confusing because tolerance, to many people, has miserable existence. become the greatest good. If you are neutral towards everyone

and purely “tolerant”, then you are a “good person” according God demonstrated selfless love instead of mere tolerance; He to the culture. But standing by and saying nothing in the name broke into our lives to confront and deal with sin once and for of tolerance can have devastating effects on others, causing all, making it possible for sinful people to be in close them harm rather than bringing good. This passive approach relationship with a perfect God. This is a beautiful example of would lead to a society with no shelters for the battered or how love can be intolerant. “But God showed his great love for homeless, no alcohol rehab programs, and certainly no criminal us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still arrests or prisons. After all, wouldn’t we be an intolerant society sinners.” (Romans 5:8) for suggesting that they needed help, or that maybe their

previous lifestyle choices were, well, wrong? This isn’t the idea of going out and attacking other people if

they believe something different than you. When Jesus came, Tolerance has created its own god. In his book A Call to He interacted with sinners—He ate and drank with them and Resurgence, Mark Driscoll describes the god of tolerance. “The hung out at their houses. If you’ve ever felt like God was distant tolerant god did not write the Bible, is not troubled by sin, is and detached, or like you were too screwed up for God to love, incapable of wrath, does not damn anyone, and will save maybe this verse will help: “God sent his Son into the world not everyone. The tolerant god does not care what name you call to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” (John him/her/it/they or what religion you adhere to. The tolerant god 3:17) is curiously tolerant of everyone and everything except the real

God—because the tolerant god is the same serpent who True love sticks around when things are messy and painful, tells appeared in the Garden so long ago.”2 the truth, and then goes beyond by offering something better—

even if that offer brings ridicule and accusations on the one THE CHRISTIAN AND TOLERANCE suggesting another path. Few people wanted to hear Jesus’ For the Christian, tolerance is not the greatest good; God’s truth back then, just like most would prefer to avoid it today. limitless, selfless, rescuing love is. There is something better and The new tolerance is the same intolerance that put Jesus on the more powerful than tolerance: love. God didn’t just tolerate His cross 2,000 years ago. They didn’t like what He had to say about beloved, created people spiraling downward as they gave sin, so they killed Him. Let’s not allow the new tolerance to turn themselves over to a lifestyle of sin; He did something about it. our generation into people who agree with everything because Instead of allowing us to die apart from Him with no hope, He we’re too afraid of what it might mean to hear the truth. sent His own Son, Jesus, to earth: a perfect Man who died in our

place for the sin we could not escape. Romans 6:23 says, “For Sources: the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life 1: All verses quoted from the New Living Bible Translation (NLT) through Christ Jesus our Lord.” He made the way possible for Charles Colson, Against the Night, p. 93. people to turn from their sin and be covered by the perfect life 2: Driscoll, Mark. "Toughen Up and Love." A Call to Resurgence: Will Christianity Have a Funeral or a Future? N.p.: n.p., n.d. 208. Print of His own Son. But God didn’t just passively disagree with our sin—in fact Psalm 5:4 says that God hates sin. “O God, you take no pleasure in wickedness; you cannot tolerate the sins of the wicked.” If God had just stopped there and “tolerated” our sin,

TrueTrue lovelove seeksseeks whatwhat isis bestbest forfor someonesomeone else,else, eveneven ifif thatthat requiresrequires pointingpointing outout somethingsomething harmfulharmful toto thatthat person.person. 14 One of our WOTS Philippines writers heard this band on this first gig ever. They played last November on a Throwback event of the 70s, 80’s and 90’s.

Hello December is a new band in Cebu and because they are only just beginning, WOTS decided to interview the guys be- hind Hello December.

Vocals : Geg Araniego Guitar : Joey Paraguya Guitar : Ryan Pacio Bass : TonTon Paraguya Drums : Jhon-Resty Fuentes

Word on the Street: Hello, Hello December! HD Geg: Four Year Strong HD Joey: All of us. It will be a team thing. Can you tell us who plays what? HD Jhon: Saosin, Forever the Sickest Kids HD Jhon: With lyrics, Geg. With Hello December Joey: Jhon plays the drums, WOTS: How will you guys describe your arrangement, Boss Joey. Ryan and Joey play the Rock n’ Roll guitars. genre of music? HD Joey: But I can’t do it alone. We will need TonTon plays the Rock n’ Roll Bass and Geg, HD Jhon: Since we are very new, we are still Jhon to give it the groove. So it’s teamwork. the Rock n’ Roll Vocals. looking for that certain sound. But as of now, WOTS: Are you looking for more Gigs in the WOTS: Why did you name the band Hello murag Punk Rock pa. Punk because as of the future? December? moment, and among tukar mga compositions HD Jhon: Yes! Definitely. We are going full HD Joey: Geg started the desire to make a pa man ni Geg. But we are starting to make blast in 2015. So watch out! band way back in Ozamis. compositions on the heavier side. WOTS: Do you cover songs also? HD Jhon: Pero kami ni Boss Joey, dugay na WOTS: What kind of heavy sound do you HD Jhon: Yes. We have done covers of The jud mi nag-desire nga magbanda. Pero at that mean? Police Smash Mouth. You should check out time, dili pa siya allowed mag-banda and I HD Jhon: We want to sound heavy but with our cover of “All Stars”. was a student, so naa koy curfew. very light or happy vocals. Something like WOTS: Is any of you members of other bands HD Geg: The word “Hello” signifies friendship Four Year Strong. in the past? Or does solo gigs also? and “December” is associated with love and HD Joey: Something melodic. HD Jhon: I am in a choir. I’m a bass. giving. I have met a lot of musicians sa WOTS: What do you aim to make your HD Joey: I do sessions. Ozamis pero I was not able to convince them audience feel when you play your music. HD Jhon: Church. to start the band with me. HD Joey: Normally when the music is heavy, WOTS: Church, because most of you are WOTS: So how did you guys meet? it is about anger, like you want to hit from the same church. Right? HD Jhon: Nilarga man si Boss Joey to Ozamis someone, but we want to be the happier side HD Joey: Yes. para skwela. of heavy music. WOTS: When people know that you are HD Joey: Sa La Salle University mi nagkaila ni HD Jhon: So our goal is to inspire people. Christians, how does that affect you? Like, is Geg. Then nibalik na kog Cebu, then nibalhin Because all of us have day jobs and night jobs there a disadvantage if you are labeled as a pud siya diri after a couple years. for the call center people and usually after Christian band? HD Geg: Nianhi kog Cebu, August 2014 and I their work, they are stressed out and tired so HD Jhon: I don’t think it is a disadvantage. asked Joey if he was interested to start Hello what we want is send a message to people For me, we do not want them to know that December. that despite your heavy and hectic lifestyle, we are Christians just because we are saying HD Jhon: Na-timingan nga pareho na pud nga you can still be happy and there is still that we are but we want them to know that church si Ryan. meaning in your life. we are Christians through the music that we HD Joey: And TonTon is my brother. WOTS: You mentioned you are playing make and how we move and do things. HD Jhon: So we just decided to use Hello original songs and these are Geg’s WOTS: Any last words? December. compositions, how will you describe these HD Jhon: We just want to enjoy music and WOTS: We know that each of you guys play songs? we all want to make a living out of music. multiple instruments. Was it difficult for you HD Joey: Love Songs. Happy love songs. HD Joey: It is difficult but music is our decide who will play what? HD Jhon: We are going to write more passion. HD Joey: No, we just decided to stick to our originals. HD Jhon: It may be difficult but we are strengths. WOTS: Who among you are into writing willing to take our chances. WOTS: Artists you look up to? songs? HD Joey: Blink 182, Angels & Airwaves

15 16 One Man’s TRUE STORY I thought having a broken past would leave me nothing but a broken future. I was wrong.

Growing up with a complicated because they started to how I viewed my life and family background was both acknowledge me. They started to myself. It changed how I disappointing and degrading. appreciate me. They started to approached life. And for the Having two mothers, one foster accept me. But the moment I first time, I felt truly father, two half sisters and failed. All those things I've accepted. And I never lived my two half brothers, two of which worked for went gone. They life the same way again. I didn't meet, a biological rejected me again. father whose face and name I do It affected even the path I not know, is not an ideal I felt so down and started to chose in life. After graduating family setting. think that a person with a in college and a year of work shattered past like me doesn't as a high school teacher, I It affected how I viewed myself have a chance to have a whole, chose to serve him as a full and my life. I felt so inferior decent future. But my situation time campus missionary. I compared to others. I felt so started to change when I met my responded to the call because I insecure. I felt so rejected. I LIFE Coach Kuya Vynz. He know that in this present thought that that I am not started spending time with me generation, there are a lot of meant for any good thing here and started to talk to me about young people out there who are on earth. God and he was always looking for acceptance in other positive. He told me that I am things — temporary things, just But I did not want to stay in made for so much more and that like I did. that position forever. So I in my search for acceptance started my search for there already is someone who I never thought that God can acceptance. Sadly, I searched has already accepted me despite use me and my life to minister in the wrong places and chased my shattered past. to this generation. It became after the wrong things. I my passion since then to reach joined youth gangs. At first, I I never believed his words, not out to those who are led astray felt accepted. But it did not until he introduced Jesus to in this unfair world and point last. So I got tired of it and me. He shared about the God who them to the true source of decided to change strategy. died on the Cross for me so acceptance — God. The God who that I may be accepted back to died that we might live. The If making a bad image won't His family. That I don't need God who was rejected so that we gain me attention and to perform because he already can be accepted. acceptance I tried the other did all the things that I need side of the spectrum. I tried to do. And that even when I to be good. I tried performing fail, His love and view of me to be accepted. I tried to won't change. I already knew achieve in my studies. I joined about those things but I have different organization that to admit, this time it felt serves the community. I tried different. It felt so real. It to be a good leader. I did all felt so genuine. I felt the these good works with the sole love of God. I felt God. intention of pleasing the people around me. And for a My encounter of Him and His short time it felt really good truth changed me. It changed

17 SIGNS YOU ARE STARVING FOR SATISFACTION

Many of us will spend our whole lives ignorant of our condition – oblivious to the fact that we should be desperate for a cure.

There is an epidemic from “tomorrow-ism” believe that when they graduate college, get a good job, make a lot of money, retire early, and travel, they will live the rest of their days plaguing our nation. happy. Today is only a means to get to a happier tomorrow. It is nothing new; it has been spreading for thousands of years since a well-known couple ate The grass is always greener: If you feel like your desires have ADHD in every a piece of fruit in a garden. It causes us to chase aspect of your life, and you are convinced anything besides what you have will things we can never catch and leaves us feeling bring you more joy, you may be suffering the early-onset symptoms of the as though we are continually one step behind. disease. This could be anything from your girlfriend/boyfriend, to your career There is a known cure, and it’s free for the path, to your phone. You keep searching for something “satisfaction- taking. The problem is that many of us will spend guaranteed”, but nothing meets your expectations. our whole lives ignorant of our disease – oblivious to the fact that we should be desperate Focusing on feeling good: If you’ve noticed that the pleasure of obtaining for a cure. If you’re concerned this condition things or desired relationships only lasts for a brief period of time, chances are could be lurking inside you, test yourself with the good you’re lacking satisfaction. If, once the alcohol or drug wears off, the food warning signs below. is digested, or the sex ends, you are left with an empty feeling, you are a prime candidate for the Cure. The temporary good-feelings may cause you to chase Always looking to tomorrow: If you find yourself that feeling again, but to try to make it better or stronger the next time so it often thinking, “Once I achieve (fill in the blank) I lasts longer. Be aware that soon every decision you make will be based solely on will be happy,” you may be displaying the your enjoyment level. warning signs of this plague. Those who suffer 18 Taking over the world: This symptom is identified with a desire to climb up the social, political, or corporate ladder. Victims may base their worth on who they have power over, and they are seldom satisfied with anything less than the best. WEWE AREARE DESIGNEDDESIGNED Clinging to life for . . . dear life: This symptom will cause TOTO DESIREDESIRE,, BUTBUT the diseased to do anything and everything to have their hopes, dreams and desires come true. While seemingly NOTHING CREATED harmless at first, this will eventually lead sufferers to NOTHING CREATED compromise values, beliefs and relationships to pursue their goals. Warning signs include an insatiable desire to ONON THISTHIS PLANETPLANET ISIS have things done their way, in their time, no matter what.

ROBUSTROBUST ENOUGHENOUGH ININ Do any of these describe you? If so, would you want a cure if one was offered? We are designed to desire – but nothing created on this planet is robust enough in itself to ITSELFITSELF TOTO REALLYREALLY really cure our burning longing for something more. Thankfully, More exists, and He wants you, too. More is CURECURE OUROUR the God who made you – the God who sent Jesus to earth to show us how God’s love is able to satisfy a human soul. RAVENOUSRAVENOUS LONGINGLONGING The Cure begins when a fatally ill person has an encounter with Jesus. Read the instructions for the Cure in the Bible FORFOR SOMETHINGSOMETHING – specifically the book of John, chapter three. The key to finding satisfaction in God is surrendering everything to MOREMORE.. THANKFULLY,THANKFULLY, Him and trusting Him to be more than enough to fulfill any longings you have. When you see Jesus, it’s possible MORE EXISTS,, ANDAND to give up your own desires and “life plan” and seek after MORE EXISTS what God’s desire and purpose is for you. This is the only cure for our satisfaction-starved souls. HEHE WANTSWANTS US,US, TOO.TOO. When you stop feeding from an I.V. of the world’s version of “the pursuit of happiness,” you’re not left to slowly shrivel up and die. You get Jesus. He becomes your lifeline. You begin to experience His love, and His kind, near presence in day-to-day life. It’s so good to know Jesus, that you’ll soon forget why you were looking for fulfillment in anything or anyone else.

This might seem like a daunting task, and it will take time, but it is much simpler than you might think. Start by reading the Bible. It is God’s Word and how He primarily tells us about Himself. You can go to a Bible study and ask questions. Discussing issues with fellow Christians isa great way to learn more. Finally, get involved in a local church. This is where you get to worship and serve God, learn more about Him, and connect with others who are satisfied with Jesus.

The world will tell you, “Chase your goals, dreams, desires, emotions and pursue whatever you wish.” The world will feed the disease, but the world is not satisfied: it is starving. God has offered a Cure through a relationship with Jesus. “He who loses his life for My sake will find it.” -Jesus, Matthew 10:39. Are you ready to be satisfied?

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