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Dear women's ministry, This Thanksgiving I am stop telling me I'm grateful for the power of beautiful a magic 3-letter word Singleness: God’s gift Changeless God in a that nobody wants changing world Job: the revelation of The late, great God in suffering stem-cell debate

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0 ☬ Tantalising Trivia~ Issue ☬9 Jun -Inspirational Aug 2017 ~ People ☬ 0

A quarterly, electronic magazine for all Christians, with a focus on singles. Issue No. 10 Sep - Nov 2017

~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Contents

CONTENTS 5 13 16 18 20

Singleness: God’s gift that What is submission when it No alcohol? But Jesus The Mattering-ness of mattering The predator in the fashion nobody wants comes to marriage? turned water into wine! things magazine: teen Vogue coaches teenagers in sodomy Competition22: 26 27 29 31 33 Last chance to win a $60 voucher!

SPAG competition! I’m tired of being The joys of a petite church The late, great stem-cell This Thanksgiving I am 17 Things Healthy People Need to (ends 31 October 2017) thankful debate: why pro-lifers were grateful for the power of a Hear During Invisible Illness right magic 3 letter word Awareness Week 35 40 41 42 44 47

Job: The Revel- Women can smell Biography: Lori Yanez, Dear w omen’s ministry: Did Archaeologists Really Are you willing to be sent ation of God in desperate SPAG’S new journalist stop telling me I’m Discover a New Dead Sea where few can see y ou? Scroll Cave? Suffering beautiful!

49 68 80 82

Dating as an older, Changeless God in a changing It’s not about being right Letter to a new single Christian world: part 1 Christian

2 3&4 7 12 12, 22, 46, 90 Regular Sections: 32

Knock, Knock.. Who’s There? 15 23 25 48 52 53 55

News Snippets Good Grief: ten things I’ve A-Musings: Men are Thanksgiving: How is Modern missionaries: Open Doors: Could Kim Jong-Un learned about grief from Mars your heart? PNG adventures - I’m be setting up North Korea for nothing special revival? 57 58 67 79 88 89 78, 90 Puzzle Page

Creation Ministries: Inspirational People: God, Child genius stuns Up close & personal with arthropods inspire strong, the Bible and the Space- leaders in temple wild-life: Loggerhead Sea biodegradable material Race Turtle

1 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 1

~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Editor’s Letter

SPAG Magazine Staff & Contact Details Viickii Nunn:: Editor, Journalist, layout designer and graphic artist JJoseph Kollapudii:: Journalist Lorrii Yanez:: Journalist Welcome to the tenth issue of SPAG Magazine Liz Gill: Modern Missionaries Journalist We’ve swung into September with another terrific issue of Lou:: SPAG Counsellor (anonymous) SPAG Magazine, bursting with amazing and informative Krriisttiie:: Chef articles. While Thanksgiving is celebrated in only a handful of ------countries such as the USA and Canada, it seemed a good time of year to share some articles on thanksgiving which provide good Contact us: insights for all Christians, no matter where we live. Mail: PO Box 9772, Frenchville, Qld 4701, Australia Email: [email protected] Sharing her wonderful writing skills in this issue is our new Phone: +61 042 44 33 772 volunteer journalist, Lori Yanez. You can read Lori’s biography on page 41. Please welcome her on board, along with Joseph Web address: www.spagmag.com Kolapudi who began as a volunteer journalist with SPAG Mag in our previous issue. Lori shares with us this issue’s feature article: SPAG (Single Person Approved by God) is a free quarterly, “Dating as an Older Single Christian” on page 49 and several other electronic magazine for adult Christians, with a focus on singles. articles, while Joseph has provided his article “What is Submission While it is based in Australia, it is an international, inter- when it comes to Marriage” on page 13. denominational publication aimed at encouraging, challenging and inspiring all believers, with articles suitable for Christian adults. We also welcome on board Liz Gill who began missionary work as a nurse in Papua New Guinea and has agreed to Another of our aims is to provide Church leaders and married provide us with regular “Modern Missionaries” articles about couples with some insight into the problems and needs of the what she is learning in her PNG Adventures. Liz’s first article singles in their congregation who can sometimes feel overlooked or even unwanted in their church. can be found on page 53 where you can learn more about her experiences. SUBMISSIONS: I’m sure that all three of our three new writers would Please feel free to write to SPAG via our email: appreciate your words of encouragement. Please send them a [email protected]. Ensure you title your email with the message via email: [email protected]. relevant section of SPAG or address it to the Editor. You may feel compelled to respond to an article, or you may like to submit an Don’t miss your last chance to win a AU$60 SPAG voucher in article1 or photo1 of your own for consideration. Perhaps you have our competition on page 22 which is ending on 31 October 2017. a question for Lou, SPAG's Counsellor. Just spend $20 or more in our online store or donate $20 or more Please note that any item or photo for publication must be your to go into the draw. The voucher is for the purchase of keyrings, own original work and not copied from elsewhere.1 jewellery, and pendants or electronic books and items which are available in our online shop at: www.spagmag. com. So far we ADVERTISING: haven’t had a lot of entries, which that means you have an If you would like to promote your business or major Christian increased chance of winning! activity in SPAG, please contact the Editor, Vicki Nunn on email: We have lots of winning articles in this issue, including [email protected] or phone (+61) 042 44 33 772. You can find “Singleness: the Gift that Nobody Wants;” “Ten things I’ve learned more information about advertising costs on SPAG's website (link about grief;” “Job: the revelation of God in suffering;” and “No here.). alcohol? But Jesus turned water into wine!” Community or non-profit groups are advertised free, though we We have one particular article which I urge every parent, aunt, cannot guarantee that there will always be sufficient space. uncle, grandparent, Pastor, church-leader, mentor and teacher to ------1. By submitting your letter, item, photo or article for inclusion in SPAG, you personally accept all read. On page 20 is a quite alarming article about a popular legal responsibility for your submission, and acknowledge that you have not extracted nor copied teenage magazine which is not only encouraging the hyper- written or photographic or other material from elsewhere that does not belong to you or whose copyright is owned by another. You hereby accept all legal responsibility and exempt SPAG and sexualisation and homo-sexualisation of our children, but gives anyone associated with this magazine from any and all legal consequences and responsibilities. By them instructions. Be aware that it contains graphic details: “The submitting your letter, item or article you are giving your complete approval for SPAG Magazine predator in the fashion magazine: Teen Vogue coaches teenagers in and anyone associated with it, to freely use it in SPAG Magazine or on our website, agreeing that use of said item will be without charge and that you waive all financial compensations for said item. sodomy.” I urge you to read it because our children, your SPAG agrees not to share your personal details or your contribution with any other organisation children, the next generation are in serious danger physically, or person not associated with it. mentally, emotionally and spiritually and we simply cannot Singles: we understand that you may feel invisible, overlooked or ignore it. even unwanted in the church. Be assured that your needs, concerns I look forward to catching up with you again in December. and problems are real. You are not alone, but are part of a vast Warrm rregarrds family of brothers and sisters. God sees you and your struggles: He knows you and He loves you. The articles here are written to Viickii Nunn,, encourage, challenge and inspire you, whether single or married. SPAG Ediittorr ~Please feel free to share this magazine with others.~

2 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 2 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Letters to Lou

Letter 1 – Am I Saved? Dear Brianna, The Christian life is always about Dear Lou There are a large number of daily growing in the Lord. To this end I would encourage you to go deeper I became a Christian about three years questions you have raised in this into the Word of God, and spend time ago, and my question is, am I saved? letter. Just reading your letter made me aware of how many sermon topics with Him in prayer. Thank God for all Why don't I feel good, and how come I could put together from the He has achieved thus far in your life. I don't feel like I'm getting anywhere? questions you are asking. You are the type of person I would Every time I feel like maybe God is To answer all your questions would love to have in my church, because I there, and helping me or changing me require more pages than are in this know you would thrive on sound like I was told he would, someone magazine! Bible teaching and a big dose of criticises me about something I did or encouragement. As a result I will give some general said, or I feel stupid or something thoughts and trust you will follow up God bless you in your Christian happens and I feel like I’m not getting on them. journey. any better. It's like I'm stuck back at the Regards, I would be looking to get you into a start. discipleship group, a group where Lou If I'm a Christian, why haven't you can ask the questions you have ------things got better? Why haven't I got and also build a level of accounta- Letter 2 - Should I Stay or Should I better? I keep getting told stuff that bility. Hopefully a lot of the questions Go? makes it seem like I should be happy all you ask could be dealt with at that When I was still living at home, I the time. Where is the joy I'm supposed level. went to church with my parents. Then to have? That bible verse in Galations My second guidance would be to in high-school I went through a 5:22 says: "the Holy Spirit produces get a spiritual and personal mentor – rebellious stage; I was rude and got into this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, someone who will give you constant a bit of trouble at school and stopped peace, patience, kindness, goodness, assistance in growing as a Christian. going to church. I got caught shop- faithfulness, gentleness and self Find a mature Christian and ask them lifting a couple a times, and moved out control.” to be your mentor. I believe every of home, so by the time I was in my I don't feel like I have peace, and I Believer needs to have a mentor. early 20s, I was a bit of a mess, and wish I was more patient. I don't feel like My third piece of direction for you didn't like where my life was. I'm a good person or kind enough, and would be to realise your Christian life Mum convinced me to go back to I'm not gentle. If I don't have these does not depend on feelings but on a church and then I became a Christian things does that mean that I don't have personal surrender of your life to for real. your Lord. There will be many the Holy Spirit and I'm not saved at It was nice to be back at the old circumstances in your life which all? church and to catch up with a couple a could bring doubts, but always hold I find it hard to feel good about people who I was friends with back onto the promise that God is always myself, and I thought that once I with you in whatever your life then. I never really took much notice of become a Christian that would get experience might be. old people in the church when I was better, but it hasn't. I feel like giving young - though there was a couple who My final piece of admonition to you up, because it feels like God has given were nice to me when I was a kid. But would to be going deeper in your up on me. Sometimes it all just seems this time when I went back, I noticed relationship with your Lord. Many too hard and maybe it's just too hard to Christians take Jesus to be their some older people were ignoring me. I be a Christian. Saviour and find that this is where thought I was imagining it, until one of Can you help me to understand? they live their life. The Scriptures my friends said that she heard that I was a thief and I shouldn't be trusted. Brianna require each of us to take Jesus as Lord. When we take Jesus as Saviour I'm so upset. Mum says that I'll just

and Lord we will know something of have to 'deal with the consequences of

the joy of being totally surrendered to my actions' from when I was messed Him.

3 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 3 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Letters to Lou

up. She said that there may always be focus on the positive and wholesome Dear Patrick some people who will never trust me, things God has brought into your life. All you can do is be an encourager - and that I'm going to have to tough it You will be the key to reaching you fulfil your part and allow God to out and prove to them that I've people like yourself who have some go to work in their lives. changed. life issues, but are now able help rise Remember the old saying that you I'm upset that people have been above them and be the person or can lead a horse to water, but you gossiping and now it seems everyone at people God means them to be. can’t make it drink. I will add to that church knows about my shoplifting and God will bless you on your journey. for you and say in this instance your stuff. Someone else said they heard I Kind regards, role is to do everything in your power to make them thirsty. Hopefully, then was on drugs, which I wasn't. I don't Lou think I can stay at this church any they will want to know and then to ------more. Will it get any better, or should I grow in the Lord. Letter 3 - Church-Hopping just give up and go to a new church? From your letter I would conclude that this couple are church attendees I'm angry that people are judging me A friend of mine that I've known for more than disciples. As a result they when they don't know the whole true about fifteen years has never settled live the life of consumers and this is story and that they won't give me a down in one church. He and his wife ultimately selfish, ie it is all about me. second chance. stay at one church for a couple of years, and then they move to another one. My suggestion would be to talk Courtney He said they leave for different with them, and seek to discover the Dear Courtney depth of their Christian walk. Once reasons. Sometimes it's because you do this you might encourage Any church would be thrilled to someone said something that upset have you as a part of their church them to be in a discipleship group – if them, or that the minister wasn't good family. there is not one in your church, at preaching, or the music was too loud It is a disappointment to me to read maybe you could lead one for them as and modern, and one time because the well as other Christians. your letter, and realise that there are church was getting a new minister who When people are unhappy still legalistic, pharisaical people in was a woman. the church who will condemn any consumers they will always look for person who is not like them. I have tried to encourage them to go someone to blame. When people tell to Bible study because they can grow a The church is made for people like me why they move from a church I lot there, but they don't seem interested you and I commend you for the know there are two reason: what they in anything much except for Sunday recommitment you have made. Thank tell me, and the truth. Often we will God for your upbringing, and a very services. Sometimes they'll go to church never know the truth special thank you now for being the functions, but to me it looks like they're Your role is to lovingly place a person you are meant to be. expecting to be disappointed again. challenge before them and then leave I would encourage you to read the Should I do or say something that the consequences to God. Cover your previous letter to Brianna (Letter 1) may encourage them to stick it out, ministry to them in prayer. Look at and bring the principles shared there rather than giving up when the first bit some of the concepts suggested in the into your own life. of trouble stirs up? I have tried to letter to Brianna (Letter 1). You can’t change people or their suggest it a couple of times, but it's like God will bless you as you serve attitudes, but you can rise above the they expect church people and ministers Him. pettiness and judgement they bring. to be perfect and not make mistakes. Sincerely Keep your eyes on the Lord and don’t We're not really close friends, so I'm Lou get side-tracked by problem people. not sure what I can say to them. I Things in your life will get much expect they might just give up on me better as you grow personally closer too if I say something that upsets them. ☬ to your Lord. Find a good home Patrick group, get a personal mentor, and

4 ~ Issue 9 Jun - Aug 2017 ~ 4 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Singleness: the Gift that Nobody Wants

Singleness: God’s Gift that Nobody Wants

by Matt however, until they all suggested Not because we would be a good Browning that I should be dating one of the fit or have similar passions or bridesmaids. interests, but more because we Press Service This wasn't just an inquiry of were both single and Christian, so International the "have you thought about it" of course it would be nice if we Several years ago I attended a nature, but more of a "Gosh, you could work something out. wedding as a single person and I guys would make such a great Finally! didn't know many of the fellow couple" command, about one of Seeing Singledom revellers well. This was a the bridesmaids in particular. To me this is beyond "community wedding," where Literally after the seventh or frustrating. Can't we, as both the bride and the groom had eighth person suggested the same Christians, be offering a different grown up in a small area of New person, I decided to go and meet way of seeing singledom rather Zealand and most people had this bridesmaid and see what than conforming to the patterns of known them for much of their made her so special. this world? lives. Without poring over minute Are we not able to ask better There was a real community details, it was clear within a questions of one another, feel about the whole celebration, matter of minutes that we would questions that allow us to live which came through in most of have been terribly suited, a match healthy and inspiring lives, or the conversations throughout the that just wouldn't have worked. even just lives of contentment? day. I pondered this situation Are we not able to evoke Even though I didn't know throughout the rest of the night passion, purpose and direction many people, I did what I love to and it occurred to me that people from one another, rather than do: strike up lively conversations didn't really have my best simply instigating reminders that with strangers. Most of the people interests at heart - nor hers - but singleness could somehow be a I talked to were much older than rather they were merely acting out lack or deficiency in us? me (and retired), and they were all of hopeful enthusiasm that two seemingly rather pleasant. That is, I've heard a few people say that good people might get together. if someone wants to set you up then you should take this as a sign that they care for you, or that they want to see you doing well. But that is precisely my point. You can wish the best for people without wanting them to be in a relationship. You are abl e to allow them to live a healthy and nurtured life - without providing the expectation that they need to be in a relationship to somehow be happy or content. I met someone who recently began her first relationship, and her best friend, when she found out the news, said, "FINALLY! I've been waiting ten years for this!"

5 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 5 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Singleness: the Gift that Nobody Wants

Considering the girl is 23, Instead of being introduced as It seems to me that we have a hearing that your best friend has a person with specific strengths or fixation on romantic relationships been longing for you to be in a fantastic qualities, or as someone and I would hope that our life-giving, enduring relationship who has done a terrific job of Christian culture could start to since you were thirteen is a little organising the work for the offer something more life-giving bit messed up. weekend over the last few months, and stimulating. Are we not able to have a he was brought onto the stage Isn't there a better way for us to different framework of what we with the words "...and yes, he's speak life into people than to will wish for those close to us? single, so if you know anyone, them into a relationship? [END] then send them his way"! Inroducing Desperate Guy ------I remember booing. Every year in New Zealand Biography: there is a collection of Easter Loudly. Matt Browning is a storyteller and Camps around the country - some To my disappointment I was lover of ideas. He is currently setting up a social enterprise for youth unemployment large and others rather quaint. I the only one, but I don't regret in Rotorua, New Zealand - taking young remember heading to one of the that. I want people to know that I people from high school or coming out of larger ones where six thousand think it is such an unhealthy way youth prison, and hiring them full-time so people gather over the four-day of viewing someone, especially that they can get the experience needed to weekend. when there is so much more to a be hired in the future. person and what they have to Matt Browning's previous articles may There were about a hundred be viewed at www.presserviceinter and fifty people gathered at one of offer. national.org/matt-browning.html the leaders' meetings in the An Unwelcome Gift? ------morning, where one of the key Bibliography: Sometimes it's almost as if Browning, Matt, undated, Christian Today: leaders was introduced. He is in singleness is viewed as a disease Singlene ss: God’s Gift the Nobody Wants, his mid-thirties and is a really or an illness that we can cure available: www.christiantoday.com.au/news/ lovely, compassionate and talent- singleness-gods-gift-that-nobody-wants.html, people from, or an unwelcome gift accessed 01/07/17 ed guy. that nobody really wanted. ☬

6 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 6 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Real Life Drama: Knock Knock… Who’s there?

Knock Knock... Who’s There?

oblivion. by Lori Yanez They’ve been silently waiting in that white bottle; waiting for me, a It’s only another cockroach former lover, long neglected. scrabbling rapidly down the wall. They’ve been awaiting my without questioning why. It quickly veers left to avoid the inevitable despair. Evan comes to mind. I hesitate distant relatives assembled quietly Slowly I remove them from that laying the oblong tablet in the next and conversing in the disgusting hard plastic carafe and count them row of pills beckoning for my language that all cockroaches as I lay them neatly in rows. attention. As I remember my speak. Soundlessly I use the broom to beautiful little boy, Evan, I I fleetingly wonder how many sweep the wall of the many thought about how I failed him so roaches there are in the dimly lit, persistent roaches that are horribly. acrid room. Without realising I am determinedly attempting to I didn’t protect him from the doing so I begin to count. I stop at contaminate my neat, clean rows trauma of losing his father. I sixty-eight. There are too many to of promised relief. couldn’t shield him from the bother counting any more. I’ve been contemplating this falling snow as we shivered in the In a passing thought I realise moment for so long there was no shed we slept in for so many that if I can see that many roaches, fear. I hadn’t feared death since months after Gabe died. there must be thousands in the my husband Gabriel took his last I couldn’t feed him when the room, unseen behind the broken, breath cradled in my arms, sitting financial burdens of living on my stained panelling. on the ground unaware of the disability income become I wonder how I ever come to be shards of gravel piercing us both. I impossible. I couldn’t be what he in this revolting room, living this watched as his eyes turned from needed. sordid life. vivid blue to a pale gray. He found his own relief in Hastily I swipe away a roach His death was the first of so drugs. I had lost him to metham- that had fallen from the ceiling many losses that the thought of phetamines and a life of violence. onto my shoulder. Shivering with death becomes a welcome end to He had no desire to speak to disgust I reach for ‘them.’ the unrelenting grief and pain. me or hear my voice anymore. They are my pills, my stash of “22, 23, 24...” wordlessly I Meth had become his comforting continue to lay out the pills maternal protector. I placed the hydrocodone neatly in the expanding row. “Twenty-five,” I mouth as I reach for the next pill. Random thoughts briefly entered my mind and even more quickly leave, unconsidered. “34, 35…” I continued with my mission, counting those promises of ended pain. Forty-seven was the final count. I gazed at the rows silently weeping. Forty-seven pain pills mixed with thirty-six muscle

7 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 7 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Real Life Drama: Knock Knock… Who’s there? relaxants. These were from I couldn’t keep prescriptions hoarded over several food in that months, and they stared back at disgusting hovel; it me in greedy anticipation. only increased the I’d denied my ongoing physical breeding pain in lieu of the eventual release capabilities of the from the unbearable emotional horrific infestation devastation my life had become. of roaches that rained down from Forty-seven was the magical the ceilings and number. I counted them again, walls. forty-seven pills. Yes, I thought, forty-seven would be enough. I unconsciously straightened the I wondered if I should leave a forty-seven pills note. No one would care but still, laid out before me it’s expected. Evan’s ill-conceived con didn’t like a sacrificial lamb as I thought I’ve been thinking about this work quite the way he wanted so back to my first meeting with this for so long I wondered if there he quickly left, leaving me to face unusual representative from God. was anyone, anywhere who the questions of his soon to return, It was July in New Mexico and would possibly regret my decision intended mark. my electricity had been shut off to take these pills. By the time Darrell returned I for non-payment. The heat in that One person came to mind: had resigned myself to facing uninsulated metal box called a Pastor Darrell. another well-meaning and mobile home, was intense. Pastor Darrell was a rare probably angry victim. I had no Spending any time in my idea what story Evan had told oddity. He actually believed what wheel-chair was an open he preached in those Sunday Darrell but suspected it was an invitation for the tormenting heat sermons given faithfully in the attempt to con him into paying rash I had developed which had dilapidated, old storefront he had our electric bill. expanded even further onto my converted into a house of worship. Darrell and I spoke for several thighs and back and chest. hours that day. He wasn’t angry He was a rare man indeed. He It was a week until my put his belief into actions in the or even surprised. He was just… disability check was due so relief Servants Heart Chapel. He had sincere. was not coming quickly. been to my run-down trailer Sincerity Darrell delivered my meal that several times before I met him Sincerity is a wonderful thing. day. He met my son Evan outside delivering the one meal a day To truly believe in God and have when he handed over the lemon which I was able to afford from the faith of that belief is an pepper fish that had become one meals on wheels. enviable truth. But, sincerity of my favourite meals. I was not able to answer the without action is meaningless. Evan, always looking for a way door easily due to the pain of my After Gabe’s death I had met to scam some money, thought he physical condition; so many many sincere people - many that could trick this fool and tried to drivers left the packaged meal at wanted to help us. Few however, convince him he needed money to my door. were willing to do more than repair the fuse box so we could It took a while, but eventually I superficial assistance. turn the power back on. would get from my bed to the Charity Darrell offered to come back door to retrieve the highly when he was done and take Evan Charity is a grand and anticipated food. Hunger was a to get the needed parts and help necessary thing. But charity is not constant companion. with the repair. a solution to poverty, or pain, or despair, only a temporary fix.

8 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 8 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Real Life Drama: Knock Knock… Who’s there?

There is only one solution: love. For some reason I did not God may be real but it was Love comprehend at the time, I decided obvious He did not care about me. to give this man a chance. No-one did. Love inspires hope, hope develops faith, and with faith you Where Was God? I sat there remembering that can move a mountain. I believed in God, intellectually: first meeting with Darrell. I gazed at those forty-seven pills, Sincerely loving God is a reality I knew there was an intelligent gratefully aware that I would for the person sharing that belief, design behind our world, but simply go to sleep; the physical but there is an implicit respons- having faith in that belief was too and emotional torment would ibility that comes with that belief. much to ask. finally end. Jesus wanted us to practice love, If God existed then where was not just be the recipient of His He? Darrell wasn’t the answer. I had begun to attend his church love. Many times throughout my life Servant’s Heart Chape,l and while This is where so many sincere I thought God was calling out to I was impressed with the believers seem to fall by the way. me, only to be disappointed that members and the beliefs of the Going to church on Sunday, He did not come to me in some church, I still had found no placing money in the tithing plate grand, dramatic, life changing comfort from the daily existence and occasionally volunteering for fashion. that was so filled with pain. a worthy function is not practicing If He was all powerful, why The violence and conflict of my the love Jesus asks us to share. didn’t God repair the devastation son’s world of drugs spilled into “Love is patient and kind; that had ravaged my life? my life continuously. His anger love does not envy or boast; it Why didn’t he help me find a and lies were a constant reality. is not arrogant or rude. It does way to put food on the table, or He hated me and he hated the not insist on its own way; it is find a home other than a shed or a frailty of my physical condition. not irritable or resentful; it does roach infested slum? not rejoice at wrongdoing, but Evan had stolen everything of Why didn’t he cure my son of rejoices with the truth. Love value I had left after Gabe died his addictions and return the bears all things, believes all and somehow managed to wipe loving child I once knew? things, hopes all things, out my meagre income every endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 [ESV] Pastor Darrell Did Pastor Darrell practice love as outlined here? Did his sincerity include his following of these guidelines, or was he another preacher trying to “save my soul;” just taking one minute to increase his numbers in the church, only to forget my name in the following week? What was his true agenda? There always seemed to be some hidden agenda or price to be paid when accepting charity, even if it was only the price of my own dignity. What price was Darrell expecting me to pay? He claimed none, but I had been down this road many, many times.

9 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 9 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Real Life Drama: Knock Knock… Who’s there? month to fund his choice of drugs. response from God. of the service I had attended that I had taken to sleeping with my Yes I’m sure Darrell would care morning. wallet and anything of even the if I chose this route to extinction, I had cried throughout the slightest value in my single bed in but truthfully wasn’t that his job? entire service: gut wrenching an attempt to keep him and his He was supposed to care, it was painful sobs that would not stop ‘friends’ from stealing them. They part of his job description. It was no matter how hard I tried. even stole my electric wheelchair simply expected of him. I didn’t know why I was in their desire for drug money. I wondered, had he shared the crying. Everything just hurt: my Darrell had tried to help. He kind of love that Jesus asks of us? I body, my heart, my soul screamed convinced Evan to go into rehab believe he did. Although, the true in agony. and prayed daily for him. But question was, did I allow him to The unrelenting loneliness and Evan left after only three days. share that love with me? Had I fear overwhelmed me. The daily Darrell continued to see to it answered that knock at the door? pain inflicted on my body and the that food was delivered daily I didn’t know the answer to shame of what my life had become through meals on wheels and that question. But, it wasn’t really was unbearable. helped me turn my power back Darrell’s love that I wanted Tears of grief for my husband on. He even managed to find an anyway. I wanted unending, flowed unceasingly, and grief for air-conditioning unit that gave unrestricted love that only the son I had failed so horribly. blessed relief from the scalding someone as flawed I, never truly Self-pity and shame were New Mexico summer heat. expected to receive. I wanted the staggering. It wasn’t possible for impossible. I wanted, I yearned All of these charitable acts were anyone to help me or to love me - for what people called God’s love. welcomed with grateful relief, yet not even God. I wasn’t worthy of the pain I felt was untouched and I counted those forty-seven that kind of love. I didn’t deserve festering. pills again, resigned to their it. impending truth. No, Darrell was not the Darrell had lied. He told me solution. But I didn’t know what I poured a cool drink that I had that Jesus had paid for my sins was. saved from lunch for this purpose. and that God did love me. But that I tried Darrell’s way. I prayed I combed my hair, bathed the tears was a lie. God couldn’t love me. and read the Bible and I prayed from my face and prepared myself This life I was living wasn’t worth some more, yet still there was no for what I was planning to do. the price Jesus had paid. One final image came to mind One final time I decided to give Darrell’s way a chance: I prayed. Prayers had become rambling accusations with no coherent thought, so I had begun writing my prayers. It helped me to focus when my mind was confused and scattered from the strong medications. Writing seemed so natural for me. I wrote that no one would miss me except possibly Darrell but since this was his job, then he really didn’t count. I begged God to answer my prayer and send someone to me that truly did care, not because it

10 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 10 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Real Life Drama: Knock Knock… Who’s there? was his job but because God was finally hearing my cry and answering in a way only I would know. Was this truly it then? Was I done? I began to wonder if there really was no salvation whatso- ever. I wanted one last chance for God to hear me. I only knew one person that really knew God and that was Pastor Darrell. I decided to call him. I needed to know if by some miracle he would understand that me. All hope was gone and the reveal what I had written in my I needed him to respond to my pills beckoned to me forcefully. prayer to God. unspoken prayer. That’s when the knocking Then, Darrell spoke these When he answered, I asked if began... the knocking at my heart words: he could stop by for a few to wait. “Lori, I’m not here because minutes. He told me that he could Soon the knocking became a this is my job. I am here come, but that Missy, his wife loud pounding, reverberating because I care.” would also come. through my body. He had repeated word for Pastor Darrell is very cautious Wait. Wait. Wait, it cried. word a phrase that I had asked when asked to be alone with a God was pounding on the door God to speak to me! woman. He loved his wife dearly to my heart, telling me to hold on. In stunned silence, I reached for and would not allow any question my laptop and showed him the of impropriety to risk interfering My hand hovered over those prayer I had written, and the with his personal and private beckoning pills thundering for my request I had made of God. relationship with his. attention. My hesitation was interrupted when the phone rang: At last God had responded in a Missy, although a lovely Darrell was on his way. way that I knew to be meant for wonderful woman, was not my only me to hear. Pastor. I had not asked for her to With a sigh of resignation I be God’s messenger. returned the pills to their bottle. I finally answered that knock at my door and allowed Jesus into Shame at knowing another Shame kept me from allowing my heart. woman would see me in this him to see what I would do once condition was beyond my ability he left. I knew I would return God had heard! to cope. I could not bear having a them back to their rightful place He had answered! once Darrell had gone. strange woman in this disgusting Darrell showed me how to ask house judging me. I had no faith that he would say Jesus into my heart. We prayed I knew I had received God’s the words I needed to hear, after together as tears fell from us both. all, He had not given the correct answer to my unspoken prayer. Tears of joy rained from my response I had asked God to give Darrell had not given the response eyes as I felt the peace and me. I asked from God. serenity of God’s presence. I shook I thanked Darrell but told him After Darrell arrived, we spoke with the awe of that sensation, not to bother coming after all. No for quite a while. To be truthful I relishing in the release of the one would be coming by to stop remember almost nothing of what relentless fear and pain. was said by either of us, except for There was hope... the fact that I intentionally did not

11 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 11 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Real Life Drama: Knock Knock… Who’s there? & What Is It?

may overflow with hope by the Bibliography: power of the Holy Spirit.” [ESV] The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Romans 15:13 [NIV] Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a It was all true! publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. [NIV] Holy Bible, New International Version®, It wasn’t just an emotional NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by response to what I had been Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights intending. reserved worldwide.

God had answered! ☬

Conclusion

Since that day miracles have followed me as I continue to grow as a Christian. I moved from that there was peace... roach infested mobile home. My there was mercy! son Evan has been drug free now for well over a year. The God was real and He had called to me... me, an unworthy, compulsion to take those forty- unlovable soul was chosen. I was seven pills that had once now one of His children. consumed my mind, never returned. Awe is often used to describe God, but the word is insufficient. God has given me many gifts, but the greatest gift was that my Ultimately calm descended son broke the chains of addiction upon us both. and now reminds me daily that he I remember telling Darrell it loves and appreciates me. was akin to the sensation of sitting Evan is taking his own path in a darkened room at night, with life. He attends church with watching the lights of a Christmas me every Sunday and diligently tree gently blinking, while snow attends Bible connection groups softly fell outside my window. and helps with outreach projects. Everything was clean and pure He has turned his back on the and right. I was at peace for the drugs and violence that once first time in my long, pain-filled controlled his life. life. Darrell, our ever faithful and When Darrell finally left I loving Pastor, continues to guide prayed once more. This prayer him with a loving and patient needn’t be written. hand towards God. Although

My mind was clear when I Evan is still battling his own asked God to confirm what had demons, I am not afraid. In fact I happened. I had one final request often smile as I hear the loud Can you of God to show me through His knocking on the door to my sons’ identify the item in the Words that he loved me. heart and have faith that Jesus is photo close I opened my Bible randomly just as persistent in his desire for -up on the and pointed to this passage: Evan’s salvation as He was for my right? “May the God of hope fill own. Hint: it’s

you with all joy and peace as Knock Knock… Who’s there? smaller than you think you trust in him, so that you When you open that door, you Answer on page 90. will find God. [END]

12 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 12 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ What is Submission When it Comes to Marriage? What is Submission When it Comes to Marriage?

by Joseph Kolapudi army could send an offer of peace proceeds to tell the staff how to the other, often called an much he is looking forward to SPAG Journalist entreaty. working with them over the

standard four-year term, to which Introduction Within this ‘grace period,’ the terms of war could be replaced by his wife Jackie whispers, “Eight Do you like the word terms of peace, leading to a treaty years, Jack.” The President ’submission?’ Chances are you between the once opposing humorously replies, “Well, you don’t. If there was an armies. see who wears the pants around encyclopaedia of taboo topics, here”. ‘submission’ could be one of the In Luke 14:31-32 we read: Deliberating over who has the terms at the top of the list. “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. most control is not a clear-cut Seemingly, submission tends to indicator of who makes the take a low priority when it comes Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with decisions in any given relationship to marriage, especially when it’s - it must be more give than take. debated who should submit to ten thousand men to oppose the How we understand marriage whom. But most of us tend to one coming against him with in our overly-sensualised culture think of submission negatively, twenty thousand? If he is not able, where it is all about ‘love,’ when in fact, nothing could be he will send a delegation while the indifference to dedication and further from the truth. other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.” commitment, needs to be seriously According to the Merriam- [NIV] re-evaluated. Webster Dictionary1, ’submission’ Even though this may be It is important, in this case, to can also be translated as ‘yield,’ constituted as waving the understand marriage in terms of a which is to surrender or relinquish proverbial white flag, the fact that bond to one another which is not one’s possession over something. both armies who were once in easily broken, in which both the In this context, surrender is not opposition could now agree on husband and the wife actively simply to give up, rather, it is to terms of peace, suggests work towards understanding each agree amicably with a person over otherwise. other in order for the marriage to an issue or setback which is not be healthy. under our control. “But isn’t that What is Submission in Marriage the same thing as giving up?”, I in Today’s World? Did Paul Have an Issue with hear you ask - not necessarily. This is why when we often talk Women? In ancient times, when one about submission, especially in One of the verses in the Bible army was going into battle against our post-modern culture, alarm that often gets pulled out of an enemy’s army, there would be bells start to ring, chaos ensues, context in relation to submission is some sort of melee between the and we immediately go on the where the Apostle Paul wrote to two. However, even before this offensive. Submission doesn’t those in the city of Ephesus, and happened, there was a period of have to be a bad thing, especially said: time at the beginning, when one when it comes to marriage. “Wives, submit yourselves to I recall a your own husbands as you do to particularly humorous the Lord. For the husband is the movie scene in Lee head of the wife as Christ is the Daniel’s “The Butler,” head of the church, his body, of when Presi-dent John F which He is the Saviour. Now as Kennedy and his wife the church submits to Christ, so Jacqueline Kennedy are also wives should submit to their being introduced to the husbands in everything.” White House staff. JFK Ephesians 5:22-24 [NIV].

13 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 13 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ What is Submission When it Comes to Marriage?

It is interesting to note that the mission is a negative concept. We towards being made perfect in previous verse says: easily believe the lie that if Christ. Instead of ‘opposites “Submit to one another out of someone is forcing us to submit to attracting’, it is actually ‘parallels reverence for Christ.” their will or their way of doing uniting.’ Ephesians 5:21 [NIV]. things, then they must inherently One of my favourite books is be in the wrong. Perhaps we This shows that we first need to the biography of John Newton, in consider that submission means learn to submit to each other, which the first few chapters are that one must be in servitude to mutually, out of reverence, and for dedicated to his struggle with the other and expected to ‘obey.’ Christ’s sake. gaining the love and admiration of Perhaps it is not so cut and dried Mary, a girl he had completely Taking into consideration that as we’ve been led to believe. fallen for, head over heels. the church in Ephesus was smack- Submission is yielding one’s bang in the middle of a hedonistic One of the preliminary chapters own preferences and wants to the society, this section of Scripture details an evening in which his other out of love and reverence for takes on a lot more meaning, thoughts were filled with them. because instead of running around apprehension and guilt over his after other men, or women, It wasn’t meant to suggest a love for her: that he was not submission was supposed to be relationship of dominance and worthy of her, that she was too essential in the context of subjugation. Submitting to one good for him, and that it was all marriage. another shows that we value our just wishful thinking that would loved one so much that we are never come to be. Saying the words, “I thee wed”, willing to agree with them, even if and “forsaking all others” was The interesting twist to the we think we know better. meant to be taken literally, not story is that Mary loved John all figuratively, and the Apostle Paul It is this expression of love that along, but John never came to was pointing the people to this makes a marriage move forward, realise this fact until several years important fact. rather than ending in a stalemate. later, when he finally asked her, If both partners are willing to do “Don’t you love me, even a little?” When people think of Jesus, this in a marriage, with both they often don’t think of him as a Mary pulled away from him, choosing not to hold onto dominating figure. It probably stopped, and then turned back resentment or poor attitudes follows that when we are and said, “Yes – I love you, John; I towards the other, then that instructed to submit to Christ, we always have.” They soon married marriage has a far higher chance probably wouldn’t think twice and spent the rest of their lives of not only surviving, but being about doing so, especially as together. healthy and happy. Christians. Then why is it so hard This story reminds me of the for us to submit when it comes to From the time the earth came fact that even when love seems to marriage? into existence, marriage has been a be going nowhere, in actuality it is Is the Wife Meant to be Submiss- precious act between a man and often deepening in imperceptible ive and the Man Dominant? woman that is meant to last for ways. A husband and wife who life. Just as it says in Genesis 2 love each other, at a certain point Perhaps it is because someone, verse 24: in their married lives, do not even somewhere, told us that sub- “For this reason, a man shall have to say the words, “I love leave his father and mother, and be you” – it is something that forms joined to his wife; and they shall the bedrock and foundation of become one flesh.” [NASB] their lives, and goes without This ‘joining’, or union, is an saying. inexplicable combination of the Sure, there is a time and place will of two individuals who come for instruction and exhortation, together to be one in mind, ability, and both the husband and wife and body, with the aim of working should be receptive to it.

14 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 14 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ What is Submission When it Comes to Marriage? & Prayer Points “Wives, submit yourselves to Do you struggle with prayer? Do you find it your husbands, as is fitting in the hard to know what to Lord,” say or are at a loss for words? Many Christians and followed that in the next struggle in this area too. sentence: We’ll provide a ”Husbands, love your wives, suggestion with each issue about various and do not be harsh with them.” people and topics which Colossians 3:18-19 [NIV] we hope will inspire and help you in your prayer time. May we encourage you to Total domination never works make this prayer a part of your regular prayer time, – just seeing the current state of perhaps breaking it into a daily prayer as shown below. ------the world is testament to this fact. Was Paul Sexist? Prayer for Your Pastor Within the marriage context, Dear Heavenly Father, When the Apostle Paul went on there needs to be a way to ‘strike a You know that sometimes I find it hard to pray. to instruct his protégé Timothy, he balance,’ as it were, endeavouring Forgive me when I allow busyness or even laziness to keep from spending time with You in prayer said: to ensure that love and submission “A woman must quietly receive Day 1: are given and received in equal Our pastor w orks really hard and probably w orks far too instruction with entire submiss- many hours than is good for them. Please encourage measure. them to take time off to rest and to not neglect their iveness.” 1 Timothy 2:11[NASB] Maybe submission doesn’t health. Please keep them w ell and healthy physically, It is clear that this was within mentally , emotionally and spiritually . have to be a bad thing. Just as it Day 2: the confines of the church, where takes time and patience to love For married Pas tors: bless their relationships w ith their in those days, the women often sat partner, children and friends; someone, so does submission take For single Pas tors: bless their relationships w ith family 2 separately from the men (which is time and patience to learn. and friends. still a tradition followed in the Encourage them to put aside v aluable time for those Marriage is supposed to be a closest to them and show them if they need to mend East to this day). bridges and ov ercome problems in their relationships; thing of beauty, and what better Day 3: Just like in a classroom setting, way to be a reflection of the true Help my Pastor to meet their financial obligations. where only the teacher talks, and Please encourage our congregation to prov ide stable “marriage made in heaven” which financial support to our Pas tor, abov e and bey ond their the students listen, a similar will be the day when Christ meets requirements, so that w e can undertake all ministries standard was followed in the w ithout adding financial pressure onto our Pastor. his bride, the church - and the two Day 4: church. Some would agree that will never be separated. Show them w ays in w hich they can improv e and lighten this is common sense, but as a their w orkload. In fact, please show me how I can be of When we yield to a love that serv ice to my Pastor - open my eyes and heart to consider family friend once told me, how I can offer my help. Don’t allow me to let laziness or will not let us go, we must do all common sense in this day and age any natural sinful tendencies on my part, discourage me we can to make sure it lasts, even from really contributing to making my Pastor’s life a little is becoming far less common. easier. I w ant to help them be the best Pas tor they can if it means changing our be, and to do that, they need my help and the help of our What is Meant by Submission in perception of what it means to congregation. Marriage? Day 5: yield to submission in a marriage My Pastor is not a super-hero. Let me be mindful not to set them up on a pedestal but be compassionate and What, then, is the standard context. [END] understanding w hen they make mistakes, because they supposed to be? Considering sub------w ill likely fail me at some point. Help me to learn to forgiv e mission in the marriage context Bibliography: them and to let go of any grudges, resentments or anger 1 Submit (n.d.)., www.merriam-webster.com/ that I may experience if a problem arises. If they are requires an open mind and a quiet dictionary/submit, accessed 03/08/17. married, I pray that y ou w ill help me not to ex pect more from their partner and children than I do other Christians. heart, and both go a long way in 2 1 Timothy 2, Bible Gateway, Day 6: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1 making a marriage last. Lov e them Lord, and show me and other church +Timothy+2&version=NASB, accessed members how to lov e them too. Perhaps I can encourage Dominance can often be a 03/08/17. others to find w ays to show them their lov e and support. recipe for disaster if it goes [NIV] Holy Bible, New International Version®, Thank y ou for them, for their commitment to this church, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 to our congregation, and to You. unchecked. by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights Day 7: The Apostle Paul, in his letter reserved worldwide. Most of all, please encourage them firmly , but lovingly [NASB] Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, to prioritise time w ith You in their busy lives. Help them to to the church in the city of 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The recognise if they are neglecting their relationship w ith You. Bless their bond and connection w ith You and help them Lockman Foundation Colosse, stated: to continue grow ing more like You ev ery day. Through our church, please help us to find w ays to reach out into the ☬ community and be a blessing for them. Amen

15 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 15 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ No Alcohol? But Jesus Turned Water into Wine!

No Alcohol? But Jesus Turned Water into Wine!

me to ask if drinking alcohol was Pastor Darrell suggested I read by Lori Yanez against God’s will. His response the bible and answer the question brought about a way of thinking for myself.

for me that ultimately determined Ephesians 5:18 tells us Do I really have to give up my how I view the Bible. emphatically: Pinot Griegio just because I am a Since I enjoy an occasional “And do not get drunk with Christian? drink, the thought of abstaining wine, for that is debauchery, but be Introduction was not something I relished. I filled with the Spirit.” When I was a new Christian, don’t often imbibe alcohol. [ESV] my pastor invited me to his home Frankly I dislike the sensation of Proverbs 20:1 clearly warns us: for dinner with him and his getting drunk, yet I do enjoy one, “Wine is a mocker, strong family. sometimes even two margaritas drink a brawler, and whoever when I’m out socially with friends. That evening we talked about is led astray by it is not wise." weekend trips that my husband Let’s face it, having a glass of [ESV] and I would take touring the wine while listening to some Isaiah 5:22 states: many vineyards native to the mellow music is a relaxing. Plus, I “Woe to those who are heroes at deserts of New Mexico. like the enhancement wine lends drinking wine, and valiant men in to certain recipes. We enjoyed shopping, visiting mixing strong drink.” [ESV] various tourist traps and sight- Lastly, there are times when the The Bible is very clear that seeing. We would finish our physical infirmities of my rapidly drinking to excess is unacceptable. weekend away with a slightly aging body, are greatly eased with But I don’t drink to excess. tipsy tour of a vineyard after a small amount of brandy or The discussion about alcohol tasting many, occasionally too bourbon added to a cup of hot tea. continued for a few days with my many, of the various wines Did I really have to give all that Pastor and I, generally by sending produced at one of the local up? texts back and forth. vineyards, inevitably purchasing What the Bible Says He would send me a cautionary more wine than we could ever The question of alcohol, like so scripture and I would respond drink. many other questions, is never with an example where modera- After talking about our trips answered in a clear, concise tion can be beneficial. with Pastor Darrell, it occurred to manner. I finally sent him the verse that The Pastor explained that he clearly stated my own personal did not drink any alcohol, and that validation that I was allowed an he abstained. He had many occasional drink - 1 Timothy 5:23: reasons for that decision both “No longer drink only water, Biblical and nonspiritual. but use a little wine for the sake of He didn’t want to set a bad your stomach and your frequent example, he didn’t like the effect ailments.” [ESV] on his body, and being intoxicated led to bad decision making. I was victorious! I could have that glass of Pinot and not be in These were all valid reasons. fear for my soul. But what exactly does the Bible The Best Lesson I Learned say? Jesus himself turned water into wine, so where is the My Pastor however, taught me problem? the best lesson I had yet to learn as a new Christian.

16 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 16 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ No Alcohol? But Jesus Turned Water into Wine!

He replied with the wisdom of If I could benefit physically a Godly man, explaining that from the medicinal aspect of being a Christian is not only about alcohol, it is not only allowed but our own salvation, it is also about encouraged. salvation for those who may need When God created mankind. guidance. While I may not over- He created each of us different indulge to the point of from one another. We each face drunkenness, I may encourage the different challenges and temp- excessive behaviour in others. tations. God is aware of this and He reminded me of Romans has provided for each of us. 14:21: What some view as “It is good not to eat meat or contradictions in the Bible may in drink wine or do anything that fact be answers for the differences causes your brother to stumble.” that he designed into each of us. [ESV] We must determine God’s will He encouraged me to not look for our own actions based on His for a single scripture to answer a word given to us in the Bible. Be question, but to read the Bible in cautious though in using scripture depth to determine what God’s to justify a worldly or selfish view. must understand that God intention is. The Bible has often been used to answers for all of us. It was his own concern about rationalise acts of great evil based For my Pastor, the answer he causing another to stumble that on the interpretation of singular received was very clear: he should decided his abstinence. He had scriptures. abstain completely. taken a selfless view of the There are some questions that For myself, my answer is also question where as I had been the Bible gives a distinct answer now very clear, I no longer selfish in my own desire for for. More often though, as in the consume alcohol socially. I do, justification. use of alcohol, the Bible appears however, use alcohol when I am Searching for Answers contradictory allowing some of us under some physical duress. This lesson taught me to search to use these inconsistencies to I am confident that both of us for answers in a different way. I vindicate our own worldly beliefs. have found the correct answer may be facing a problem and be in Conclusion based on God’s will. We both are need of answers, however, I am The Bible is not contradictory. understanding that we are not only one person on this earth, and Every word given to us by God alone in this world and that God has an intent and purpose for has meaning. It is the ‘whole’ of different people require different all, not just me. His word that holds the answer to answers. Some have struggles with His intent. It is up to each of us to learn alcohol that have, or will destroy We shouldn’t add our own and understand God’s intent their lives. For those souls God justification or ignore other verses based on the “whole” of His word. gave a clear answer: abstinence. that seem to challenge what we Then we can determine what is If I choose to include alcohol in believe or desire to be the truth. best, based on His will. [END] my interactions socially I may Deuteronomy 12:32 warns us: ------inadvertently cause another to “Everything that I command Bibliography: stumble. In that situation, I am you, you shall be careful to do. You [ESV] The Holy Bible, English Standard going against God’s will. Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). shall not add to it or take from it.” Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a pub- For myself, if there are times [ESV] lishing ministry of Good News Publishers.. that alcohol will relieve the pains When we ask questions of God, of age, God also gave me a clear we must search for His intent. We ☬ answer: moderation.

17 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 17 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ The Mattering-ness of Mattering Things The Mattering-ness of Mattering Things

and everything else for one the most prosperous and peaceful by Tim Price reason: our own self-interest. We countries around the globe. even give to others so they too can Despite our glittering societies be successful in chasing their built on peace and prosperity Think of everything that personal desires. We call this through our self-styled Judeo- matters most to you in your life. I 'success' and 'happiness'. Christian principles and the think I can guess what you came The problem is that this world, 'progress' of scientific and up with. Let's see: family, friends, and much of the modern Christian intellectual enlightenment, a great career, house, aspirations, money, Church, doesn't seem that happy uneasiness and restlessness leisure, food, vacations... at all or even particularly satisfied remains. Simply put, we are not If I guessed even a few items on with what they already have. happy, and we are not content. your list, it'd be no great surprise. Despite living in a historically Even Christianity is con- Most people would put those at (since ancient times) unprece- fronting this fundamental the top of their list. The surprising dented time of prosperity which conundrum. For all the personal thing is that they matter a whole has flooded much of the world, riches, churchly monuments and lot less than we'd like to think, and people are falling apart. movements, and impressive build- that's another problem: we don't America is a startling micro- ings and programs, Christians like to give this the thought it cosm of this worldwide issue: often succumb to the same deserves. 1. In 1987, 61.1 percent of seemingly inescapable obsessive Don't get me wrong, all the Americans claimed to be happy self-interest, and its self- things we think matter, do. In with their careers. Today, 52.3 destructive results. their right context, they matter as percent report being unhappy A Question of Mattering-ness much as most things, but they at work; But there is hope, there is an don't matter as much as we give 2. American doctors prescribe answer, but beware; it's one that's them credit for - at least in the more than 250 million pre- going to make you revaluate most important sense. scriptions for antidepressants everything you hold dear. More Self-interested Self-service every year; importantly, it's going to make The reason for this is an 3. In the United States today, 60 you question why you hold it uncomfortably disturbing one: million people have problems dear, and whether it matters as usually we arrange our lives, and with alcohol and 22 million much as it should. everything in it, to cater for people use illegal drugs; The answer is a multifaceted ourselves. 4. America has the highest rate of one: We pursue relationships with illegal drug use on the entire  All the things in your life are people, material things, careers, planet; meant to be enjoyed in light of a money, entertainment, feelings 5. America has the highest life given by Jesus; divorce rate in the world by a  All the things in your life are wide margin; and ultimately for Jesus, but you just My family 6. The suicide rate for Americans haven't been practising this; between the ages of 35 and 64  All the things in your life are not rose by close to 30 percent as important as Jesus, but you've between 1999 and 2010. been letting them limit your Startlingly, like America, these service for Him; same issues are becoming more  All the things in your life are and more of a problem in some of temporary and ever-changing,

18 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 18 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ The Mattering-ness of Mattering Things

but you've entrusted your peace to live for their Creator. ------and joy to their permanence; While in church the other week, Biography:  All the things in your life were God once again reminded me of Tim's home is on the Gold Coast in Queensland. He has a Graduate Associate never given to you to limit or this simple, powerful, and joyful of Theology degree, taught in Christian stop you giving your life up for truth. In the middle of a church Education for over six years, and is God; service, He spoke to my heart and currently studying a Masters of Divinity in theology at Liberty University in the  Most of the world's desires are said: US. He enjoys writing, the beach, and contrary to His desires, and take "It's in the giving." watching movies. no thought for His Kingdom Tim Price's previous articles may be Joy and life is found not only in purposes, will, or people; viewed at www.pressserviceinternational. receiving what God gives, but org/tim-price.html  All the things in your life have in continually giving it back to Him; ------fact stifled the Lord's voice and not only in word and deed, but Bibliography: [NIV] Holy Bible, New International Version®, His leading, and you can no with our whole heart and longer discern between men's NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by affections. This is where the Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights voice and leadership, and God's; matter-ing-ness of all mattering reserved worldwide. and things lie, because the person of [NKJV] Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas  Ultimate satisfaction is found in God and everything He is about is Nelson. Used by permission. All rights hope, because where the reserved. life will never mattering-ness of ☬ be perfect till Our lives are everything lies. you reach meant to be lived Here's the good heaven. news though: all Organisation Promotion for God, not for our answers about Put simply, Single? Christian? our lives are ourselves, or what matters, still meant to be lived matter! There's Looking for for God, not for anyone else... nothing wrong fun, friendship ourselves, or with enjoying the and fellow- anyone else in our lives - but that's good things in life. Everything ship? often what we do. This is what the we've been given by God was Club Solo is delighted to invite you Apostle Paul spoke of in writing precisely because He wants to to an outing or a camp. Operating for to the Corinthian Church: bless us and enjoy this life: more than 34 years, Club Solo is an “And he died for all, that those “...the living God, who gives us inter-denominational ministry which who live should no longer live for richly all things to enjoy.” serves Christian singles. themselves but for him who died 1 Timothy 6:17b [NKJV] There are Club Solo groups in for them and was raised again.” Living our lives for God isn't Melbourne, Adelaide, Geelong, Sydney and Brisbane. 2 Corinthians 5:15 [NIV] contrary to enjoying our lives, An Answer for Everyone because true life - happiness, One of the largest events is the peace, contentment, purpose, and annual Gold Coast camp which runs for Whether we identify as around eight days in January. Singles love - is found in God, and in Christian or not is irrelevant from several states enjoy this friendly what He says matters. [END] because all humans were created and relaxed get-together. For more information, contact the Director, Rev Steve Mitchell who has a real pastor’s heart for singles: Phone: (03) 9407 1240 Email: [email protected] Web: www.clubsolo.org.au

19 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 19 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ The Predator in the Fashion Magazine: Teen Vogue Coaches Teenagers in Sodomy The Predator in the Fashion Magazine: Teen Vogue Coaches Teenagers in Sodomy WARNING: Due to the nature of the Teen Vogue article, this response contains some graphic language by Jennifer Hartline This article first appeared in The Stream In this case, the predator is the fashion magazine. Yes, predator. Teen Vogue is preying on teenagers, particularly teenage girls, since girls are their primary audience. In a recent article, Teen Vogue gives coaching for “the beginner” on “how-to” engage in sodomy. The author of the vile piece calls it “Anal Sex 101.” (I will not link to it because it is predatory and disgusting.) To summarise, Teen Vogue claims that anal sex is perfectly normal, ancient (the Greeks and Nowhere in the article are the A brief and very limited Romans did it), and not at all words ‘male’ or ‘female’ used. reference is made to the “poop” weird, gross, or unnatural. Anatomical parts are mentioned, issue, but only for the sake of Therefore, teens should not be and the owners of certain parts are reassuring squeamish readers. afraid to do it if they given directions pertaining to their Everybody poops, their repulsive want to. parts, such as logic goes, so what’s the big deal. This is not even an someone who It falsely insists Again, this is not even an adult has a prostate that as long as a adult porn maga- porn magazine wrapped in brown vs. someone condom is used, paper. This is what is being taught zine... This is what who does not. there’s no danger, no to your child in a fashion But there’s no harm, and nothing to is being taught to magazine for teens. mention of men worry about. When is Enough Enough? your child in a and women - Really, when are we going to Some brief just nondescript fashion magazine for get righteously angry and say “No cautions are given persons with more!” Why are the people about using toys and teens. parts. things, and how to determined to corrupt our sons The magazine graphically explains “safely” insert foreign objects into and daughters so much more why a lot of ‘lube’ is essential to the rectum. But not to worry, says zealous in their mission than we do the act. (Thus, undercutting its the author, even that is perfectly are in our obligation to protect own premise that sodomy is legit. them? natural.)

20 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 20 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ The Predator in the Fashion Magazine: Teen Vogue Coaches Teenagers in Sodomy

Wake up, Mums and Dads! A magazine produced for your teenage daughters is giving them explicit instructions on how to be sodomised. It is teaching them to be used by a guy, in a very dangerous way, for his pleasure and satisfaction. It is giving the clear message to every teenage boy that it’s perfectly acceptable to sodomise a girl, to use her, even physically hurt her for the sake of an orgasm. And, of course, it is glorifying as good, normal and healthy the harmful practice of homo-sexual sex. This is a decisive, deliberate tactic of those forcing the current perverted sexual ideology on our society. These Predators Eat Our Timidity And again, the girls are bullied It is the homosexualisation and First into accepting this insane injustice dehumanisation of our children. People parade and cheer for for fear of being labelled bigots. This dead-end sexual ideology Pride, as young children are Nobody dares object. Not even cannot reproduce on its own, so it exposed to naked men and the parents. must maintain and grow itself by women engaging in sex acts on the acquiring our children. People parade and cheer for streets. Pride, as young children are The kids must be groomed, and These predators know how to exposed to naked men and indoctrinated from their toddler intimidate. They know very well women engaging in sex acts on the years, to accept the new that words like ‘bigot’ and streets, while the elite smile and “progressive”, modern, totally ‘homophobe’ and ‘intolerance’ are praise this show of enlightenment insane sexual agenda in its more effective and lethal than a and ‘education.’ entirety, without question or bullet to the heart. And boy, have resistance. They must be re- Not only do the parents not we proven them right. programmed to reject biology, object, they’re snapping photos of natural law and their own need They’ve succeeded in bullying their kids waving rainbow flags as for modesty. most of the country into accepting all the naked debauchery walks that it’s just not nice to refuse to by. The new sexual predators are allow men into the ladies’ rooms. stealthy and slick. They are What Will It Take? Then they labelled our daughters politicians, doctors, business It’s like screaming at deaf ears bigots and homophobes for being professionals, celebrities, at this point. There doesn’t seem uncomfortable undressing with a magazine editors, movie to be any line that can’t be crossed, strange man in the room. producers, college professors, moved or obliterated. Is there no school teachers, and worst of all, America barely blinked, and hill worth dying on anymore? Not clergy. suddenly it was against the even the hill that is our children’s acceptable social and moral code – lives? Is there nothing that will and the law – to stop boys from competing on the girls’ teams.

21 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 21 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ The Predator in the Fashion Magazine: Teen Vogue Coaches Teenagers in Sodomy, Words of Wisdom & Competition

“Run from immoral behaviour. All other sins are disconnected from the body, but sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who comes from God and dwells inside of you? You do not own yourself. You have been purchased at a great price, so use your body to bring glory to God!”

1 Corinthians 6:18 [VOICE] motivate us and give us courage daughter’s fashion magazine is to resist this madness? grooming her to embrace sodomy.

The predators aren’t lurking in This is where timidity and the shadows, snatching the kids moral cowardice have brought us. Competition: from the cover of darkness when [END] Win a $60 Voucher! we’re not looking. The predators ------Until the end of October 2017, SPAG are out in the open, basking in the Biography: Magazine is offering you the chance to go into sunshine, shaking our hands, Jennifer Hartline is a Senior the draw to win a $60 voucher to spend in our online store! smiling for pictures, and getting Contributor to The Stream. She is a proud our signature of approval to Army wife and mother of four children. All you need to do is make a purchase from She writes passionately on the issues of our store or a donation totalling $20 or more in corrupt our children morally, one transaction before the end of October Life, faith, family and culture, and has 2017. physically and spiritually. been published extensively at Catholic Note that due to the costs and difficulties The sexual predators are trying Online and at Catholic Stand. She is with setting up our shop for overseas buyers at currently pursuing a degree in Theology to bewitch our teens with lies this time, we can only offer physical items and at Holy Apostles College and Seminary. about the pleasures and ‘benefits’ gift vouchers to Australian readers. Australian She runs on dark chocolate and and overseas readers who make a donation or of sodomy. Is enough finally peppermint mochas. purchase an e-book or previous electronic enough? ------issues of SPAG (to the value of $20 or more in one transaction) will also go into the draw Mums and Dads, if you’re at all Bibliography: Ensure you provide all of your contact details unconvinced about this, you need Hartline, Jennifer, 1 July 2017, The Stream - and address, when you submit your order. “The Predator in the Fashion Magazine: Teen to head over to Joseph Sciambra’s So What’s Available? We have a great Vogue Coaches Teenagers in Sodomy,” selection of earrings, some key-rings and site and read about the truth about available: www.stream.org/predator-fashion- pendants along with previous issues of SPAG, sodomy and homosexuality. I magazine-teen-vogue-coaches-teenagers- and a gorgeous, inspirational e-book. Not all sodomy/, accessed 19/07/17 warn you: it ain’t pretty and it’s items are Christian based, but I’m sure you’ll not for the faint of heart. find something you like either for yourself or ☬ someone you care about. We also have gift Go read that, and then tell me vouchers available to purchase: Link to the it’s no big deal that your shop here.

22 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 22

~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Good Grief: Ten Things I’ve Learned About Grief Good Grief: Ten Things I’ve Learned About Grief

by Jon Terrell M.A.

For the last 14 years I’ve helped people transform grief, anger, anxiety and other difficult emotions at our retreats. I've learned a great deal about how grief affects us, and how we can move through our grieving and find joy again. So how do we feel our grief in a At the retreats we all experience safe way? Our Emotional healing that as we feel our grief our focus Here is a list of some of the things I retreats are an ideal way to enter into gradually shifts from the pain of loss have learned about grief, whether it's the feelings we've avoided. At our to the joy inherent in love. We grieve from the loss of a loved one, a retreats participants are surrounded because we loved, and that loss of relationship, a job or something else by support, safety and a process that what we loved is painful. dear to us. encourages feeling feelings. As we Yet we are here to love, not to 1. Grief is Not a Problem to be move through our grief, it changes, grieve endlessly. Grieving as a feeling Solved. and we change. We feel better, lighter, is a process, and we don't need to get Grief is a feeling to be felt, not a freer - we find relief. stuck in the process. Grieving helps thought. 3. Suppressing Grief Leads to us let go and finally experience and We live in our thoughts so Problems honour the love. naturally we want to solve our When we suppress our pain we That love becomes a living part of problems by finding a solution. But also suppress lots of good stuff. us. Grief transforms us all the way feelings are in a different realm than Pushing down the pain of grief (or through, down to the ground of our thoughts. They come from our body, any feeling) reduces the amount of being. not our head. awareness and life energy we 5. How Grief Affects Us Grief is not a problem, although it consciously have. Suppression makes Here are some of the ways grief can be an uncomfortable feeling. our world smaller! affects our bodies and consciousness: What can be a problem is the We become less aware and have avoidance of grief. This avoidance can While there are exceptions, grief is fewer options. Suppression is, at best, cause our lives to go into a standstill usually heavy and slow. We slow a temporary option. The problem is as we are stuck in the past and neglect down and feel weighed down. that most of us have unconsciously the present. Grieving is a lot of work. It is suppressed so much feeling in our tiring! 2. Don’t Suppress/Avoid Grief bodies that we have forgotten what Suppressing, avoiding or distract- freedom feels like. We carry the We seek dark enclosed spaces and ing ourselves from grief postpones weight of these feelings around with dark colours. When grieving we often our pain and slows down our healing us, as excess physical weight yes, but feel better close to the earth ...lying process. especially as a kind of novocaine to down or on the floor. These elements allow us to most easily work through As we get past these strategies and life. our grief. feel our pain, we heal our grief. But So what's the "good stuff" we've sometimes the pain of grief is suppressed? It depends on the I remember a time of loss for me. I unbearable, and some suppression is emotion suppressed of course. With intuitively moved from my large, a necessary defence so we won't be grief it's joy, sensitivity, fluidity (the sunny bedroom to the smallest, totally overwhelmed by it. Yet when water element, related to tears) and darkest room in my home. It felt the we make a habit of suppression and groundedness. safest, most enclosed, most inward. Then sometime later, after a few other means of not feeling we end up 4. Grief is a Natural Response stuck in pain rather than moving months, I was ready to go back. Grief is a natural response to the through it. We can end up addicted to When we grieve we often cry, and loss of someone or something we substances or activities that numb us. the wetness of tears brings relief. So loved. grieving is often wet, not dry.

23 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 23 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Good Grief: Ten Things I’ve Learned About Grief

One of the gifts of grieving is a uncommon for participants to remark another one appears. As Elizabeth depth of grounding, of earthiness. The how much lighter they feel and how Kubler-Ross pointed out in her heaviness of grief becomes our much relief they experience. ‘Stages of Grief,’ anger is closely grounding. The safest people in the 8. Grief May Trigger Past Grieving related to grief. We can be angry world, the ones to whom we want to Experiences about our loss, and blame others for run when we are in pain, are the ones it. Current grief often triggers past, who have done their grief work. We uncompleted grief experiences. Fear and anxiety are also sense their steadiness and truth connected to grief. We can be afraid of One of the reasons grief is hard to holding. They don't try to fix our being overwhelmed by grief and by work through is that our present loss grief! They just love us. anger. We can be afraid of being is often compounded by past 6. Crying is Good engulfed by grief. Many experience experiences of loss. Many of us, especially men, have fear of what will happen to them. Many of us are weighed down by been taught not to cry. All feelings are welcomed and a lifetime of loss and we don't realise encouraged at our retreats, which is We may feel that crying is it. Some of these may seem trivial or often the opposite of most people’s somehow feminine, weak or babyish. little ...although they weren't little to regular life. In life we too often have We were told "Don't be a cry-baby" or us when we experienced these losses to be strong for others and hide our "Boys don't cry." as a young person. true feelings. We may have been shamed this As we get older we lose a lot of Yet as we express our feelings we way when we were young and so our life force and joy of life because work through the stuck places in our have suppressed years of grief. This we've suppressed our feelings in lives. We come alive again as we heal can make it difficult to even order to be accepted and loved by our the deadened places within us. acknowledge our grief, let alone cry, parents, friends, teachers and others. except maybe in the dark like at the We push these feelings down into our Conclusion movies, or when alone in our homes. bodies, which can lead to tiredness Grief is difficult; loss is painful; We crave that healing wetness. and physical pain. Fortunately, as we but grieving offers us amazing gifts. As we reclaim our capacity to learn to release these feelings stuck in We grieve because we've lost grieve, we reclaim parts of ourselves our bodies we reclaim that energy someone or something we loved. The we may not even have realised were and freedom. gift of grief is a reclaiming of that ours - tenderness, compassion, In other words, we become more love. It is a deep, internalised sensitivity, warmth. We develop an whole as we feel our feelings. experience of love as joy in the intimacy with ourselves that can grow present moment. [END] 9. Grief Has No Timetable into deeper intimacy with others. We ------open our hearts again. There is no set timetable to working through grief. Biography: 7. Suppressing Grief Can Lead to Jon Terrell is an expert in helping people love Depression Grieving a loss does take time. But more fully, for deeper, more trusting relationships in how much time? Each situation, and all areas of life. He specialises in energy and Suppressed grief can lead to each person is different. I trust people emotional healing to help people live into their full feelings of depression. to know when it's been too long a aliveness and joy. Jon leads retreats focusing on In many cases depressed feelings healing grief and loss and other uncomfortable process and they need help. emotions. can be alleviated by working through At our retreats we encourage Jon believes that most of us carry around old past grief. When we don't people to take "the next step." But emotional wounds that, when healed, opens us up to acknowledge grief it can turn into what that step is also different for the joy and light available in each present moment. depression. At our retreats when each person as we are all unique. A gifted intuitive, Jon supports healing and people work through grief they often awakening at all levels. Jon is trained as a ordained experience the weight of grief moving 10. Grief is Connected with Feelings minister, psychotherapist, energy healer, meditation teacher and retreat leader. right out of their bodies. It's not Like Anger Grief is closely As a seasoned professional, he offers a different approach to healing and awakening that integrates connected with other years of professional training with direct personal feelings, particularly experiences of the energies of life. anger. Website: www.awakenment-wellness.com/learned- At our retreats about-grief.html people often start out with one feeling, but as ☬ they delve into it,

24 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 24 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ A-musings: Men are from Mars Men are from Mars Another time, the same man not look at each other. There will was talking about shopping with be absolutely no conversation." by Vicki Nunn one's partner. He said that This is completely unlike sometimes you can get a bunch of How different women's restrooms. We women blokes standing around outside men and women are! One of the will talk to just about anybody. In the lingerie department, holding men at a former workplace had fact, on several occasions I've been their partner's handbags with a been talking about a new trailer on the receiving end of some quite tortured and faraway expression that someone he knew had personal and even intimate on their faces. There might be a purchased. information from complete dozen men, but they will not look strangers, that I could well have "It's a beauty!" he exclaimed, at each other, and they certainly done without, thank you very his eyes aglow with admiration, won't talk. They like to pretend much. "That's a cracker of a trailer!" that they're not actually there. To Another male I know was My eyes glazed over as I speak would shatter the illusion talking about the perils of having pretended to understand his that they’re somewhere else, like a to carry his wife's handbag. enthusiasm. I'm sure he could tell football game or fishing, or "I hide it under my arm if I though, because it was the same burning their wife’s credit card. can," he said. "If it's large and kind of look I saw on his face five "So how does it work in men's bulky, you try to lean it against a minutes earlier when I'd rooms?" I asked him. mentioned some Swarovski crystal wall behind you and hope that no "When you go into the men's beads a friend had given me for other bloke notices it." room," he replied, "Your eyes jewellery making. The challenge is to keep an eye must always be forward. You will out for the wife so that the man can quickly pick up the handbag before she returns. It's a risky situation: he has to consider the fact that he'll look like a bit of a girly-boy to every other man in the room, as it’s obvious it must be his own handbag, especially if its covered in sequins.) On the other hand, he will have to contend with the consequences if his wife discovers that he wasn't physically holding the item every single moment she was absent, coupled with the very likely possibility of nagging for at least the next two weeks, with regular reminders for the rest of his natural life of his complete ineptitude when it comes to looking after his wife’s belongings. Men sure have it tough don't they? [END] ☬ 25 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 25

~ Single Person Approved by God ~ I’m Tired of Being Thankful I’m Tired of Being Thankful

Thankfulness is Hard. Such is the mystery of grace. by Erik Cooper You know why? Because So perhaps I’m not actually thankfulness forces me to accept tired of being thankful. Perhaps that I’m not the source of things. I’m just tired. Tired of pretending Church signs are splashed with That there is something bigger to be put together. Tired of acting Thanksgiving themed bible verses than me. That all my blessings, my like I’ve got it all figured out. (which, let’s admit, is a welcome relationships, my resources, my Tired of trying to be the central change from most church sign opportunities, my food and character of my own story. Tired content). shelter, my creativity, my of striving to become my own Facebook walls are awash in inspiration, my parents, my kids, saviour. ‘thankfulness challenges’ and my friends, my co-workers, my The strength, and control, and clipart quotes about turkeys and money, my successes, my joy, my peace, and connection, and pilgrims. purpose, my identity, my wholeness, and power I so My kids’ Thanksgiving school meaning, my very next breath… desperately long to construct can crafts adorn the refrigerator door. All of it. only be created when I stop Charlie Brown is once again Every. Last. Bit. looking for it inside of myself. convincing himself that he can Is a gift to me. I was made to be thankful. actually kick that football. And I hate that. No, I mean I So let’s eagerly humble And retail stores are filled really do. ourselves this Thanksgiving, and with… well, who are we kidding? I. Hate. It. find our greatest joy in our need to They’ve been decorated for I don’t want to be thankful. give thanks. [END] Christmas since Labor Day Thankfulness means I’m in need. ------September. I’m needy!? Who wants to be in Biography: Erik is involved in the executive Thanksgiving is here! It’s hard need? I mean, come on, really?! I leadership of two non-profit organi- want to be the author, the creator, to ignore. It’s everywhere. But can sations: Community Reinvestment the origin, not the recipient! I want I be honest with you? I’m sorta Foundation, a non-profit housing tired of being thankful. Yeah, I am. to be in control, to be strong, to be company that specialises in providing I’m just going to take a few powerful and put together. high quality affordable housing, and minutes here and call it like it is. I don’t want to be thankful. I The Stone Table, a ministry want to be thanked. organisation that focuses on the Yet with every passing year, I connection between business and become more and more aware of missions. ☬ my true makeup. I am weak. I am In his spare time, Erik loves to broken. I lack. I need help. Geez, write about the intersection of God and everyday life. He is a proud doesn’t that sound empowering? husband and father of three beautiful Or is it? children and makes his home in In some great gospel paradox, Indianapolis, Indiana USA. with every down-ward step I seem to find myself rising higher. With ------every admission of inadequacy, I Bibliography: find myself growing stronger. Cooper, Erik, 25 November 2014, Beyond the With every acknowledgement of Risk: I’m tired of Being Thankful, available: www.beyondtherisk.com/2014/11/25/im-tired- brokenness, I find myself a little of-being-thankful/, accessed 28/06/17 bit more whole. With the loss of self-made meaning, I find more of ☬ my true identity.

26 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 26 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ The Joys of a Petite Church

The Joys of a Petite Church

by Lori Yanez Is a Petite Church Healthy? Mega church. I saw a post online the other I believe that Mega churches day that posed the question, “If and petite churches, as we know Five signs you may belong to a your church is a healthy, small them today, both fulfil their own petite church: church, then why is it small?” role in God’s plan. God provides 1. Parking is never an issue; What an interesting question. It for all our needs and for some that

2. The singles ministry consists of does seem that if your church is means the intimacy, familiarity seven toddlers, two teenagers, healthy it should be growing and strong family ties of a small and one old lady; exponentially, but let’s take a church, while others may prefer 3. Pot luck dinners always seem moment to reflect on what a the financial, technological, and to include spaghetti; church really is, because a church manpower resources of a Mega 4. You can’t sleep in on Sunday or is not a building. It is the people church. everyone sends a casserole within the walls of that building God creates what He needs to thinking you’re ill; and that believe and follow God. fulfil his plan. Sometimes that 5. Every member volunteers and If it is a small gathering of plan may require the intimacy of a it’s still not enough people. people, does that mean that they petite church, as well as the have less faith or are less effective energy and resources of a Mega What is a Petite Church? in converting unbelievers than the church. I coined the term to mean the much larger group belonging to a A Plant Church opposite of a Mega church - in Mega Church? Of course not. My church is a plant church. other words, it’s a small church The first followers of Christ did We opened only a few years ago like mine. not have buildings to congregate in a run-down storefront on the We don’t have a cathedral in. They met in homes, on hillsides wrong side of the tracks. reaching to the sky, a choir, and even back alleys. They spread It started with a single pastor multiple ministries for youth or the Word through intimate contact and his family who along with singles, and sadly, we don’t have a and individual teachings. They hard work, prayer, faith and coffee bar like the big Baptist were the original petite churches determination have nurtured it church down the street. that grew into one worldwide into a growing and diverse church family. So, what does it mean to belong to a petite church? Well, it means hard work, lots of prayer, deter- mination and above all, faith. Challenges for a Petite Church There are definite challenges to belonging to a petite church. Let me list a few for you:  Being an older widow, my chances for finding a mate in my church is unlikely. My options at this point are limited to waiting for the many young boys to graduate from high school, or buying a plot at the local cemetery;

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~ Single Person Approved by God ~ The Joys of a Petite Church

 It means pot luck dinners when you were weak and rejoiced hope to those on the brink of always include spaghetti and when you won a battle against sin. suicide, who now living lives the same pasta salad from the A petite church keeps you trusting in Jesus. new bride who has yet to honest and accountable because We have helped to salvage master another recipe. they know who you really are and broken marriages by leading them  It means our music is often love you as Christ loves His to the examples of God’s love and filled with the prepubescent church. grace. The results have been solid cracking of male voices that A Mega church has the ability marriages and many newborn leave us desperately trying to to draw many people to God, and infants dedicated to Jesus. control our laughter. it is always exciting to see a large Other advantages of a petite  It means dodging the various number answer the call, but it is church include: toys strewn about the aisle no less thrilling when a single • our youth get one-on-one while walking to the front to individual in a petite church feels attention that busy modern offer prayer or receive comm.- the pull towards salvation and lives often neglect; union. makes that solitary walk down the • our elderly and infirm are well aisle to devote his heart to Jesus.  It means, we are a family. known, cared for and respected The Benefits God does fill every need, and rather than overlooked in an that includes the needs of a person Of course, with such a small ocean of people; who may be too overwhelmed or group of people in a petite church • when illness or suffering keeps intimidated by the sheer number there is the reality that everyone you away from church, you are of people in a large church to want knows your private business. missed and someone calls to to include so many in their private Every mistake, disappointment, find out if you’re alright; and emotional moment. and problem is revealed sooner or • we may not have the money or The Miracles later. Yet also every accomplish- resources to fulfil every need, ment, joy, and problem solved is My church may be petite, yet but our faith is strengthened celebrated. the miracles are huge. every time God provides where There is also the knowledge The first life and soul to be we cannot, and our needs have that these are the same people that saved was that of a hardened always been met. saw you at your very worst and criminal accustomed to the Conclusion still loved you anyway. gangbanger life of drugs, alcohol God does have a plan, and I and violence. Now he is free from Maybe it was drugs, alcohol, believe that plan includes petite that life and has been re-born as a abuse, or perhaps it was just being churches. After all a petite church child of God. too broken to want to live that life does not mean a weak church. It is of sin any more. In my petite church, we have simply fulfilling the plan that God They know your private life supported several through has laid out for us to follow. Add because they are an integral part addiction and rehab to sobriety to all of that the bonus of lots of of your life. They have been there and purpose while most impor- free parking spots, and a petite to love and support you through tantly guiding them to salvation. church is really something special. every trial. They encouraged you We have given new life and [END]

28 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 28 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ The Late, Great Stem-Cell Debate - Why Pro-Lifers Were Right The Late, Great Stem-Cell Debate

~ Why Pro-Lifers Were Right ~

by John lung, liver or other kinds of ranging from blindness and Stonestreet human tissue. The stem cells cancer, to juvenile diabetes and everyone is interested in - called arthritis. Without killing human President “pluripotent” stem cells - have the embryos. Colson Center for ability to become any type of Christian Worldview And in 2006, a technique tissue, anywhere in the body. (Copyright 2017 by the Colson Center pioneered by Nobel Prize-winning for Christian Worldview. Reprinted Scientists have long seen these Japanese scientist Shinya from BreakPoint.org with permission) cells as a potential cure or therapy Yamanaka all but rendered for degenerative diseases like embryonic stem cells obsolete. He The biggest ethical and Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, as discovered a way to induce scientific debate of the early 2000s well as paralysis, heart disease, pluripotency, causing adult cells has all but disappeared. And we and a host of others. A decade to mimic embryonic stem cells. need to tell people why. ago, the only way to derive His method has since been Some issues in presidential “pluripotent” stem cells was to developed to the point where politics have staying power. conceive a human embryo in a test researchers at Massachusetts Twelve years ago, everyone was tube, and then kill it. General Hospital used it to grow a talking about immigration, Then-president George W. genetically-compatible, beating abortion, and terrorism. Today, Bush issued a moratorium on new human heart from a patient’s skin everyone is still talking about federal funding for this type of cells! immigration, abortion, and stem cell, sparking outrage from This method is actually terrorism. across the aisle. The move was superior to the embryonic method, But another issue that gripped roundly condemned as “anti- because it eliminates the risk of the public and had candidates scientific,” and Bush was rejection. The freshly-grown tissue shouting from the debate stages lampooned by the media, liberal from adult stem cells is, quite then has been all but forgotten politicians, and cartoonists as a literally, the patient’s own. All of today: embryonic stem cell peddler of dark-age superstitions. this led Christopher White at Crux research. In 2009, a newly-elected to declare the stem cell Here’s a quick refresher: Stem President Obama immediately controversy effectively over. cells exist in every multicellular lifted the moratorium and poured President Bush was right, White organism and have the ability to new funding into embryonic stem argues, and so were the legions of differentiate into different types of cell research. Since then, countless pro-life activists who supported tissue, whether it be heart, brain, embryos have been destroyed alternatives to embryo-destructive with taxpayer dollars, but to this day, the technology has failed to yield the miracle cures Americans were promised. And that’s only one reason the debate has gotten so quiet. During the years since the moratorium, a different kind of stem cell-tissue- specific “somatic” or adult stem cells -have been used to successfully treat over a million- and-a-half people with conditions

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~ Single Person Approved by God ~ The Late, Great Stem-Cell Debate - Why Pro-Lifers Were Right research. The stem cell debate Biography: ©Glasbergen didn’t just fizzle out. On an John Stonestreet serves as Preside nt of glasbergen.com important level, it was soundly Colson Center for Christian Worldview. A gifted communicator on areas of faith and won by those who insisted that culture, theology, worldview, education, medical science could advance and apologetics, John is a sought-after without turning human life at its speaker, published author, and respected earliest stages into a disposable cultural commentator. commodity. Since 2012, John and Eric Metaxas have co-hosted BreakPoint, the nationally Yet still the issue hasn’t gone syndicated radio commentary founded by away. Our government continues the late Chuck Colson. He also co-hosts a to fund ethically indefensible broadcast with Ed Stetzer called embryonic research. But the fact BreakPoint This Week, a weekly “I like the wings, but now I have this worldview conversation that speaks to the that such research is now so moral issues of the day. fear of being eaten by a cat.” unnecessary has taken the moral Before coming to the Colson Center in and rhetorical wind out of 2010, John served various leadership Can just 73¢ a day really advocates’ sails. capacities with Summit Ministries, and help SPAG Magazine? I want to be really clear: was on the Biblical Studies faculty at Bryan College (TN).John has co-authored Yes it can! While we’ve recently overhauled some expenses to reduce costs, there are still Embryo-destructive research three books: Restoring All Things (with lots of bills we need to pay to ensure we keep exploits and destroys unique Warren Smith, 2015), Same-Sex Marriage SPAG Magazine available and to provide it to you human lives, and it should be (with Sean McDowell, 2014), and Making for free. Pr esently all outstanding costs are met opposed even if such research Sense of Your World: A Biblical by our Editor, Vicki Nunn who has a limited Worldview (with Gary Phillips and income on a disability pension. Yep, it’s almost like she pays you to r ead it  could make the paralyzed walk. William Brown, 2007). Doing or condoning evil that good Our total operating costs per quarter ar e John holds degrees from Trinity around AU$662. If ten people could contribute may result is still evil, and we Evangelical Divinity School (IL) and just 73¢ a day for a year, all of our oper ating must defend the sanctity of Bryan College (TN). He and his wife Sarah costs would be met. Would you c onsider being have three daughters and a dog, and live one of those ten people? (Perhaps you could ask human life from conception to nine people from your church or singles group in Colorado Springs, Colorado. natural death. to make up the r emainder.) Connect with John at BreakPoint.org, 73¢/day x 10 people/year = all oper ating costs But very often, as in this case, or follow him on Twitter (@jbstonestreet). Other costs: the right thing turns out to be the ------There are also a couple of other costs as well including the Glasbergen cartoon and costs for more promising and successful Resources: promoting SPAG Magazine, which total around option. In the late, great stem cell Bush has been vindicated on stem cell AU$100 per quarter. If ten people could debat e, it’s clearer now than it decision, Christopher White, contribute just 11¢ a day for a year, our remaining costs would be met. ever has been: saving life doesn’t Cruxnow.com, 29 August 2016 11¢/day x 10 people/year = remaining costs . [END] iPS cells and reprogramming: turn any require destroying it Your generous contribution can make a big cell of the body into a stem cell, Manal difference! You can also help by purchasing Hadenfeld, Eurostemcell.org, 29 items from our online store: www.spagmag. September 2015, Glowing Green Mice: An com/shop. End to the Stem Cell Controversy? Eric Here are those 2 costs again: Metaxas, BreakPoint.org, 13 February 2014 73¢/day x 10 people/year = all oper ating costs Stem Cell Breakthrough: A Scientific and 11¢/day x 10 people/year = remaining costs Ethical Leap Forward, Eric Metaxas, Consider also that in the past year we’v e BreakPoint.org, 24 October 2012 spent $2,000 for a new computer and monitor. Would you make a commitment to help ------SPAG Magazine in its mission? Bibliography: Our mission is to inspire, challenge and Stonestreet, John, Breakpoint: The Late, Great encourage Christian adults in their walk, and to Stem-Cell Debate - Why Pro-Lifers Were Right, honour and exalt God. available: www.breakpoint.org/2016/09/the- Email us: [email protected] and let us late-great-stem-cell-debate/, accessed 28/06/17 know how you’d like to become a regular supporter. Bank details are as follows:

Name: VS Nunn ☬ BSB: 014125 (ANZ Bank) Account: 289007034

30 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 30 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ This Thanksgiving I am Grateful for the Power of a Magic Three Letter Word This Thanksgiving I am Grateful for the Power of a Magic Three Letter Word

by Brent “I can’t” signals helplessness; “I “I have not mastered my Esplin can’t yet” confers power. It forces profession – yet.” us to take responsibility and come “I do not take care of my body

up with a plan to improve things. through nutritious food and “Though no-one can go back Let’s look at some common exercise as well as I should – yet.” and make a brand new start, statements dealing with money “I am not as spiritually in tune anyone can start from now and and how our magic word can as I need to be – yet.” make a brand new ending.” transform them: Carl Bard The possibilities are endless. “I can’t control my spending – Your Story is Not Over As a child I was taught that the yet.” magic words were ‘please’ and The spring of 1888 was a “I am not out of debt – yet.” ‘thank you.’ In a recent difficult time for the wealthy, 54 conversation with my sister, “I am not a very good saver – year-old Swedish chemist, Laree, she mentioned that some yet.” engineer, and inventor Alfred teachers are trained to teach their “I can’t afford that – yet.” Nobel. students another magic word. “I am not confident in my Alfred had made his fortune These teachers are being taught investing knowledge – yet.” inventing and manufacturing that if one of their students say, “I “I don’t have enough saved for dynamite and other explosives, can’t do xxx” they should stop retirement – yet.” most of which were used militarily. him or her and make them repeat “I can’t give as much as I the statement, but this time with would like to people who need In April of 1888 Alfred was the magic word at the end. And help and the causes I believe in – struck with grief when he learned what is this new magic word? It is yet.” of the death of his older brother, the short, unassuming, but Ludwig, in France. You get the idea. incredibly powerful word, “yet.” The Power of ‘Yet’ Alfred’s grief was compounded The Magic Word ‘Yet’ when shortly after his brother’s Your money story is not I have been thinking a lot about death, he read his own obituary in completed yet and you have the the ‘magic’ word yet since that a French newspaper. An editor power within you to change the night, about how this simple word had confused Alfred with his ending. But the power of yet isn’t can change everything. confined just to money. It has the “I can’t” has the feeling of power to transform not just your perman-ence and finality; “I can’t finances, but your life. Consider yet” is temporary and bursting the following: with possibilities for growth and “I am not as kind as I should be change. – yet.” “I can’t” is a white flag. A “I don’t serve others as much or signal of surrender; “I can’t yet” is as well as I would like – yet.” a call to action. A demand to fight and compete. “I am not the kind of husband or wife I desire to be – yet.” “I can’t” connotes despair; “I can’t yet” implies hope. “I am not as good a parent or grandparent as I should be – yet.” “I can’t” leads to discouragement; “I can’t yet” “I don’t have the education I encourages optimism. need or the job I want – yet.”

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~ Single Person Approved by God ~ This Thanksgiving I am Grateful for the Power of a Magic Three Letter Word & Kooky Corner

obituary in advance. we do have the opportunity, as long as we are still breathing, to continue learning, growing, and improving. Your story is not over. The final chapters have not been written. This thanksgiving one of the things I am grateful for is the brother and published Alfred’s power in the simple, unassuming, obituary in error. but magic three letter word yet, It would be an understatement and I rededicate myself to making to say that the assessment of the most of it. Won’t you join me? [END] Alfred’s life in his premature ------obituary was not flattering. The Biography: headline was “The Merchant of My name is Brent Esplin, author of the Advertising Promotion Death is Dead,” and the obituary Micawber Principle personal finance blog. stated that Alfred Nobel Several years ago we were in a “...became rich by finding ways to difficult financial situation. I had quit my ~ Miss Terry Woman ~ kill more people faster than ever job to go back to school and get a master’s www.missterrywoman.com before…” degree in accounting. Then, three years after graduating I found myself Alfred was dismayed that he unemployed for over 6 months. From classic to quirky, you can might be remembered as “the I started seriously studying personal find a huge variety of products merchant of death” and set out finance and investing. I read everything immediately to change this on the topic I could get my hands on. with graphic designs created by What I discovered is that there really is a perception. better way, and the better way is not that Australian Christian artist Vicki When he actually died eight difficult to learn. Nunn: years later, he allocated over We started applying the things I was  ninety percent of his fortune to learning and our situation gradually Clothing; improved. It didn’t happe n overnight, but establish generous awards for  Kitchenware; it did happen. Before long we were in a those who did the most to benefit much better situation and the prospects  Phone covers; humanity. ahead looked bright instead of hopeless.  Clocks; While Alfred’s invention of As our situation improved I started  dynamite is still sometimes noticing others bumping their heads on Canvases; the same financial stairs that had given us mentioned, his name is now  Stationery; problems. I wanted to help others avoid widely associated with awards the pain of bumping down the financial  and so much more! given for excellence in literature, staircase, and the Micawber Principle Blog There'll be something to please science, and most of all, in was born. promoting peace: The Nobel ------you at 'Miss Terry Woman.' Bibliography: Prizes. Esplin, Brent, The Micawber Principle: Helping You can find links to the four Upon seeing his obituary I can Your Rewrite Your Financial Story: This Thanksgiving I am Grateful for the Power of a different shops at: imagine Alfred Nobel screaming, Magic 3-Letter Word, available: www.micawber “I’m not dead yet.” Given the principle.com/this-thanksgiving-i-am-grateful- www..miissterrywoman..com chance to see what the future held, for-the-power-of-a-magic-3-letter-word-1684/, with over 25,000 items in the accessed 28/06/17 and not liking it, Nobel made the Australian shop alone. most of his ‘yet.’ ☬ ☬ Conclusion While we won’t have the opportunity to read our own

32 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 32 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ 17 Things Healthy People Need to Hear During Invisible Illness Awareness Week 17 Things Healthy People Need to Hear Inviisiiblle Illllness During Invisible Illness Awareness Week Awareness Week

every morning before school 15 Octt 2017 by Erin and walk around with a smile, but the truth is that I am in Migdol 4. “Just because you’re tired of chronic pain, always strugg- hearing about us being sick or ling, but you will never see in pain doesn’t make us any When a person’s illness isn’t that because I do not want to less sick or in pain. I know you easily visible, it can be difficult for appear in that light. You may can get desensitised to hearing outsiders to grasp the challenges believe I am faking being sick, we’re in pain every day, but he or she faces. “If you look but I am actually faking being we don’t get the luxury of ‘normal,’” they may say, “you well, and people need to not be being desensitised to the pain. can’t really be that sick.” Nothing as quick to judge.” Please be patient with us, and could be further from the truth. 2. “Just because I’m young remember we’re struggling As the chronic illness doesn’t mean I’m not disabled. and often smiling through community comes together to I have had many older men pain.” support Invisible Illness Aware- and women yell at me and 5. “If I’m out doing something ness Week which begins on 15 point to the handicapped sign and smiling, I’m running on October 2017, we asked our and then they realise I have adrenaline and it will take me Mighty community what message handicapped plates. Just several days to a week to they want to share to explain the because I’m young, doesn’t recover.” truth about how invisible illness mean I’m not struggling. I 6. “My illness may be labelled affects their lives and how their didn’t realise disability had an invisible, but if you look friends, families and acquaint- age limit… someone should ances can better support them. really tell my body that.” closely you can tell when I’m not doing well. I use a By educating the general 3. “I don’t need you to wheelchair, I’m more pale, population, we can hopefully get understand what I go through. don’t talk as much, etc. so my closer to acceptance and under- I just need you to be a illness really isn’t that standing of the realities of compassionate human being invisible.” invisible illness. like you would to someone 7. “Though I may have the same Here’s what they said: who was fighting an illness illness as your aunt, your 1. “I appear as I want you to see you could see. Don’t pity, but friend of a friend, whomever, me. I paint on my ‘I’m OK’ face be decent.” I’m not going to be the same or My “I’m OK“ healed by random internet face advice. Please don’t be Doctor Google unless you’re trying to be supportive and educate yourself.” 8. “Just because an illness or condition isn’t widely known doesn’t make it any less serious than any other illness.” 9. “This isn’t who I am. My illness does not define me. So even when I am sick, I will pull myself together. I will have a

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~ Single Person Approved by God ~ 17~ Things Single HealthyPerson Approved People Need by God to Hear ~ During Invisible Illness Awareness Week 17 Things Healthy people Need to Hear During Invisible Illness Awareness Week

social life. I am determined to be invisible, but my voice is you don’t understand, get to live my life to the fullest, sick not. My illnesses may be know me.” and all.” invisible, but the dream Job: 17. “Using the sentence ‘I believe 10. “Chronic illness can be lonely. The Revelation of God in you’ will be one of the most It is easier to make no plans Suffering empowering things you can than to cancel plans, especially s I once had, the faith I once had, say to someone you care about when friends and family the person I once was — they who is struggling.” [END] members may not be able to are not.” ------understand. Please don’t give 14. “I push myself well beyond Biography: up on a person because their what my illness truly should Erin Migdol is the chronic illness lives are busy with doctors, allow me to. I try to be the best editor at The Mighty, a website that seeks treatments, and seeking wife, mother, co-worker, and to support, inspire and educate by sharing the stories of people living with chronic health.” friend I can be. I probably and mental health conditions. 11. “Just because I can hang out disappoint myself way more Prior to working at The Mighty, she with you seemingly normally than I do you.” was an editor at Inside Weddings for hours doesn’t mean I’m not 15. “I am not going to get better. I magazine and a writer at The Huffington in pain inside.” think people have a hard time Post and Mic. Erin resides in Los Angeles, USA. 12. “We don’t want unsolicited getting that. For them, they get ------advice on how to treat our sick and then a few days or Bibliography: diseases! We don’t care that maybe a week later they get Migdol, Erin, 27 September 2016, The someone you ‘know’ has or better. When you are still sick Mighty: 17 Things Healthy People Need to Hear ‘had’ the same thing. Everyone months, years later, people During Invisible Illness Awareness Week, is different. Please keep have trouble with that.” available: www.themighty.com/2016/09/what- to -know-during-invisible-illness-awareness- opinions to yourselves unless 16. “Ask questions before you week/, accessed 28/06/17 specially asked a question.” judge me. I’m happy to share 13. “My illnesses may be invisible, my story and want to educate ☬ but I am not. My illnesses may others. My pain is real so if

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~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Job: The Revelation of God in Suffering Job: The Revelation of God in Suffering (Job 38:1–42:6)

by John Piper He did reach the point where he confessed (in 19:25-27) that after © Desiring God Foundation. death he would see God as his Source: desiringGod.org Redeemer. But for now God was Job had been lying in unrelieved treating him as an enemy, not a misery for months with open sores friend or a child - so Job thought. all over his body. During this time And so he complains to God: he bore the grief of seven dead sons "Oh, that I knew where I and three dead daughters. All of his might find him, that I might wealth had vanished in one come even to his seat! I would afternoon. He had become repulsive lay my case before Him and fill to his wife, loathsome to his my mouth with arguments . . . brothers, and even little children Why are not times of judgment despised him as he lay on the ash kept by the Almighty, and why Job heap outside of town. do those who know Him never Elihu's point of view is that Job is Job's Wavering Faith and see his days?" a righteous man, though not perfect, Complaints to God Job 23:3-4 & 24:1; cf. 13:23-24 and that he is loved by God. God is [RSV] At first Job bore these calamities not treating him as his enemy but as The Superficial Theology of Job's with amazing submission: his child and friend. Friends "The Lord gave and the Lord God originally allowed Job's has taken away, blessed be the Job's three friends had taken the sufferings to commence in order to name of the Lord . . . Shall we position that the severity of Job's show Satan and the armies of receive good at the hand of the suffering must be the sign of some heaven that Job cherished the worth Lord, and shall we not receive grievous sin in his life. God is of God more than his possessions evil?" Job 1:21b & 2:10 [RSV] punishing Job. and his family and his health. But But as the misery dragged out Job silences these three by after Job showed that he did in fact over the months, Job wavered in his showing that is no correlation in love God more than all else in the confidence that God was for him. this world between righteousness world, there was another purpose and prosperity or between wicked- In defending himself against the that God sought to achieve by ness and suffering. The righteous bad theology of Eliphaz, Bildad, and letting his suffering drag on for Zophar, he said things about God often suffer more than the wicked several months. and the wicked often prosper more that were not true. He began to That purpose, according to Elihu, insist on his own righteousness at than the righteous. was to purge out of Job's life a the expense of God's justice. Job is victorious over the super- residue of pride that had lain For example, in Job 13:23b-24 he ficial theology of his friends. quietly at the bottom of his life. said: Elihu's Rebuke and Counsel When Job was shaken by "Make me know my In chapters 32-37 the younger suffering long enough, the sediment transgression and my sin. Why friend Elihu rebukes both Job and of pride was stirred up into his life dost thou hide thy face, and his three friends. The three friends and showed itself when Job tried to count me as thy enemy?" [RSV] of Job had not been able to account justify himself at God's expense. for the suffering of this good man Job could only think that God A Twofold Purpose of Suffering in with their theology, and Job had was ignoring his faithfulness and Job's Life said rash and presumptuous things treating him as an enemy. What we have seen so far, then, about God in order to justify is that Job's suffering has a twofold himself. explanation: its purpose at the

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~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Job: The Revelation of God in Suffering

whirlwind comes the Let's try to summarise the voice of God to Job interrogation without reading the (chapters 38–41). whole thing. It is not exactly what In 38:1-2 God begins: you would expect. "Then the Lord Questions About the World Below answered Job out of the In 38:4-7 God focuses on the whirlwind: 'Who is this earth: that darkens counsel by "Where were you when I laid words without know- the foundation of the earth? Tell ledge?'" me, if you have understanding." [RSV] [RSV] Someone might think You weren't there, Job, and you that God is criticising don't know how I did it. the words of Elihu here, In 38:8–11 God focuses on the but that is not the case. sea: Job's servants tell him of the disasters He is speaking to Job and criticising Job. "Who shut in the sea with doors, when it burst forth from outset was to demonstrate God's We know this because in 42:3a the womb?" [RSV] value and glory, and its ongoing when God is through speaking, Job It was I, Job, I set its limits not purpose was to refine Job's quotes these words from 38:2 and righteousness. applies them to himself. He says: you. You weren't there and you don't know how I did it. His suffering is not punishment. "Who is this that hides counsel In 38:12–15 the Lord focuses on It is not a sign of God's anger. Job's without knowledge?" [RSV] pain is not the pain of the the dawn: That is a quote from God in 38:2. executioner's whip but the pain of And then Job responds (in the "Have you commanded the the surgeon's scalpel - the removal second half of verse 3 in chapter 42): morning since your days began, of the disease of pride is the most and caused the dawn to know its "Therefore I have uttered loving thing God could do, no place?" [RSV] matter what the cost. what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, You never did it. You can't do it. Remember the words of the You don't know how to do it. I have which I did not know." [RSV] Lord: better to suffer the always done it. I always will. excruciating pain of a gouged out So the words of God in chapters 38-41 are not a rebuke of Elihu. In 38:16–18 God focuses on the eye than to let any sin remain in depth and breadth of the sea and your heart. If this does not seem Nowhere does God rebuke or criticise Elihu. Elihu had been right. land. Job, you have never even been obvious to you - namely, that to the bottom of the ocean or Job listens in silent agreement. sanctification is worth any pain on around the world, and you think And when Elihu is finished, God this earth - it is probably because you know enough to argue with speaks to Job and not to Elihu, and you don't abhor sin and prize God? holiness the way God does and the so now we want to know what more Questions About the World Above way you should. Let us examine God has to say to Job. Let's look and ourselves carefully at this point. see. Then in the last half of chapter 38 God takes his focus off the world A Gathering Storm and God's Job on Trial Before God below and turns it to the world Rebuke of Job Job 38:3: above. Toward the end of Elihu's speech "Gird up your loins like a First, in verses 19-21 He queries (chapters 32–37) a thunderstorm man, I will question you, and Job about the origin of light and had gathered and filled him with you shall declare to me." [RSV] dark: awe. It is as though he senses the God has been questioned by Job "Where is the way to the approach of God in this storm and long enough. Now it is time for Job dwelling of light, and where is brings his words to a close. Sure to be put on trial; it's time for God to the place of darkness?" [RSV] enough, somehow, out of the be the questioning attorney.

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~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Job: The Revelation of God in Suffering

utterly surrounded, Consider the wild ass (39:5-8): above and below, by "Who has let the wild ass go mysteries. free?" [RSV] And so are we, Do you think there are wild and because the scientific unpredictable creatures in the advancements of the last world, Job? Guess what? I set them two hundred years are loose. I give them a wilderness for like sandpails of running and the mountain for saltwater hauled from pasture. They are the work of my the ocean of God's hands. Things are quite in order, wisdom and dumped in and you have nothing to do with it! a hole on the beach while And so it goes. The wild ox (39:9- the tide is rising. 12): you don't know how to bind Job's friends talk to him during his suffering God is not impressed, him or use him. He is mine. and we should be The stupid ostrich (39:13-18): she You don't know where it is or overwhelmed with our ignorance, walks away from her eggs; she how to get there. But I do, Job. I not impressed with science. made the light. treats her young cruelly. Who made Questions About the World of her forget wisdom? I did, Job. Even Then, in verses 22-30 God asks Animals the foolish things are by design. him about snow and hail and rain Then come the queries about the Ostriches and Minnesota mos- and frost: do you know anything world of animals. quitoes and black flies. I govern about how to store up hail for the them all by perfect design. day of battle? Would you know In 38:39-41 God asks who Job how to cut a channel in the sky to thinks provides lions and birds with Of course not all animals are make it rain on a land where no their food? foolish and useless. Take the war man is? "Who provides for the raven horse (39:19-25), for example: Or lift your eyes even higher, its prey, when its young ones cry "Do you give the horse his Job, (verses 31-33) and look at the to God, and wander about for might? Do you clothe his neck constellations: Pleiades, Orion, lack of food?" [RSV] with strength?" [RSV] Mazzaroth, the Bear! I do, Job - all over the world. Can You don't know how to do it, "Do you know the ordinances you do that? Job. I am the only one who does. of the heavens? Can you Or consider the birth of the Finally, Job, (39:26–30): establish their rule on the earth?" young (39:1-4): "Is it by your wisdom that the [RSV] "Do you know when the hawk soars, and spreads his If not, come back down then and mountain goats bring forth? Do wings toward the south? Is it at we will just talk about the rain again you observe the calving of the your command that the eagle (vers es 34-38). Can you make it hinds?" [RSV] mounts up and makes his nest rain? Do you know how to whistle Think of it, Job! I am on top of all on high?" [RSV] for the lightning so it comes and these things. Every wild deer in No! Whether we consider the says, "Here we are!"? Can you count northern Minnesota that gives birth prey of lions, the birth of mountain the clouds with your wisdom? Or - I am there. Every mountain goat in goats, the freedom of the wild ass, do my earthly pastimes stretch your Switzerland and Nepal - when they the insubordination of the wild ox, mind a bit too far? bring forth, I am there; I know their the stupidity of the ostrich, the So whether we focus on the earth months. I care for the young. might of the war horse, or the flight or the sea or the dawn or the snow Think of it, Job! When a man sees of the hawk and eagle, the upshot is or hail or constellations or rain, the a work of God, like your suffering, the same: Job is ignorant and upshot is that Job is ignorant and can he see its connection to ten impotent. impotent. He doesn't know where thousand other realities in the world He did not make them. He does they came from. He doesn't know like I can? If not, how will he dare to not know how to control them. He how to make them work. He is judge its wisdom! cannot see what they are doing. Yet

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~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Job: The Revelation of God in Suffering this ignorant Job presumed to right and good just because God Instead, God says: "I employ my question the ways of God! does it? might to clothe myself with God Pauses for Job's Response I think the answer to that splendour and to abase the proud and (by implication) to exalt the So at the beginning of chapter 40, question is yes and no. humble." God pauses in his interrogation to On the one hand, there is no give Job a chance to respond. greater reality than God with which In other words the rightness of God's might is not merely that it is “And the Lord said to Job: we can judge God's actions. He God's, but also that its purposes are ‘Shall a faultfinder contend would not be God if He submitted consistent with His excellence. with the Almighty? He who to something outside himself. argues with God, let him answer But on the other hand, when we The goodness of God is just this: it.’" say the sentence, "God is good," or, that He upholds his glory by Then Job answered the Lord: "God always does what is right," abasing the proud and giving the humble delight in His excellence. ‘Behold, I am of small God wants us to mean more than account; what shall I answer simply, "God is God." He wants us Job Brought to Submission and thee? I lay my hand on my to see that His might does not make Worship mouth. I have spoken once, and I right in the sense that it could be So in bringing Job to submission, will not answer; twice, but I will capricious and God did not simply proceed no further.’" [RSV] arbitrary and ...the rightness of say, "Might makes irrational and Job is getting the point: a finite right. So stop nevertheless right. God’s might is not creature who has no wisdom to run condemning my Instead He wants this world and is utterly ignorant of merely that it is ways." He said, in us to see that His 99.999% of its processes has no the first place, there might is God’s, but also business instructing his Maker and are ten million purposeful. Ruler how to run the world, nor that its purposes things about condemning God for the way He God's Holy and running the world runs it. Purposeful Might are consistent of which you don't know the first thing, God Continues His Case Against So in 40:10-14 with His but I know perfectly. Job He challenges Job to join Him in this excellence. So it is God presses his case further holy and presumptuous to against Job in 40:6-9 as He speaks purposeful might: assume you can counsel me about again out of the whirlwind. how to run a more just world. You “Deck yourself with majesty “Gird up your loins like a can't begin to know all that has to be and dignity; clothe yourself with man; I will question you, and taken into account in making glory and splendour. Pour forth you declare to me. Will you even decisions about how to run the the overflowings of your anger, put me in the wrong? Will you world for my glory and for the joy and look on every one that is condemn me that you may be of my people! proud, and abase him. Look on justified? Have you an arm like every one that is proud, and And in the second place, God God, and can you thunder with a bring him low; and tread down showed that His might is not voice like his?” [RSV] the wicked where they stand. arbitrary but purposeful, and the Are God's Ways Right Simply purpose is to uphold His glory by Hide them all in the dust Because He is Almighty God? abasing the proud and blessing the together; bind their faces in the humble. This is a disturbing argument. world below. Then will I also Does God mean that we are to acknowledge to you, that your Therefore Job should not submit to the justice of His ways own right hand can give you presume to accuse God of being simply because He has a powerful victory.” [RSV] arbitrary or capricious or irrational. arm? Are we supposed to He should submit to the wisdom This is very different from acknowledge His right simply and goodness of God's dealings and saying: “acknowledge that my because He has might? Is something hold fast to the promise that: might is right no matter what I do."

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~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Job: The Revelation of God in Suffering

"God withholds no good thing from those who walk uprightly." Psalm 84:11 [NKJV] Three Acts of Job's Submission In Job 42:1-6, Job submits. Notice the three acts of submission in verse 1-2: "Then Job answered the Lord: ‘I know that thou canst do all things, and that no purpose of thine can be thwarted.’" [RSV] He submits to God's absolute sovereignty: that He can do whatever He pleases, and is not constrained by anything outside Himself. In verse 3 he quotes God and then gives his response. "'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too After enduring suffering, God blesses Job wonderful for me, which I did 3. Repent of all the times you have hand that has thus afflicted me.” not know." [RSV] questioned God or found fault [END] He submits to God's infinitely with Him in the way He has ------greater wisdom and knowledge: he treated you. Pray that God Biography: has spoken about things of which he would humble you to see these John Piper (@JohnPiper) is founder is very ignorant. murmurings as sinful. and teacher of desiringGod.org and In verses 4-6 he again quotes 4. Be satisfied with the holy will of chancellor of Bethlehem College & God and then gives his own God and do not murmur. Seminary. For 33 years, he served as response. pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Be like the great George Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is author of "’Hear, and I will speak; I will Mueller of Bristol England. On more than 50 books, including Reading question you, and you declare to the Lord's D ay, February 6, the Bible Supernaturally. me.’ I had heard of thee by the 1870, his wife Mary died of ------hearing of the ear, but now my eye rheumatic fever. They had been Bibliography: sees thee; therefore I despise myself, married 39 years and 4 months. Piper, John, 28 July 1985, desiringGod: Job: The and repent in dust and ashes." [RSV] The Lord gave him the strength Revelation of God in Suffering, available: www. desiringgod.org/messages/job-the-revelation- Four Lessons to preach at her memorial of-god-in-suffering, accessed 04/07/17. The lessons for us are plain and service. He said,: [RSV] Revised Standard Version of the Bible, simple and profound: “I miss her in numberless ways, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council and shall miss her yet more and 1. Believe with all your heart in the of the Churches of Christ in the United States of absolute sovereignty of God. more. But as a child of God, and as a America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Pray that God would give you servant of the Lord Jesus, I bow, I am satisfied with the will of my [NKJV] Scripture taken from the New King that conviction. James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Heavenly Father, I seek by perfect 2. Believe with all your heart that Nelson. Used by permission. All rights submission to His holy will to everything He does is right and reserved. glorify Him, I kiss continually the good. Pray that God will give ☬ you that assurance.

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~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Women Can Smell Desperate Women Can Smell Desperate by Justin Campbell First appeared in "More Than Don't Have Sex” Several years ago I was hanging out with some older married friends (remember it’s good to have married friends). They were asking about my dating situation. As usual during that period there was a girl I really liked and was pursuing (read chasing) and I wasn’t sure if it could go anywhere. One of the men said, “Women can smell desperate.” We all laughed. Women really can smell desperate and no woman that I know wants to go out with a guy who is desperate. It’s not attractive. So what does desperate ‘smell’  Any sort of apologising or A quick note about attraction. like? In some ways it’s hard to rationalising when you first Here’s a newsflash. You have to be define. But when you are desperate approach her, for example, “You attractive. If women are not there are some subtle (and not so are probably busy but. . . ” or “I attracted to you then you need to subtle) signs. might not be your type but... ” actually deal with that. There are the things that women Pretty much any sentence with This is probably not really about subconsciously pick up on – signals the word ‘but’ in it; or physical attraction as much. In fact you send when you are desperate.  Being too loud (pushy and how you look as a guy does affect Here are a few: striving) or too quiet (needy and things but it affects how you think  Lack of eye contact – if you can’t submissive). about yourself more than how a look her in the eyes, or hold it; These are just a few examples. woman thinks of you. But if you  You have a submissive posture – How are you doing? I don’t mean don’t have women being attracted I know this sounds weird but if with the random girl – I mean with to you then you need to figure that you are slumped over and kind someone you really want to meet? you probably have some stuff to of leaning forward you can Here are two things we have to work on. That’s ok – it’s not ok to convey weakness; do: pretend it isn’t a factor.  Fidgety movements – this just 1. We have to get our core One of the ways we can be betrays nervousness; questions answered from God. If unattractive is to be desperate. A you are thinking that a woman is non-desperate man is very  Talking really fast or excitedly. going to answer questions like, attractive. Think about it. The guy You know how a new puppy “Do I have what it takes?” “Am I who has a girlfriend, or even a wife goes crazy when it sees you and a man?” “Do I have worth?” then – women are more attracted to him. sometimes pees itself – yeah not good; you are going to be desperate You see it all the time. Women when approaching women. truly can smell desperate and they  Needing everyone to ‘like’ you. 2. Don’t give women that kind of walk away from that. It makes them Heck, needing her to like you; power over you. They don’t uncomfortable. want that power anyway.

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~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Women Can Smell Desperate & Biography of Lori Yanez

ladies. Biography: Justin was a single Christian until the I honestly believe that this is why ripe ‘old’ age of 41 and in those God sets us up as the initiator. He intervening years he made many mistakes knows it’s hard and He knows that and bad choices, but learned a lot. you have to be strong to do it well. After his church held a singles forum We have to face our fears of A man who is strong in the Lord that many singles did not find helpful, rejection. We have to actually go Justin realised there was a need for approach women. is attractive precisely because he is guidance and advice, particularly from not desperate. If you were truly Remember that there is not “THE the perspective of a single Christian, ONE.” I know she seems magical fully confident in who you were in rather than married church leaders who Jesus, you could approach anybody. often don’t have a clue. Recognising this right now but you’ve made it this need, Justin began a website for singles: For a lot of us, this is a lot more far without her. If she rejects you, “More Than Don't Have Sex: Thoughts on you will be ok. than a dating problem. We lack Christ Centered Singleness and the confidence period. The attractive- Here’s the thing about behaving Church.” desperately, it betrays a truth about ness to women issue just sticks out Justin presents his writing from a you that you had better figure out. as the big example. man’s perspective, and is the first one to admit that he doesn’t have all the It means that you are not fully It would be a great idea to do a answers, but hopes what he does know couple of things: confident in who you are with the can help other Christians who are Lord.  Ask, “where else do I feel struggling as a single person. That’s the beauty of this whole desperate or try hard?” and if ------area of discussion - it’s a two for. If you have people you trust, ask Bibliography: you begin to deal with this it will them where they see you not Campbell, Justin, 20 August 2012, More Than force you to deal with Jesus and get being you; and then Don’t Have Sex: Women Can Smell Desperate, available: www.justinmcampbell.net/2012/08/ your identity and confidence from  Take that to the Lord. 20/women-can-smell-desperate/, accessed 04/ Him. Being single is great. Being 07/17

In turn it will help you with the desperate is not. [END] ☬

BIOGRAPHY: Lori Yanez B :

Introducing SPAG Magazine’s newest Journalist

shining beacon of light that gave her through the darkness of so much pain back a new life. and loss to find salvation, hope and

purpose. Mrs Yanez returned to school at 50 to complete her college degree in She and her son live in a small town

business. It was during those in the dessert plains of America. She

Lori Yanez claims she found God academic years she discovered a is the author of two separate blogs. the hard way. At forty-seven she passion for writing. One is an inspirational daily living blog and the second is a humorous found herself struggling to cope as a It is her belief that she would never new widow, physically disabled with had pursued this avenue had God not account of her pet’s fictional diaries. a degenerative spinal condition, and limited her physical abilities. God With the support of her son and mother to a troubled teenager. continued to bless her by laying his church family, she hopes to expand The burdens emotionally, healing touch on her son, who after her writing abilities to include Gods physically and financially left them years of addiction finally defeated the message of hope and redemption. control of methamphetamines and [END] both homeless and her son on his own dark path of drug addiction. Mrs returned to her as her own prodigal ((Check out Lorii’’s bllog ‘‘wriitten’’ by

Yanez explains that it took losing son. her pets on thiis lliink..)) everything, to find that God was her Lori believes that Jesus led the way

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~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Dear Women’s Ministry: Stop Telling Me I’m Beautiful Dear Women’s Ministry: Stop Telling Me I’m Beautiful

by Phylicia special – and neither are you. An I’m not alone). Delta honest look at our humanness Jesus Didn’t Come to Earth reveals this truth. Masonheimer Because We’re Beautiful Any woman who’s done a If I judged Christianity by its degree of self reflection knows that women’s conferences, I’d be led to Again? her struggles, insecurities, and sins believe that the Bible is no more I shifted in my seat at the aren’t unique to her. They’re part of than a series of compliments from women’s ministry event; the being human in a fallen world. God to man. Instead, the real story speaker said it again. Further, any woman who knows is far less complimentary and far “You are a beautiful, chosen, the depth of her own inadequacy more humiliating. Jesus didn’t come special woman of God. There is no will find these Christianised to earth because we were beautiful, one in the world like you!” platitudes of beauty and “chosen- special, or great. He came because I’d heard this message dozens of ness” entirely insufficient for daily we were too grossly sinful to bridge times – on the radio, in books, at victory. the gap between ourselves and God. conferences – even emblazoned on I’m not saying these That’s not a message we want to coffee mugs and shirts at every encouragements are false. We are hear from the stage of LifeWay Store in America. God’s handiwork (Ephesians 2:10). “Extraordinary Women,” is it? But It’s the same message directed at We are chosen (1 Peter 2:9). We are it’s the one we need, because Christian women in every corner of unique (Matthew 10:29-31). The women who think they’re pretty western culture, and it’s a message question is not whether or not these awesome don’t need a Saviour. that – while well-intentioned – things are true, but whether or not Women wonder if we’re enough. remains deficient no matter how this is the most important message Looking at the titles of the books we many times it’s preached. women need to hear. read, I deduce we’re entangled with You see, I’m not actually that Personally, I don’t think it is (and insecurity, fear, and identity crises. We’re in this constant state of

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~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Dear Women’s Ministry: Stop Telling Me I’m Beautiful

‘struggle’ with very little victory, disease. The disease is sin, and we preaching the easy message, and never really living as ‘conquerors in all have it. start preaching the right one. Stop Christ’ (Romans 8:37). We need freedom, not compli- exalting us as women and start These are real spiritual issues, ments. exalting Christ. but you know what? I’ve yet to see Again, it’s not a bad message. Here’s the amazing thing about a one woman set free from insecurity But it’s theologically deficient, and gospel-centric women’s ministry: by being told – however repetitively if the goal of a women’s ministry is when all women do is worship – that she is beautiful. It doesn’t to encourage and equip female Jesus, the insecurities, fears, and work, and it’s not the answer. Christians, the message has to anxieties pale in comparison to His The truth is that, apart from the change. everlasting glory. transforming power of Christ, I’m Our Need for Jesus When our eyes turn to His not beautiful, special, or all that beauty instead of pandering to ours, The gospel is good news only to unique. I’m born into sin, and bent insecurities die. those who recognise their need for to rebellion. Jesus. When you create a culture When our ears listen for His My insecurities and fears pulse that uses Jesus for little more than a voice instead of listening for more through Adam’s blood in my veins. spiritual feel-good, it’s no wonder about us, fear has no place. These can’t be rooted out with the women it produces can’t get When our minds think about shallow “encouragements.” victory over anxiety, anger, who He is instead of who we are, What I need – what every insecurity, or fear. They leave our we find an identity wrapped in woman needs – is a soul-deep churches knowing all about eternal purpose. solution to the problem of sin. themselves, and knowing little That’s the crazy thing about the Insecurity is not the problem. Fear, about Christ. gospel: our pre-Jesus ugliness poor self-image, marriage problems The solution is simple: stop magnifies the beauty of God’s love. – these are just symptoms of the real Only by understanding who we are apart from Christ can we live in daily recognition of our beauty within Him. We need to be reminded of who He is, to better understand who we are. So please, stop telling us we’re special.

Tell us about Jesus. [END] ------Biography: Phylicia teaches women how to live as over-comers in Christ! In singleness or marriage, work or home, we don't have to live in defeat. Join her in learning how to apply God's Word and preach the gospel with your life! You can find her blog at: www.phyliciadelta.com/ ------Bibliography: Delta Masonheimer, Phylicia, 2 January 2017, Phylicia Masonheiner: Dear Women’s Ministry: Stop Telling Me I’m Beautiful, available: www.phyliciadelta.com/christian-womens- ministry/, accessed 04/07/17 ☬

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~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Did Archaeologists Really Discover a New Dea d Sea Scroll Cave? Did Archaeologists Really Discover a New Dead Sea Scroll Cave? ~ Dead Sea scroll cave under the microscope ~ by Robert R. reports announced a discovery the cave contained scrolls that were made by archaeologists Dr Oren stolen. The findings include the jars Cargill Gutfeld, Teaching Fellow at the in which the scrolls and their Biblical Archaeological Hebrew University, and Dr Randall covering were hidden, a leather Society Price, Founder and President of strap for binding the scroll, a cloth This text in this article is reformatted World of the Bible Ministries, Inc. that wrapped the scrolls, tendons from an article published in Biblical and Distinguished Research and pieces of skin connecting Archaeology Review magazine. Professor and Executive Director of fragments, and more.” For more information, visit the Center for Judaic Studies at Jerry But no Dead Sea Scrolls were www.biblicalarchaeology.org Falwell’s Liberty University.1 discovered, only a blank piece of I read with eager anticipation the Among the hundreds of caves parchment. first news stories out of Israel that a explored near the Dead Sea Thus, Gutfeld speculates that this new Dead Sea Scroll cave had been settlement of Qumran, only eleven must be the “12th Dead Sea Scroll discovered west of Qumran. As one caves have ever produced scrolls or Cave,” arguing that Dead Sea who wrote a dissertation on scroll fragments. Scrolls must have been looted from Qumran and who teaches a Dead Gutfeld and Price claim that the the cave. Sea Scrolls course at the University cave they excavated should be Once again, Gutfeld speculates of Iowa, I was keen to see how the considered the 12th Dead Sea Scroll regarding these proposed looters: “I new discovery would fit into our cave, despite the fact that Gutfeld imagine they came into the tunnel. present knowledge of the scrolls. confirms, “[A]t the end of the day They found the scroll jars. They What was found that made it a no scroll was found, and instead we took the scrolls … They even “Dead Sea Scroll Cave”? Was it a ‘only’ found a piece of parchment opened the scrolls and left new copy of a Biblical book? Was it rolled up in a jug that was being everything around, the textiles, the a copy of a known pseudepi- processed for writing…” pottery.” (italics mine) graphical work? Or, was it a new, However, Gutfeld claims later in I must, in all fairness, concede previously unknown sectarian the press release, “[N]ow there is no that Gutfeld’s speculation is entirely manuscript that sheds light on the doubt that this is the 12th cave.” plausible. However, we must also late Second Temple Jewish world? Gutfeld makes this claim because acknowledge that it is still As I read the Hebrew University of the discovery inside the cave of speculation - even if well-informed of Jerusalem press release and pickaxe heads that appear to have speculation on the part of Prof. various press reports, I quickly been made in the 1950s - which Gutfeld - because no Dead Sea discovered the answer: none of the suggest that people had been inside Scrolls were actually discovered in above. Let me explain: the cave around that time. the cave! Recently, a Hebrew University Gutfeld continues, “[T]he find- We could similarly speculate that press release and multiple news ings indicate beyond any doubt that scrolls were once present in several

The great Isaiah scroll (found previously) War scroll (found previously) The Testimonia (found previously)

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~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Did Archaeologists Really Discover a New Dead Sea Scroll Cave? other caves excavated in the past, Allow me, however, to provide The presence of animals means but that does not make them scroll an alternative conclusion that better that Qumran was capable of caves. If there are no Dead Sea fits the evidence we have. It is producing the animal skins needed Scrolls in the cave, then it is not a possible to argue that the cave in to manufacture parchment. scroll cave, even if we think there question was part of a larger Large, shallow pools were also might have been in the past. parchment production enterprise, uncovered in the western building Let me also state that it is and that the jars, leather, textiles at Qumran that may have been used possible that Gutfeld’s team did and blank parchment discovered in to soak the parchment. the cave are simply the latest find scrolls or scroll fragments in Lime, which is used in curing evidence that someone or some the cave, but are not announcing parchment, was also found in large group near Qumran engaged in this discovery in an effort to keep quantities at Qumran.2 looters from surreptitiously stealing some form of scribal activity and This initial evidence - along with any scrolls that still may be in the had the means of producing its own the discovery of the Dead Sea cave. parchment. Scrolls in caves surrounding Indeed, the discovery of a blank Withholding public disclosure of Qumran - led early archaeologists piece of parchment - placed there a major find is not uncommon on like Roland de Vaux, Gerald either to dry or for storage - fits with digs in Israel, as is withholding the Lankester Harding and Eleazar previously discovered pieces of exact location of the cave. Sukenik to conclude that some archaeological evidence that have If Gutfeld has discovered actual Jewish sect (the Essenes, they been piling up for years, all of scrolls in the cave that the team has believed) wrote the scrolls at which support the theory that simply not announced, then this Qumran. scrolls were produced at Qumran. should obviously be considered More recent scientific tests In the excavations of the Qumran Cave 12. support the theory that Qumran ruins in the 1950s, a stylus and However, absent the disclosure could have been a site of scroll multiple inkwells were discovered, of the discovery of actual scrolls, we production. suggesting that some sort of writing must evaluate the claim of a new was taking place at Qumran. In July 2010, a team of Italian Dead Sea Scroll cave on the scientists from the National In addition, stables and the bony evidence that has been disclosed, Laboratories of the South in remains of numerous animals and the disclosed evidence does not Catania, Italy - which is part of buried inside jars were also warrant a designation of a scroll- Italy’s National Institute for Nuclear excavated within the ruins of producing cave. Gutfeld’s team did Physics - led by Professor Giuseppe Qumran. not find a new Dead Sea Scroll cave. Pappalardo, discovered that the ink

Qumran - location of the caves One of the caves in which earlier scrolls were found

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~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Did Archaeologists Really Discover a New Dea d Sea Scroll Cave; Reasons it’s Good to be Single & Words of Wisdom used to write the Temple Scroll piece of evidence supporting the civilian policy in the territories of possesses the same unusually high theory that scribal activity took Judea and Samaria and the bromine levels as the waters from place near Qumran. corresponding the civilian policy to the Gaza Strip.” the Dead Sea, suggesting that the But that does not mean this most 2. The manufacture of parchment is ink used on the Temple Scroll came recent discovery is unimportant. shown in a beautiful video produced from water from the Dead Sea and Despite the fact that Gutfeld and by the BBC. not from some other water source. Price did not discover a new Dead ------This evidence indicates that the Sea Scroll or a new Dead Sea Scroll Biography: ink was produced near Qumran and cave, they have provided archaeo- Robert R. Cargill is Assistant Professor not Jerusalem. logists studying Qumran and its of Classics and Religious Studies at the Gutfeld and Price’s recent relationship to the Dead Sea Scrolls University of Iowa and Associate Editor at discovery of curing jars, leather, with another piece of solid evidence Biblical Archaeology Review. His research textiles and a blank piece of that someone near Qumran was includes study in the Qumran and the engaged in activities required for Dead Sea Scrolls, literary criticism of the parchment is but the latest piece of Bible and the Pseudepigrapha, and the scribal endeavours. And this evidence supporting the theory that Ancient Near East. Cargill’s recent book is Qumran was, in fact, a place of discovery offers one more piece of The Cities that Built the Bible (HarperOne, scribal activity, and perhaps even of evidence that someone or some 2016). scribal implement production. group living at Qumran was ------capable of producing the materials But this cannot be called the Bibliography: needed to produce the Dead Sea discovery of a new Dead Sea Scroll Cargill, Robert R, 21/02/17, Bible History Daily Scrolls discovered in the caves cave. One can certainly understand (Biblical Archaeology Society): Did surrounding Qumran. [End] Archaeologists Really Discover a New Dead why archaeologists would be Sea Scroll Cave? available: www.biblical tempted to issue a press release ------archaeology.org/daily/biblical-artifacts/dead- stating as much, especially before Notes: sea-scrolls/new-dead-sea-scroll-cave/, accessed 04/07/17 any peer-reviewed reports about the 1. The archaeological project is a joint expedition carried out by the Hebrew excavation are published. University of Jerusalem, the Israel ☬ The press is far more likely to Antiquities Authority, the Israel cover a story claiming “New Dead Nature and Parks Authority and the

Sea Scrolls Discovered!”—which is Civil Administration of Judea and Reason No. 51 inevitably what people think when Samaria (“Judea and Samaria” is the Israel Defense Forces’ name for the they read of the discovery of a “new t have to shower very often - West Bank), which is a part of the maybe just once a week...or, perhaps Dead Sea Scroll cave,” especially in Coordination of Government once a year. The bonus? At least I'll the weeks leading up to Easter - Activities in the Territories (COGAT). never have to share a lift or an office than they are to write a story about COGAT “is charged with space with anyone ever again! the discovery of the most recent administering the government’s

“Don’t be beautiful: they keep saying that beautiful is something a girls needs to be. But honestly, forget that. Don’t be beautiful - be angry, be intelligent, be witty, be klutzy, be interesting, be funny, be adventurous, be crazy, be talented - there are an eternity of other things to be, other than beautiful. And what is beautiful anyway but a set of letters strung together to make a word? Be your own definition of amazing - always! That is so much more important than anything beautiful, ever.” Nikita Gill Two pots in which fragments were found in earlier caves An unravelled scroll The Testimonia

46 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 46

~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Are You Willing to be Sent Where Few Can See You?

Are You Willing to be Sent Where Few Can See You?

contorted, a mere by Mike Frost shell of the man she married and loved for most of her life. She was elderly and wore a She sits with him lavender cardigan. She gripped my dutifully, but he arm more firmly than I thought she doesn’t recognise her. He’s no longer could. She said she had something there. she wanted to tell me. She told me she I had just preached a Pentecost Sunday sermon about how the Holy was angry with Spirit commissions us all as God for the longest time, wondering missionaries, or sent ones, to alert others to the universal reign of God why he allowed her husband to linger so long. His little, nameless, unremembered, wherever we might find ourselves. acts I had preached that all vocations “I used to yell at God, ‘Why don’t you just take him?’” she said Of kindness and of love.” offer us the opportunity to mirror softly. And I thought this was true of the work of God in the world, the woman in the lavender whether it’s to bring healing or “But then it dawned on me one cardigan. That her little, nameless, justice, reconciliation or wholeness, day. This is my calling. To be by his unremembered acts of kindness and whether to design and build, or to side until the end. And when I love in that unremarkable nursing serve and love. And I threw in realised that, things changed. home were the best portion of her references to a few random I started to see that the facility life. vocations like stay-at-home parents was full of women in the same and lawyers and nurses and union situation as me, waiting, grieving. Her calling. officials and artists and builders and And I started praying for them. Her vocation. teachers. They began to reach out to me Her mission. I had quoted Jesus’ words to his and now I’m like a pastor to these And it made me wonder how followers: women. I love them and pray for many people would be satisfied “As the Father has sent me, so them. I share Jesus with them. These with that. And how many preachers I send you.” John 20:21 [NRSV] are the people to whom I’m sent. would be satisfied with that. and I asked the congregation, “So, Them, and my poor, dear husband.” And it made me wonder to whom have you been sent?” Wow. whether I’d be satisfied with that. I As I was leaving the church that She hasn’t been sent to Africa or want to think I would be, that I’d morning the woman in the lavender South America. Not to church believe it was as high a calling as cardigan took my arm and said with planting or leading a strategic any of the teaching or preaching or great determination, “I know who missional organisation. She’s been writing I do. But would I really feel I’m sent to.” sent to sit beside her unresponsive that way? husband, and to minister to the We were in the church, behind When we call people to see the last pew, still in the whisper wives of other equally unresponsive themselves as sent ones and inspire husbands throughout the nursing zone before the hubbub of the them to give their all to alert people mingling space beyond the glass home. to the reign of God, do we picture a doors. I thought of William Words- dignified elderly woman in a worth’s assessment of a good lavender cardigan sitting by a metal She told me quietly that her person’s life from Tintern Abbey: hospital bed or praying with husband has advanced Alzheimer’s another grieving soon-to-be widow and lies in a nursing home bed, his “…that best portion of a good man’s face and hands twisted and life,

47 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 47

~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Are You Willing to be Sent Where Few Can See You? & Christian Today: News Snippets in the waiting room down the church, and I’ve written a bunch of books hallway? in that field. Some of them have even been popular. Thank you if you bought one. Or do we think that the real I enjoy music by guys who can’t sing News Snippets missional types among us are those that great (Dylan, Cohen, Cave), hiking Margaret Court, the Bible, and being über strategic, multiplying the national parks of North America (15, interpretation their ministries, replicating them- so far), and reading Flannery O’Connor. After Margaret Court’s open letter to selves in emerging leaders, develop- I’ve seen every film made by the Cohen Qantas in which she took a stand for ing new initiatives, and writing Brothers and Stanley Kubrick and I still hold out hope that Terrence Malick has traditional marriages, there has been a books with missional in the title, one more masterpiece in him. tidal wave of opinions and criticisms. etc? I helped launch the Small Boat Big Sea Jack Liang takes the time to write a For thousands of years now community in Manly. I co-founded the response, diving deep into Biblical missionaries have been willing to Forge mission training network. I have truth. Link undertake thankless tasks in over- won camel races in Kazakhstan, cliff- The United Nations appoints an LGBT looked corners of the planet, serving diving competitions in Thailand, and ‘Enforcer’ unknown people for no material chess tournaments at the Kremlin. And I have spoken with Elvis (not all this might The U.N. has now officially reward, often with little discernible be true). appointed Vitit Muntarbhorn as their effect. And through it all I have been loved LGBT voice after 77 countries, including Are you willing to be numbered by an amazing woman who has stood by Australia, voted in favour back in among them? Am I? Because our me for over 30 years and whose capacity December 2016. Link dear mother-sister in the lavender for endurance seemingly knows no cardigan is doing it right now. And bounds, my wife, Caz (this part is Filipino churches under threat of definitely true!) attacks may cancel services humanity is built on such as these. As the Islamic State plants fear and [END] ------Bibliography: bombs throughout The Philippines, ------Frost, Mike, 6 June 2017, Are you willing to be members of the Clergy are prepared to Biography: sent where few can see you? Available: cancel any and all church activities. I’m a 20-year veteran of the academy, www.mikefrost.net/willing-sent-can-see/, Link but I still don’t call myself an academic. accessed 05/07/17. On my immigration forms I write ‘teacher’ [NRSV] New Revised Standard Version Bible, “Religion is dying in Australia” . . . not in the occupation box. copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian so fast Education of the National Council of the I’ve taught at Morling College in Churches of Christ in the United States of Despite the 2016 Australian census Sydney (Australia) that whole time and America. Used by permission. All rights results showing a staggering drop of I’m currently the head of the missiology reserved. those who identify themselves as department there. “religious,” there is a hidden message My doctorate examined a mission- ☬ of encouragement for people of faith. shaped approach to being and doing Link

Norway’s Lutheran Church embraces same-sex marriage with gender-neutral ceremonial wording The Lutheran Church within Norway’s controversial vote to allow marriage ceremonies to be inclusive of same-sex marriages could have a ripple effect. Link

The problem of racism, what is the answer? Part 1 Racism, an issue that has taken place historically in the past, and yet again in the present is tackled by Paul Lewis, an aspiring apologist determined to expose the root of the problem and its ultimate solution. Link

www.christiantoday.com.au

48 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 48

~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Dating as an Older, Single Christian

Dating as an Older, Single Christian

support system? world. by Lori Yanez Similarities and Differences When Don lost his wife, I I began writing an article about reached out to him knowing full Dating as a Christian teenager searching for love as a Christian well the grief he was experiencing or young adult has its issues. when I began speaking to others from my own loss of my husband Many churches have a ministry to about the issues of dating. Most of Gabe. We chat from across the help them manoeuvre through the my single friends are widows, country and offer support and ordeals and expectations of young widowers or divorced. We came conversation and basically became love. to a consensus very quickly that friends once more. Virginity, hormones and peer dating when you are ‘of a certain We spoke that day about pressure are just a few of the age’ brings not only the same dating. He had just begun to concerns facing the inexperienced issues faced by the young, but also forage into the wild. We and naïve. includes ‘baggage’ as it is often discovered in our conversation referred to. that the issues we faced as But, what about the mature teenagers were still there, along adult? Perhaps they suddenly find I was chatting with a dear themselves single once more due friend online who had been a with so many other complications. to divorce or the death of a widower for a short while now. The rules of the game haven’t spouse. Perhaps, they have yet to We had the unique experience of changed, they’ve just written an find their mate and are wondering being each other’s first love as addendum! For instance, the if he or she even exists. What teenagers. It obviously didn’t raging hormones of our teen obstacles in the dating world are work out. However, we connected years’ pale in comparison to the they facing and where is their again when the internet shrank the barrage and embarrassments of menopause. Chastity is Still a Challenge One major anxiety was maintaining chastity as an older adult. It would seem that maturity should provide some measure of self-control. The reality is that the loss of a loving, physical relation- ship is devastating. The longings are, at times, overwhelming. Both Don and I had the luxury of a happy and healthy marriage including physical intimacy that ended before age removed the desires of the flesh. Our sexual natures did not miraculously disappear as our marriages ended. Yet as Christians we have the responsibility to remain chaste, as well as the recognition that a sexual relationship with a spouse is much more profound and fulfilling then a random encounter. Modern society does

49 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 49 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Dating as an Older, Single Christian not understand or typically accept Peer Pressure Still Exists probably never get together. He this as truth. Peer pressure to date again can, lives on the east coast and I live in As a teenager, sex is often at times, become intrusive. Well- the southwest. One of us would explained away as “everybody is meaning comments about the have to move and that would be a doing it.” To deny that belief and proper amount of time to grieve bit of a deal breaker for both of us. stay true to virginity is not as becomes more and more common. Our lives are entrenched with family, memories and respons- uncommon as main-stream media Perhaps our children need a ibilities. want you to believe. new father or mother, or financial However, as a person begins to concerns of a newly single adult The Greatest Obstacle age, chastity becomes less of a often encourage or influence these Don succinctly reminded me of virtue and more of an oddity. To unsolicited concerns. the greatest obstacle of all, which I have reached your thirties and be Where Are the Men/Women? had already adapted to, and a virgin becomes less about virtue clearly remember: Unfortunately, the dating pool and more about what is wrong is significantly smaller as an older No one is the same person after with you. adult. Finding a single, age losing a spouse through either For older adults, chastity of a appropriate, Christian partner divorce or death. newly single adult is viewed as who is accepting of your own The experience changes you insecurity, or even as a problem to beliefs and current situation is radically and dramatically. be avoided at all costs. much harder than any young Priorities shift. Your outlook on Sex isn’t new and forbidden adult will experience. life either hardens or softens you. any more, it is an expectation. A conversation my older and Healing is not rapid and scars are Abstinence is often practiced in often wiser brother and I had after deep, and at times can fester. solitude. Sometimes other Gabe died, put things into Here is where being a Christian Christians view us as holy-rollers perspective for me. He non- is not only an advantage, but a and they may eventually question chalantly remarked that I was welcome blessing. Hope does not our mental health if we don’t starting over again without the die, nor does it leave with your follow the expected behaviour of innocence or ignorance of a partner. You are never alone. You being sexually active. teenager. can be lonely perhaps, but Jesus is “Now,” he continued, “you only a prayer away. know the truth - life doesn’t I may never re-marry and I am always work out in the end.” ok with that. It has taken me a There was no malice in his while to understand that I am a words as he explained that at my different person now. I had to age finding the enthusiasm and learn to become the woman I am energy of youth was unlikely. I’ve now, without Gabe. That included often pondered that conversation. my walk with God. Sadly, I realised he had offered no When everything is lost, there advice. He simply defined the is an almost desperate attempt to reality of my new existence. maintain control of something, Unique Obstacles for Older anything in your life. Giving up Christian Singles complete and utter control to God is an extremely difficult lesson to Starting over again has learn, but an important one, obstacles unique to older adults. especially for those of us going Children, grandchildren, careers through such loss. and finances often complicate relationships. Developing the trust and faith in Jesus to help you through the While chatting online with Don I mentioned that he and I would

50 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 50 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Dating as an Older, Single Christian trauma of a newly single life is your life just because the nights What’’s New on the about as challenging as it comes. are long and lonely. Companion- SPAG Magaziine websiite? Accepting God is in Control ship for the sake of filling empty time is unfulfilling and sours very Drop by and check out the growing Acceptance is considered the quickly. selection of video links. final stage of grief, but it is also the final stage of faith. Accepting that Before considering a potential It includes inspirational people, Christian God is in control and may, or may mate, you must understand your music, pro-life, humorous videos and more. not send me a new mate was not new life and determine your Here’s the link. that hard for me. What took longer priorities, especially your walk for me to understand and truly with God. You can contribute to SPAG believe was that I needed to give Being comfortable with your Magazine? How?

God control of all aspects of my faith will give you the strength to 1. Do you have an interest in Christian life. stand firm and cope with the music? How would you like to be our unexpected truth of your new life. volunteer Christian Music Reviewer, with I have no doubts that if my your very own column and webpage? future is to include a new Most importantly, I encourage 2. Send in your photos. Submit your best husband, then God will find the you to allow peace to find your good quality natural scenery photograph (A4 vertical format) for our back page, or right man for me. If it doesn’t heart. God will give you that good photos of Aussie wildlife including happen, then I understand that blessing. Pain and loss are His birds, insects and spiders. (Note your God is leading me along my own specialty - He can and will heal photo must be your own work and not the property of another); solitary path, filled with purpose, you. He is beside you and loves 3. Send your original article for ministry and faith. I find that you more then you know. consideration. (When writing your piece, rather exciting. ensure you make note of all of your Have faith and trust that He sources including web addresses, book Rushing is Dangerous will guide your path if you will details, authors, pages etc); This is a lesson that should be only allow it. His love is always 4. Ask for help - write to our counsellor there, no matter where your (Lou) with your personal questions or learned before venturing into the struggles; and journey takes you in the future. dating world. Learning who you 5. Suggest topics - put forward ideas about are now is tantamount to healing [END] articles you would like us to share in a and rebuilding your own life. ☬ future issue. How can you find out more?

Don’t be in a rush to find Please email us at: [email protected] someone new to introduce into Organisation Promotion

Australia Since its founding in 2002, Christian Today Australia has become the leading non-denominational Christian news website in the country. Christian Today Australia gains affiliation to the Christian Today network based in the UK, and is part of the CMCI Group, the world's largest Christian news company. Christian Today Australia's vision stems from the calling to establish the kingdom of God on earth through media by serving as a platform from which Truth is presented according to Matthew 5:37, "Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No, 'No.'" The publication aims to bring unity among Christians across all denominations and restore God as the centre of the nation. Web: www.christiantoday.com.au Contact us at: www.christian today.co m.au/contac tus

51 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 51 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Thanksgiving: How is Your Heart?

Thanksgiving: How is Your Heart?

so lacking in leadership, but, I am so glad I can always cling by Lisa Copen friends, this is where Ephesians to the fact that no matter what – 5:20 comes in. my Saviour lives, and that is Look at the verse again. Do you something I can always give Are you faking those emotions see where it says we need to feel thanks for. of thankfulness - feeling more thankful? No? Me either. Instead ------numb than grateful? Lisa shares. we are to give thanks. Prayer: God, thank You for Your “Always give thanks to God the God gives us a verb – an action. love of each of us. You see the father for everything, in the name of We are to give thanks. We aren’t loneliness, the fears, the feelings of our Lord Jesus Christ” meant to stir up those feelings all abandonment. You see the stresses, Ephesians 5:20 [NIV] by ourselves. We are just the dreams delayed, the illnesses that My heart is tired, weary, supposed to give thanks. We need will not stop seeming to attack our hopeful, yet filled with caution. Is God to stir up the emotions. We bodies. that real hope? It had been a need the King of Kings to mould Oh, Lord, put Your loving arms challenging year and although I our heart to feel thankful when life around each person who reads this can resist making lists of the is hard. today. Thank You for not expecting us things I am not thrilled about, When we give thanks the Holy to force feelings of thankfulness on asking me to making a list of Spirit works. When we list our our own. Amen things I am thankful for? Well, it frustrations, the Holy Spirit [END] just seems too exhausting - doesn’t have anything to work ------emotionally exhausting. with - because we didn’t invited About the author: And yet I am thankful - truly. I Him in. Lisa Copen is the founder of Rest have so many blessings I could Perhaps Thanksgiving Day is a Ministries and she lives in San Diego with her husband and son. Be encouraged by one of her joyous day for you, but maybe share how God has provided books today! 100% proceeds go to Rest through the changes and not. I will be at home with my Ministries. You might like to check out “Why challenges. That was a season I husband and son, trying to make a Can’t I Make People Understand?” which is want to look back on someday and small Thanksgiving Day dinner available in the Rest Ministries shop. share about how God was present, that is low carb, and trusting that ------but I am impatient. I want to look God will take care of each of us in Bibliography: months to come – each with our [NIV] Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® back at this season, and I don’t Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® want to keep going through it. own specific needs. I trust that we Used by permission. All rights re served worldwi de. serve a God who will collect our Copen, Lisa, November 26 2015, Rest Mini stries: When I see ministry leaders posting You are Faking Being Thankful on Thanksgiving, blogs filled with hope, joy, and tears, and that He has come to available: www.re stmini strie s.com/blog/2015/11/26/ faking-being-thankful/, acce ssed 28/06/17 thankfulness, and I feel so weak, give us a full life–abundantly. Does feeling thankful come easily to you? Do you have seasons when you need God to step in and meet you where you are at when it comes to feeling thankful about your circumstances?

52 ~ Issue 9 Jun - Aug 2017 ~ 52 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Modern Missionaries: PNG Adventures - I’m Nothing Special Modern Missionaries: PNG Adventures ~ I’m Nothing Special ~

by Elizabeth I know this, I’ve taught this, and yet, I still struggle to totally

Gill live it. We love to hear how special we I Like Attention and Praise are. We celebrate that thing that I like it when I stand out from makes us unique, or better. Even in the crowd, in a good way, and not the Church, where we emphatically too much. I like to be noticed. I teach that everyone is created equal, like to be praised for the things we can too often find ourselves in that I have done well. This is competition with each other. natural, I guess, and not all Some of us do this very subtly so together bad. But sometimes I that others barely notice. Some of us have to check my heart and ask The New Tribes Mission medical clinic are so well trained, we manage to myself, “Whose glory am I living It blew me away that nearly keep most of our thoughts of for?” eleven years ago, God had competition and being better, all Before I came over to Papua New prompted me to write down exactly bottled up inside of us. But this Guinea, when I was in the middle of what I needed to hear right at that desire to be better than others, this doing my last-minute packing (is very moment and somehow in the struggle with pride is real, and it is there any other kind?), I had a middle of my frantic packing, He wrong. special ‘God moment’ where He had caused me to find it! I know this because the Sunday reminded me of this. What is equally amazing, is that before I left for the mission field I In the process of looking for an when I wrote this, I had not even preached from Romans 12 where item, I became distracted by an old thought of becoming a nurse and we are told: travel journal from 2006. In the my only inclination for ever “Do not think of yourself back, I had written a quote from the travelling to PNG would have been more highly than you ought, but book “Give Me This Mountain” by to hike the Kokoda track. Helen Roseveare. The quote read: rather think of yourself with God knew though. He knew that sober judgement... Be devoted to “If you think you have come in 2017 I would move to Papua New one another in love. Honour one to the mission field because you Guinea to serve with New Tribes another about yourselves... Live are a little better than others, or Mission as a Registered Nurse, and in harmony with one another. Do as the cream of your Church, or He knew that I would need to be not be proud, but be willing to because of your medical degree, reminded that it is not really about associate with people of low or for the service you can render this amazing thing that I’m doing. position. Do not be conceited.” the African Church, or even the I am Really Very Ordinary Romans 12:3,10&16 [NIV] souls you may see saved, you People sometimes tell me that I will fail. am amazing. Family and friends Remember, the Lord has only alike marvel that at thirty-one that I one purpose ultimately for each can be so happy about being single. one of us - to make us more like Church friends think it’s Jesus. wonderful that I am a missionary. He is interested in your Work-mates are in awe that I have relationship with Himself. Let volunteered for a whole year. Him take you and mould you as Many say I’m brave to live in He will; all the rest will take its such a dangerous country, rightful place.” especially since I am a young, Hard at work in the lab single, white woman.

53 ~ Issue 9 Jun - Aug 2017 ~ 53 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Modern Missionaries: PNG Adventures - I’m Nothing Special

There are heaps of people here God! An extraordinary God who who have left home, family and does amazing things! friends. Most of them have moved The most remarkable thing of all half way around the world rather is the way that He reaches out to than just a few hours away. All of each and every one of us and helps them have been here longer than us to know Him and become like me. Many have been here for Him. decades, and all of them are I’m nothing special - but God volunteers. Many are single. loves me anyway, and I think that’s Everything that people back The nursing team (four out of five are single) amazing! [END] home say is amazing about what I ------I have enjoyed this praise, even am doing, is just ordinary here. though I feel that most of these Biography: I suppose, it could be argued that accolades are vastly exaggerated. Elizabeth Gill has been serving as a everyone here is amazing – that Registered Nurse with New Tribes As much as I like to be told that I missionaries are special people Mission in Papua New Guinea since am special, I’ve always felt that I am doing incredible things, but from February 2017. really very ordinary. my own experience, and all of the Bibliography: Since arriving in PNG, it has missionaries I’ve spoken with, the [NIV] Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 been confirmed for me that indeed I reality is - we’re not special. We are by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights am nothing special. ordinary people. We are ordinary reserved worldwide. people serving an extraordinary I feel blessed to live and work in such a beautiful country

54 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 54 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Open Doors: Could Kim Jong-Un be Setting up North Korea for Revival? Could Kim Jong-Un be Setting up North Korea for Revival?

by Open Doors the Chinese Christians raised their Australia & New glasses and shared a toast, to Mao Zealand Zedong - one of the worst This story first appeared dictators in the modern world. on Open Doors Blog (www.opendoors.org.au/blog) Ron was confused, he asked Mr Bao, "Surely Mao was a monster?" On top of being one of the most "God has a use for monsters oppressive countries in the world, too!" Mr Bao replied. "Mao said North Korea is also the hardest we were going to build heaven on place on the planet to be a earth. He said we would build it Christian. It’s illegal to own a through truth. He said we could Bible, and Christians face severe only do it by faith - in each other. punishment and life in a labour He said we would be part of an camp if their faith is discovered. eternal China." I heard from a friend and "Then he organised us. Gave us colleague, Ron Boyd MacMillan, hymns to sing. He instituted about the time he met a believer rituals of confession and repent- who shared about the greatest ance, called ‘struggle meetings’. revival in the modern world. It He even forced us all to get churches, jailed pastors, burned was in a country under a harsh together into small groups and Bibles - he tried to wipe out the dictatorship, yet it was a dictator expound a ‘sacred’ text together." church, and many Christians died. that God used to bring revival - in "At the height of it all he would So How Does that Bring Us to the China. gather us together at Tiananmen World’s Greatest Revival? A Toast to Mao Zedong Square. Millions would crowd in, After Mao Zedong's death in especially the youth. Mao would Just months after the 1976, freedom increased, people walk out onto the balcony and Tiananmen Square massacre in were able to travel around the spread his arms sideways, palms 1989, Ron met Mr Bao in China. country. So Christians went from raised almost in the crucifixion Mr Bao was a professor by day, village to village with the gospel. position - the crowd would but at night taught the Bible in Mr Bao was one of them. underground churches. thunder back their adulation, slapping their little red books to He said, "We would start Ron was invited to meet with their breast. He wouldn’t need to telling them about Jesus Christ Mr Bao and other Christians in say a thing." and the people would shout, 'Stop Beijing. Shortly after he arrived, - we want to believe!' I would tell Ron asked what was he doing, them wait a minute. You haven't playing god? heard the whole story yet, and "Exactly!" was Mr they would say, "No, this is the Bao’s response. "He God who Mao taught us to look taught the Chinese for. We thought it was Mao who people how to would save us, but it cannot be worship." because he died. We see now that Meo Zedong it must be Jesus." became a ‘god’, a By the mid 1980s, it’s estimated jealous god. No other fifty million people had come to gods were allowed. faith in Jesus. He closed the

55 ~ Issue 9 Jun - Aug 2017 ~ 55 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Open Doors: Could Kim Jong-Un be Setting up North Korea for Revival?

"That’s why we say Mao spectacularly that they kept even think he can read their brought us this huge revival," said seeking until they found the one minds. Mr Bao, "He created a society full true God." Sound Familiar? of worshippers and when their What Does This Mean for North What would happen in North object died, they became a society Korea? Korea if the current leadership of seekers intent on finding For decades, the people of dissolved? North Koreans have another god." North Korea have been ruled by been taught to worship the Kim’s "Mao thought he was the the Kim dynasty. as gods - as their saviour. largest annihilator of the church; People are forced to worship What will happen when they in fact he was doing the pre- their 'dear leader' Kim Jong-un, are free to hear about the One evangelism on a scale unique in who promotes himself as an all- True Saviour, Jesus? [END] human history.” powerful god. They must attend ------"Mao meant it for evil but God weekly meetings and memorise meant it for good. Mao was used communist ideology. They even Bibliography: Gore, Mike (CEO of Open Doors Australia), to prepare this country for the have a kind of religion written by undated, “Could Kim Jong-Un be Setting up greatest outpouring of the Spirit Kim Il Sung known as 'Juche'. North Korea for Revival?” available: ever seen in his church. www.opendoors.org.au/persecuted- They have limited TV channels christians/blog/the-greatest-revival-in-history/, He’s God’s fool! He planted in and websites, and an under- accessed 20/07/17. the people’s hearts the desire for ground market to purchase goods true religion then failed them so from abroad. Some North Koreans ☬

56 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 56 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Creation Ministries International: Arthropods Inspire Strong, Biodegradable Material

Arthropods Inspire Strong, Biodegradable Material

by Jonathan Sarfati and many chemicals. Arthropods are the most diverse Now researchers animal group, or phylum on the at the Wyss Institute planet. They include animals like for Biologically insects, spiders, scorpions, ticks, Inspired Engineering mites and all crustaceans, such as at Harvard shrimp, for example. They have no University, Drs Javier internal bony skeleton, but instead Fernandez and are protected by an ‘exoskeleton’, or Donald Ingber, have cuticle - a tough outer coating. manufactured a new material called This cuticle is made largely from ‘shrilk’.1 This name chitin, a clear polysaccharide - a comes from its polymer made of many joined sugar composition: the units. Starch and cellulose are well chitin from discarded known polysacch- or as a scaffold for tissue shrimp shells and arides. Chitin is a regeneration.” “These human fibroin proteins bit different, from silk to replace These human designers certainly because its unit is designers certainly did the cuticle proteins. did fine work. But they were still a modified form of fine work... the real The report said: making a derivative work; the real glucose called N- brilliance is by the One brilliance is by the One who made “By studying acetyl-D-gluco- the original. who made the original.” these complex samine. In the There are many more examples cuticle, layers of interactions and recreating this unique chemistry of such biomimetics (or bio- chitin and protein are arranged with mimicry), including more ‘smart alternating ‘grain’ directions like and laminar design in the lab, Fernandez and Ingber were able to materials’ - see Scientists copying plywood. This makes it very strong nature (biomimetics): for its weight, ideal for insect wings. engineer a thin, clear film that has www.creation.com/creation.com/bio It can also be very elastic and the same composition and structure mimetics. [END] flexible, and is resistant to water as insect cuticle [emphasis added].” Shrilk is about as strong and ------tough as an aluminium alloy, but is References and notes: only half as dense. Furthermore, it is Mowatt, T., Inspired by insect cuticle, Wyss researchers develop low-Cost material with cheap to make since chitin is easily exceptional strength and toughness, made from shrimp shells, and wyss.harvard.edu/viewpressrelease/72/, 13 biodegradable, so could be used for December 2011. packaging and trash bags. And Bibliography: because it’s very strong and made Sarfati, Dr Jonathon, dated July 2013, Creation Ministries International: “Arthropods Inspire from biological material, “it could Strong, Biodegradable Material,” available: be used to suture wounds that bear www.creation.com/arthropods. high loads, such as in hernia repair, ☬

57 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 57 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Inspirational People: God, the Bible and the Space Race

Inspirational People: God, the ”When I gaze to the skies and meditate on Your creation - on the moon, stars, and all You have made, I can’t help but wonder why You care about Bible and the Space Race mortals - sons and daughters of men - specks of dust ~ 60th anniversary ~ floating about the cosmos.” Psalm 8:3-4 [VOICE]

by Vicki Nunn their belief and sense of self on that God should still choose to evolutionary theories, it would bestow His love on us and desire to surely have made them feel not only forge an intimate relationship with Introduction infinitessimally small, but possibly us. It was sixty years ago on 4 completely irrelevant. The Beginning of the Space Race October in 1957 that the Soviet For the Christian adventurer Union launched Sputnik, the first By the 1950s, the antagonism though, their realisation would man-made object placed into orbit between the Soviet Union and the possibly have been a complete around the earth. USA resulted in an unofficial ‘space- contrast. race’ with each striving to achieve While our Inspirational People Christian Today journalist ‘firsts’ and thus prove they were segment usually concentrates on an Harriet Campbell said, superior to the other. individual or a couple, in this issue we’ll be looking at several “There is something quite The successful launch of Russia’s astronauts and whether we know if spectacular about realising how Sputnik and its orbit around the their travel into space had an impact insignificant you are. Coming to earth in 1957, caused escalating on their beliefs if any, about God, or understand that you are a speck of fervour in the USA. The if those who had a faith were dust in this vast universe is nothing government placed increasing affected by their venture into that short of terrifying, humbling, and pressure on its engineers and mysterious territory. joyful.” scientists to not only match the Soviet’s accomplishment, but to I imagine that it must be a For Christian astronauts who exceed it. humbling experience to see oneself saw themselves for the speck they in that huge, cold emptiness and to truly are in the face of God and His Around one year later on 1 recognise for the first time, one’s incredible creation, that knowledge October 1958, NASA first began its utter insignificance in the face of it. might enable them to more fully operations, but it was to be another For those astronauts who founded comprehend how extraordinary it is eleven years before man would

Astronaut Neil Armstrong stepping onto the moon for Buzz Aldrin’s footprint on the moon the first time in 1969, from Apollo II

58 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 58 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Inspirational People: God, the Bible and the Space Race walk on the moon for the first time. degree in mechanical engineering, Aerospace technology in those Aldrin had flown as a jet fighter in early years was crude and the Korean war. particularly dangerous for the early By 1963, he’d gained a Sc.D. astronauts, with engineers and degree in astronautics. In his scientists having to develop doctoral thesis, his dedication was: completely new concepts and ”In the hopes that this work may technologies to meet the rigorous in some way contribute to their requirements of space-travel and to exploration of space, this is dedicated ensure the safety of its astronauts. to the crew members of this Since its inception, NASA has country’s present and future had around 320 of its astronauts manned space programs. If only I spend time in space, though the could join them in their exciting number of Russian astronauts endeavors!" (cosmonauts) are as yet unavailable. Aldrin’s Space Flights While there have been In 1966, while training, Aldrin suggestions that the number of was confirmed as an astronaut on Buzz Aldrin Christians in the American space Gemini XXII (12), which was to be program over the years, was the last of the Gemini missions. significant, the statistics tell us Gemini XXII was the tenth manned otherwise. While there have been flight and the eighteenth manned around seventeen Christian space-flight. astronauts, if we compare that It was during that space flight against the total number of NASA that Aldrin first proved it was astronauts who have spent time in possible to work outside the space- space, that makes it a total of 17 out craft (EVA - extravehicular activity). of 320, which is just over five NASA began the next space- percent. Buzz Aldrin outside of the Gemini 12 in 1966. crafts, beginning with Apollo 1 What is significant though is that The first man to prove we could work in space which was a much more complex (EVA - extra-vehicular activity) there have been a number of non- and advanced craft than the earlier Christians and non-religious people, Geminis. who have shared that they had a spiritual experience while in space. Unfortunately all three crew members died from a cabin fire If we consider the era in which Buzz Aldrin in 1969 - the second man on the onboard the Apollo 1, during a the first American astronauts grew moon and the first Christian. launch rehearsal test. The heat and up who were sent into space (from dense smoke from the fire hindered 1940s to 1970s), it’s not surprising all efforts to rescue the three men. that so many of them had a Manned flights were suspended for Christian faith or had their faith around twenty months while NASA renewed by their space-faring looked into the hazard problems. excursions. More people went to church in those eras then they do in There was no Apollo 2 or 3 launch, though later the Apollo 4, 5 the present day. and 6 were successful unmanned The First Christian on the Moon test flights to determine the craft’s On 21 July 1969, the second man viability. This gave NASA the to walk on the moon was Buzz confidence to continue using a Buzz Aldrin in 1969, was the second man to Aldrin. Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr, similar vehicle. walk on the moon, and the first Christian to set was a committed Christian. In October 1968, Apollo 7 took a foot on soil other than earth’s. A former US Air Force officer crew into outer space. This Buzz Aldrin who held a Bachelor of Science successful mission, encouraged

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NASA to undertake Apollo 8 in It was that Bible reading on December 1968 which was to orbit Apollo 8, which led to NASA being around the moon and return to sued by atheist Madalyn Murray earth. O'Hair for NASA's religious use of On Christmas eve, while in the space program because they had space, the crew members of Apollo allowed the astronauts to read the 8 read the first ten verses from the Bible during a space flight. chapter one of Genesis which was While O’Hair lost the case, from broadcast to a then record TV that time onwards, NASA sought to viewing audience. distance itself from promoting any The following extract is the particular religion, and specifically ©Voice version of that passage: requested that the crews not make “In the beginning, God created any religious quotes. everything: the heavens above and Apollo 9 and 10 did further tests the earth below. Here’s what in space to determine the viability of Docking of the Gemini 12 spacecraft happened: at first the earth lacked a moon landing, its engines, life shape and was totally empty, and a support backpacks, docking man- dark fog draped over the deep while oeuvres, navigation systems and God’s spirit-wind hovered over the more. Then it was time for the real surface of the empty waters. Then thing - Apollo 11. there was the voice of God. Walking on the Moon God: Let there be light. The rocket was successfully And light flashed into being. God launched, and three days later, saw that the light was beautiful and while Michael Collins waited in the good, and He separated the light Apollo 11 command module, on 20 from the darkness. God named the July 1969, Neil Armstrong (comm- Buzz Aldrin undertaking EVA outside of the light “day” and the darkness ander) and Buzz Aldrin (pilot) Gemini 12 in 1966 “night.” Evening gave way to became the first two human beings morning. That was day one. to land atop and set foot on earth’s God: Let there be a vast expanse moon. in the middle of the waters. Let the While Buzz had initially desired waters above part from the waters to be the first out of the craft, NASA below. determined that it would be much So God parted the waters and easier for Armstrong to go first, due to their physical positioning within formed this expanse, separating the waters above from the waters below. the craft, and also as Mission Commander, it was Armstrong’s It happened just as God said. And God called the vast expanse “sky.” privilege to be the first. Evening gave way to morning. That What few people know (and was day two. certainly NASA doesn’t promote it) God: Let the waters below the is the fact that Buzz Aldrin, a heavens be collected into one place Presbyterian held the first ever and congregate into one vast sea, so communion on the surface of the that dry land may appear. moon. It happened just as God said. When he radioed back to earth he said, “I'd like to take this God called the dry land “earth” and opportunity to ask every person the waters congregated below listening in, whoever and wherever they “seas.” And God saw that His new may be, to pause for a moment and Buzz Aldrin and James A Lovell creation was beautiful and good.” contemplate the events of the past few after Gemini 12 spacecraft splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean

60 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 60 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Inspirational People: God, the Bible and the Space Race hours, and to give thanks in his or her record for being the oldest person to 1. own way.” ever reach the South Pole. Aldrin He’d brought with him a tiny has co-authored around nine books. communion kit that had been given Other Christian Astronauts to him by his pastor Rev Dean A number of astronauts had Woodruff. religious or spiritual experiences In the silence of outer space, when on the moon or in outer space: Buzz read the passage from John 1 1. John Glenn (1921 – 2016) and took communion. Later he said: Glenn was not only the first "It was interesting to think that man to orbit the earth, and later, the very first liquid ever poured on the oldest astronaut in space the Moon, and the first food eaten after he travelled on the space there, were communion elements." shuttle; he was also a At a later time Aldrin said, Presbyterian Elder. "Perhaps, if I had it to do over He said: again, I would not choose to "To look out at this kind of celebrate communion. Although it John Glenn in 1962 was the first American to orbit creation and not believe in God is to the Earth, and the fifth person in space. By 1969 was was a deeply meaningful experience me impossible. It just strengthens considered too old for the lunar landings flights. for me, it was a Christian my faith." sacrament, and we had come to the 2. Jeffrey Williams (born 1958) Moon in the name of all mankind – be they Christians, Jews, Muslims, Jeffrey is a committed Christ- animists, agnostics, or atheists. But ian. His first space flight was in at the time I could think of no better 2000, and he has taken four space way to acknowledge the enormity of flights. the Apollo 11 experience than by He holds the USA record for giving thanks to God." the most time spent in space and Despite NASA’s earlier request has taken more photographs in to avoid making any religious space than any other astronaut. comments, on Apollo 11’s final TV Jeffrey wrote the book “The broadcast as they returned home, Work of His Hands: A View Of Buzz Aldrin quoted from Psalm God's Creation From Space” in eight, verses three and four: which he shared about his experiences: the Glenn in 1962 in his silver pressure suit in I've been reflecting the events of preparation for launch of Mercury Atlas 6 rocket the past several days and a verse "...vivid lessons about the from the Psalms comes to mind to meticulous goodness of divine me. 'When I consider the heavens, providence, God's care for His the work of thy fingers, the moon creation, and His wisdom in and the stars which thou hast ordering the universe." ordained, what is man that thou art 3. Jim (James) Irwin (1930 – 1991) mindful of him?'" [KJV] Irwin was a lapsed Christian Buzz’s Later Years before he went into space and After he left NASA in 1971, Buzz was on the fourth manned ship retired in 1972, but struggled with to reach the moon. His wife was depression and alcoholism and a believer. eventually sought treatment which It was while he was on the helped him tremendously. He moon that he encountered God continues to promote the in such a way, that it changed his exploration of space. In 2016, at the life forever. After that, Jim felt age of 86, he gained the world John Glenn in 1988 was one of STS-95 crew and at 77 was the oldest person to fly in space.

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2. God calling him to tell people about Jesus. "I felt the power of God as I'd never felt it before," Irwin said of his experience while on the Apollo 15 lunar mission. One year later he quit his aerospace job and founded the High Flight Foundation (an interdenominational evangelical James Irwin and the lunar rover during Apollo 15, 1971 organisation) and later became an evangelical minister. 4. With his pastor, he set up “High Flight,” a non-profit organisation which provides religious retreats as well as tours to the Holy Land. He spent the next 20 years as Jeffery Nels Williams a "Goodwill Ambassador for the Prince of Peace", stating: 3. "Jesus walking on the earth is more important than man walking on the moon." He frequently spoke about how his experiences in space had made God more real to him than before.

Beginning in 1973, Irwin was Bill (William) Anders the leader of a couple of expeditions to Mount Ararat, Turkey, in an attempt to find the remains of Noah's Ark. In his book, “More Than Earthlings,” Irwin shared that he believed the Genesis creation was real, literal history.

Jim (James) Irwin 4. William Alison "Bill" Anders (born 1933). During the Apollo 8 lunar orbit, on Christmas eve in 1968, the crew took turns reading the first ten verses of chapter one of Genesis, and Anders was the first to begin the recitation. It had been his choice to do that, not out of a sense of piety but because he thought it was a Bill Anders, one of the crew on Jim Irwin saluting the American Flag on the moon 1971 the Apollo 8 universal idea, that we were all created.

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5. The reading of the Bible verses was recorded by NASA, but wasn’t something that the space agency promoted. Anders was touched deeply by his space experience, coming to recognise mankind’s insignificance in the vast expanse of space. 5. Frank Borman (born 1928) The commander of the first crew to fly beyond the earth’s orbit, was Frank Borman. As he looked down towards the earth some 250,000 miles away Charles Duke on lunar EVA during the Apollo 16 (402,000km), he quoted Genesis Frank F. Borman II, Commander of Apollo 8, the first mission in April 1972 mission to fly around the Moon chapter one on the radio. Later he said: "I had an enormous feeling that there had to be a power greater than any of us - that there was a God, that there was indeed a beginning." 6. Charles Moss "Charlie" Duke Jr. (born 1935), Duke was the youngest astronaut ever on the moon, and in later life he took on work as a missionary. As he explained, "I Charles Duke left his family's photo on the moon in make speeches about walking on the 1972 moon and walking with the Son (of God.)" 7. 7. Guy Gardner (born 1948) Guy is a former astronaut who shares in different churches about the reality of God. 8. Col. Michael Good (born 1962) A Catholic man who through Frank Borman and Jim Lovell walking up the ramp to the elevator before the Gemini 7 mission his experiences in space, and the remarkable views that he saw, 6. had his faith in God further cemented. 9. Ronald Garan Jr (born 1961), Ronald teaches Sunday School and is a Catholic. Prior to his space flight, he asked a group of Carmelite nuns to pray for him. He asked if they Guy Gardner, flew as pilot on two Space Shuttle had an item he could take into missions from 1988 - 1990 space with him, so the sisters

Charles Duke in 1971 was the tenth and youngest person to walk on the moon (in 1972)

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8. provided a relic of St Thérèse of 1111. . Lisieux. Ronald is also the founder of the Manna Energy Foundation, which finds ways to assists villages in Rwanda to make potable water. 10. Gerald P. Carr (born 1932) Commander of Skylab 4 from 1973 to 1974, Carr has been a regular church attendee. 11. Charles Arthur "Charlie" Bassett II (1931 – 1966)

Mike T. Good flew aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis for What we know about Charlie its STS-125 mission. STS-125 was the final Hubble was that he was a regular Charles Bassett II was assigned to Gemini 9 in 1963 but Space Telescope servicing mission. Good flew as church attendee before his death died in an airplane crash in 1966 during training Mission Specialist 2 on STS-132 in an airplane crash. for his first spaceflight. 9. 12. Roger Bruce Chaffee (1935 – 1967) 12. Chaffee was a regular attendant at his church before his death in a pre-launch test for the Apollo 1 mission. 13. William R Pogue (1930 - 2014) A Christian man , not much is mentioned in the media about Pogue’s faith. He listed studying Biblical history as one of his hobbies and in 2011 released his autobiography “But for the Grace Roger Chaffee on far right, Gus Grissom left and Ed White middle in front of Launch Complex 34 which of God: An Autobiography of an housed their Saturn 1 launch. All three died Ronald J. Garan Jr first flew in space on the STS-124 Aviator and Astronaut.” in a cabin fire in the rocket in 1967.

mission to the International Space Station and later 14. Michael P. Anderson (1959 - 2003) spent six months there in 2011. A conservative Christian, 10. Anderson died in the Columbia shuttle disaster. 15. A Christian Episcopalian, David M. Brown (1956 - 2003) David also died in the Columbia shuttle disaster, and was a lay volunteer at his church. 16. Rick Husband (1957 - 2003) An active Christian in his church at Clear Lake, Husband died in the Columbia shuttle disaster. 17. William C. McCool (1961 - 2003)

Gerald P Carr was Commander of Skylab 4, After growing up in the Roger B. Chaffee died in a fire along with fellow from 1973 - 1974.jpg Methodist church, William later astronauts Virgil (Gus) Grissom and Edward H. White II during a pre-launch test for the Apollo 1 mission in 1967

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13. became a Catholic and a devout 16. Christian. While in space he said, “From our orbital vantage point, we observe an earth without borders, full of peace, beauty and magnificence, and we pray that humanity as a whole can imagine a borderless world as we see it and strive to live as one in peace.” McCool died in the Columbia shuttle disaster. Rick (Richard) Husband travelled into space twice: as Isn’t it fascinating that out of Pilot of STS-96 and Commander of STS-107. He and William R. Pogue Pogue was the Pilot of Skylab 4, the seven crew members on board third and final manned visit to the Skylab Orbital the rest of the crew of STS-107 were killed aboard the Workshop, 1973-1974 the Columbia shuttle who shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003 perished in the disaster, four of 14. them were Christians! 17. Other Astronauts According to Jomar Teves of iTechPosts, Russian astronauts (Cosmonauts) have been known to take along a Russian Bible into space with them, as well stone relics that were claimed to have come from Mt Thabor, where Jesus appeared to some of his apostles just before being taken to heaven. Several other astronauts have had spiritual experiences when in William C. McCool was the pilot of Space Shuttle Michael P. Anderson was killed in the Space Shuttle space though not necessarily Columbia mission STS-107. He and the rest of the Columbia disaster when the craft disintegrated during its Christian, including Gene Cernan, crew of STS-107 were killed when Columbia re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere in 2003 disintegrated during re-entry into the Anousheh Ansari, Nicole Stott, Jeff atmosphere in 2003 15. Hoffman, Shane Kimbrough as well as Edgar Mitchell, who was part of the Apollo 16 expedition. Mitchell saw the earth and said: “You develop an instant global consciousness, a people orientation, an intense dissatisfaction with the state of the world, and a compulsion to do something about it. From out there on the moon, international politics look so petty. You want to grab a politician by the scruff of the neck and drag him a quarter of a million miles out and say, "Look at that, you son of a bitch." Llan Ramon was the space shuttle payload specialist aboard the fatal flight of Columbia, in which he was David M Brown died on his first spaceflight, when the killed in 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated in 2003

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No author, no date, available: https://en.wikipedia. Later Mitchell said: org/wiki/James_Irwin, accessed 19/01/2017 “What I do remember is the No author, no date, available: https://en.wikipedia.org /wiki/William_Anders, accessed 19/01/2017 awesome experience of recognising No author, no date, available: https://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Jeffrey_Williams_(astronaut) , accessed the universe was not simply random 19/01/2017 happenstance …that there was No author, no date, available: https://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Frank_Borman, accessed 19/01/2017 something more operating than just No author, no date, available: https://en.wikipedia.org chance.” /wiki/Charles_Duke, accessed 19/01/2017 No author, no date, available: https://en.wikipedia. According to Huffington Post’s org/wiki/Guy_Gardner_(astronaut) , accessed 19/01/2017 No author, no date, available: https://en.wikipedia. Dominique Mosbergen. Canada’s org/wiki/Michael_T._Good, accessed 19/01/2017 No author, no date, available: https://en.wikipedia. astronaut Chris Hadfield had such org/wiki/Ilan_Ramon, accessed 19/01/2017 an intense spiritual experience that No author, no date, available: https://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Edgar_Mitchell, accessed 19/01/2017 it changed his perspective on life. No author, no date, available: https://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Ronald_J._Garan_Jr., accessed 19/01/2017 Ilan Ramon, an Israeli astronaut, No author, no date, available: https://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Michael_P._Anderson, accessed 20/01/2017 took a copy of the Torah on No author, no date, available: https://en.wikipedia. microfiche aboard the ill-fated space org/wiki/David_M._Brown, accessed 20/01/2017 No author, no date, available: https://en.wikipedia. shuttle Columbia. According to the org/wiki/Rick_Husband, accessed 20/01/2017 Jerusalem Post he also took his No author, no date, available: https://en.wikipedia. Edgar Mitchell in 1970, the sixth person org/wiki/William_C._McCool, accessed 21/01/2017 diary into which he’d recorded the No author, no date, available: https://en.wikipedia. to walk on the moon org/wiki/Apollo_1, accessed 21/01/2017 Jewish blessing ‘Shabbat Kiddush’ No author, no date, available: https://en.wikipedia. so he could broadcast the blessing org/wiki/Apollo_11, accessed 21/01/2017 Judd, Ron, Pacific NW Magazine, 07/12/2012, available: back to earth. http://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/with-a- view-from-beyond-the-moon-an-astronaut-talks-religion- Astonishingly, after the shuttle politics-and-possibilities/, accessed 21/01/2017 disaster, almost forty pages from Burke, Andrei, Ultraculture, no date, available: http://ultraculture.org/blog/2014/06/02/3-astronauts- Ramon’s diary somehow survived spiritual-experiences/, accessed 19/01/2017 Mosbergen, Dominique, Huffington Post, 08/11/2013, the fiery explosion. These were later available: http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/ chris- passed onto his wife. hadfield-faith-spirituality-space_n_4235055, accessed 19/01/2017 Conclusion No name, Christian concern, 02/09/2016, available: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/not- When it came time for man to ashamed/record-breaking-astronaut-shares-faith-in-god, accessed 19/01/2017 take a small step from earth into the Colson, Chuck, Acts International, no date, available: heavens, God was already there. He http://www.actsweb.org/articles/article.php?i=17&d=1&c= 1&p=1, accessed 19/01/2017 used opportunities not only for Shellnutt, Kate, Chron, 08/07/2011, available: http://blog.chron.com/believeitornot/2011/07/exploring- believers to share His message to the-heavens-christian-astronauts-reflect-on-their-creator/, the world, but to speak of Himself accessed 19/01/2017 Edgar Mitchell on the moon in 1971 Wilford, John Noble, New York Times, 10/08/1991, on a personal basis to many who available: http://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/10/us/ james- ventured out there into the cold, b-irwin-61-ex-astronaut-founded-religious- organization.html, accessed 19/01/2017 unwelcoming endlessness of space. Patterson, Thom, Belief Blog, 07/07/2011, available: http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/07/07/the-surprising- There He shared with them, the history-of-prayer-in-space/, accessed 20/01/2017 warm, loving embrace of His arms, No name, Stack Exchange, 29/09/2015, available: http://space.stackexchange.com/questions/12114/how- particularly those who never made many-astronauts-have-had-spiritual-experiences-while-in- space, accessed 20/01/2017 it back to earth, those who went Teves, Jomar, iTechPost, 05/09/2016, available: from being in space in one moment http://www.itechpost.com/articles/27538/20160905/religion -enters-outer-space-realm-cosmonauts-religious- and far beyond it the next. [END] beliefs.htm, accessed 20/01/2017 ------Robinson, BA, Ontario Consultants on Religious Note: To view the recording of the first landing Tolerance, 19/09/2005, available: http://www.religious tolerance.org/columbia_01.htm, accessed 21/01/2017 on the moon, go to: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/ No Name, God and Country, 22/07/2011, available: alsj/a11/video11.html#Landing. http://christianfighterpilot.com/2011/07/22/astronaut-there------are-no-atheists-in-rockets-and-prayer-in-space/, accessed Bibliography: 21/01/2017 Dick, Steven J, NASA Chief Historian, no date, available: A navy diver helps Ed Mitchell into [VOICE] The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society https://www.nasa.gov/50th/50th_magazine/ the recovery raft in 1971 All rights reserved. historyLetter.html, accessed 21/01/2017 No author, no date, available: https://en.wikipedia. [VOICE] The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, org/wiki/Buzz_Aldrin, accessed 19/01/2017 Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved. No author, no date, available: https://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/John_Glenn, accessed 19/01/2017 ☬

66 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 66 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Jerusalem Journal: Child Genius Stuns Leaders in Temple

☬ Child Genius Stuns ירושלים יומן by Abel Lissnar Leaders In Temple April 8AD My twelve years as a journalist have His clothing suggested that he came The mother took the boy by the arm, seen some changes in Israel including from a poor family who were unlikely to her dusty face creased with dried tears. rising unrest against the Roman occupiers. have been able to provide for an She said, “Son, why have you treated us As you know, many of our headlining education level any higher than the so? Your father and I have been searching stories have been focussed on this and rudimentary basics of the Torah which is for you in great distress.” related events. taught to all young Jewish boys. The boy replied, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I The latest ‘Messiah’ previously known A Child Genius must be in my Father's house?” by his birth-name of Benjamin, baker of The wisdom that sprang from the lips His parents appeared started and Tarsus was captured, tortured and of this boy was truly astonishing. He confused by his response. executed, as were the earlier three presented his beliefs, backed up his I tried to follow them as they quickly claimants of that title. In each case their statements with extracts from the Torah made their way through a local market followers were a bunch of rowdy, and spoke in such a way that every man but they were soon lost in the crowd. The disenchanted, poor young men whose there was easily able to follow his logic. couple’s faces had seemed familiar but I main desire seemed to be ridding our land Every question that the elders put to couldn’t recall where I’d seen them before. of the Romans by subversive , often inept him, he answered easily and without and usually failed terrorist attacks. hesitation. His speaking style was A genius at such a young age should be studying in the great temple ! I wanted his The majority of the Jewish population dynamic and for the first time in my life, it parents to know that he would easily have appear singularly unimpressed with their created in me a desire to want to know found a financial sponsor to help further violent tactics and the usual demand to be more about the God of our people. his education. crowned king over all of Israel, and more His teaching wasn’t dry and dusty like specifically to be worshipped. We are also every other priest or elder I’ve ever heard. Perhaps it is young men such as these mindful of the subsequent repercussions He made it seem that God was a truly who will make a great impact upon Israel by the Romans against our people magnificent, caring and personal God in the future. We need strong and wise including more restrictions, earlier who wished to be reconciled with His leaders more than ever before if we are curfews and increasing taxes to pay extra people and with each of us as individuals. truly going to become a great people again. [END] soldiers to track down the rebels. He spoke about the inadequacy of the Our Culture Lives on in Our Young law and challenged us to seek God in It can sometimes be difficult to remain every area of our lives, not just through participating in empty rituals and rules, optimistic in these circumstances and times, and a recent event revived my hope because it was expected of us, but to truly and enthusiasm for our culture and our seek God’s guidance in the way we lived, people. learned and loved. We’re all aware that this spring has He was also eager to learn and listened been unseasonably hot, so I was surprised intently when the elders discussed various last Tuesday to hear that the Jerusalem topics, and he asked pertinent and temple was filled almost to capacity, and remarkably mature questions for clarity. more elders and cultural leaders were One of the temple helpers said the boy making their way there. had been there for about three days and as It was difficult to make my way I was wondering about his absent family, through the dense crowds, but thankfully his father made through the crowd my journalist’s credentials allowed me to nearby. push my way to the front of the people, Returning Home facing the elders. It was evident by his expression that I must admit I was surprised to see the parent was tired, angry and yet that what held everyone’s attention in the extremely relieved at finding his child. He space before them was a young boy who spoke firmly to the boy, telling him it was appeared to be around twelve years of time to leave and that his mother was age. The most astonishing thing about him waiting outside for him. was that he was teaching the learned I followed them out of the temple, leaders. leaving behind us the murmur of voices inside, likely discussing the child genius.

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by Andrew Stafford’s affluence did not arranged a family trip to England Brandon immure them to the injustices of to assist Dwight Moody with his their time. Horatio was involved evangelistic missions. in several reform movements On the eve of their departure in including abolitionism and the 1. Where is Your Security? November, 1873, Horatio was house became the meeting place called away on urgent business. Horatio and his wife Anna for social activists. He instructed his family to embark Spafford lived in one of the In the 1870s, the charmed life of on the voyage, promising to wealthier suburbs of northern the Spaffords took a downward follow them as soon as he had Chicago. Horatio was a solicitor turn. In 1870 their only son, concluded matters. with his own practice and Horatio Jr died of scarlet fever, On the evening of 22nd lucrative real estate on the shores and a year later in October 1871, November, the ship sailed into a of Lake Michigan. In the late the great Chicago fire destroyed thick fog that cut visibility to a few 1860s, they moved though life all their holdings by Lake metres. with the effortless grace of the Michigan. successful. The SS Ville Du Havre churned The fire left them almost through the Atlantic like a ghost They had five children, Annie, destitute but they still managed to ship. Sickly yellow light Maggie, Bessie, Tanetta and share what little they had left with haemorrhaged from rows of Horatio Jr, and their home was the survivors. portholes and vanished into the always open to fellow Christians. Traumatised by the loss of her porous grey. Dwight Moody, the famous son and wealth in quick Chicago evangelist, was a frequent Even the rhythmic rumble of succession, Anna’s health deterior- visitor. the steamer’s mighty pistons was ated. Horatio decided that she and dubbed by the dampening fog. Unlike so many upwardly their daughters needed to mobile people, however, the On board, Anna, assisted by recuperate from both disasters so Emma, the children’s governess, was preparing Annie, Maggie, Bessie and Tanetta for bed. All of them were in their night clothes; Tanetta, the baby of the family, snuggled in Anna’s arms, lulled into a happy stupor by the rocking ship. Racing towards the steamer was SS Lockheam, an iron hulled cargo sailing ship from England. One moment, its sails scooped the moonlight and stars garlanded its masts, and in the next, the Lockheam plunged blind and deaf into the fog. The collision shook the SS Ville Du Havre from bow to stern and Horatio Spafford Anna Spafford stopped it dead in the water. It

68 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 68 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Changeless God in a Changing World - Part One was a fatal blow. With an ear fell behind. the biting cold and survive. splitting screech, the Lockheam’s Events were too confused and He heard the splash of oars and iron hull tore the steamer’s belly chaotic for logic and sequentiality. saw the boat zigzagging through wide open to the Atlantic. For Anna and many other the water in search of survivors. Anna and the girls were hurled survivors, reality exploded into “Here!” he shouted, “Over here.” from their berths by the violence myriads of disconnected but vivid Wrapped in a blanket but still of the impact. fragments. Maggie, Bessie and shivering, the young man told a There was an instant of Annie were ripped from her side distraught Anna his story and astounded silence and then the soon after the collision. wished it had a different ending. shouts and screams, a confused Later she learnt that Maggie Anna had fought her way to medley of noise that quickly and Annie had been tossed into the ship’s rail with Tanitta in her spiralled into hysteria. The ship the sea. A young man attempted arms, constantly murmuring staggered and then began to list to to rescue them. prayers to God: “Save my starboard. “Grab my jacket pockets,” he children. Save them, Lord! Have Anna managed to retain her yelled, “and I’ll keep you afloat. mercy!” grip on Tanetta, and tried to quell Hold on tight and don’t let go.” Most of the lifeboats were gone her daughter’s sobs with They gratefully complied and and people were hurling them- reassurances. clung to him. Gripping wooden selves over the side of the crazily Outside the Spafford’s cabin wreckage for buoyancy, he kicked listing steamer. there was utter mayhem; people repeatedly to ward off She was afraid, deeply afraid. fought each other to reach the hyperthermia and encouraged The Atlantic was no longer the deck and escape the pursuing sea. them to do the same. benign cradle that had carried the The ocean erupted from the “Hang on and try to keep Ville Du Havre from the US, but a ship’s torn belly, rushed into the moving. Kick. Keep kicking!” he hungry, predatory force that engine room, extinguished the pleaded through chattering teeth, encircled the ship in perpetual furnaces in clouds of hissing but after forty minutes the spiteful motion. steam, raced along corridors, leapt Atlantic cold prised their fingers She searched the bobbing heads staircases, broke down cabin doors from his pockets and they floated below for her three daughters, but and burst through hatches. away, their nightdresses billowing the fog had smudged all features Anna, the children, and their around them. into a dull sameness. governess, fled before it, propelled The young man watched until Holding Tanitta tightly in her upwards in a thrashing mass of their pale faces vanished into the arms, she leapt into the Atlantic. escapees. The roaring Atlantic fog, and then he kicked again and The cold was so sudden and snapped at their heels and again in a desperate bid to deflect brutal that it took her breath away, pounced on any stragglers who but she refused to let go of her

SS Ville Du Havre Depiction of the disaster

69 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 69 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Changeless God in a Changing World - Part One daughter. They would live or die On receiving Anna’s telegraph, of the Good Shepherd1.” together. he boarded a ship for Great The lamp swayed with the A piece of wreckage from the Britain. The captain, aware of motion of the vessel and sent his sinking vessel struck her shoulder Horatio’s bereavement, summ- shadow staggering over the walls. and arm and tore Tanitta violently oned him to the bridge as the ship The pain was still unbearable, but from her grip. She ignored the approached the co-ordinates he knew that he was not alone. where the SS Ville du Havre numbing pain, and with a He carefully laid out a sheet of floundered. mother’s instinct, dived after her paper on the tiny cabin table, took daughter, kicking hard to speed “Sir,” he said, “We are sailing his pen, composed himself and her descent. over the exact spot where the Ville began to write: du Havre sunk. Please accept my Flailing with her arms, she When peace like a river deepest sympathy for the loss of found her, gripped her attendeth my way your girls.” nightgown, and tugged with all When sorrows like sea billows her strength to bring her to the Horatio studied the ocean for a roll; surface. few moments but there was no Whatever my lot, Thou has Anna was overwhelmed with trace of wreckage or any other taught me to say, relief but it was short lived. When sign of the missing ship, only a Refrain: the Lochhearn’s rescue boat found vast expanse of featureless grey It is well, it is well with my soul. the unconscious Anna, she was stretching towards the horizon. It is well, with my soul holding a child’s nightdress; Involuntarily, he looked down. It is well, with my soul, nothing more. Three miles below him lay the It is well, it is well, with my soul. wreck of the Ville du Havre and The survivors were picked up Though Satan should buffet, the bodies of his children. by the American cargo ship, the SS though trials should come, Trimountain, and taken to Cardiff, Horatio Spafford withdrew to Let this blessed assurance Wales. On arrival nine days later, his cabin. He had known grief control’ Anna immediately telegraphed when Horatio Jr had died; this That Christ hath regarded my her husband with the legendary grief was grief multiplied, a sort of helpless estate, message: “Saved alone. What shall mutilation by a thousand daggers. And hath shed His own blood I do?” He was shaken by its brutal for my soul. We know little of Horatio’s savagery. Refrain psychological state on hearing the The ocean was all around him, My sin, O the bliss of this news. Certainly he must have the ocean that had drowned glorious thought! grieved and may even have Annie, Bessie, Maggie and little My sin not in part but in whole, suffered bouts of self Tanetta. He could hear it lapping Is nailed to the cross, and I bear recrimination: “If I’d travelled on the hull, whispering to him in it no more, with my family I may have been their voices from three miles Praise the Lord, raise the Lord, able to save them.” down. O my soul! What we do know, however, is Rejecting the sea’s mimicry, he Refrain that his faith in God stood firm spoke out loud: “My little lambs And Lord, haste the day when during this severest of trials. are in heaven. They’re in the arms my faith shall be sight

“My little lambs are in heaven. They’re in the arms of the Good Shepherd.”

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And the clouds be rolled back modern reworking of the were killed than at any other time as a scroll Christian Faith is that it is not true. during the war. The trump shall resound, and Read the Scriptures and it soon Sadly, many Christians have the Lord shall descend, becomes apparent that God is a imbibed the West’s hedonistic Even so, it is well with my soul. fan of tough circuit training. He philosophy of prosperity, health God has not given us immunity uses trials and tribulations to hone and individual happiness, and to the difficulties and tragedies of our characters, develop tenacity have re-jigged the gospel to life. It is these dark times that test and stamina, and give us the accommodate it. Consequently, our faith and the reality of our capacity to empathise with others2. we’ve vacated the war zone for a love for God. The miscellaneous bunch of retirement home and have All may change, but He is prophets, scribes, poets and forfeited the spiritual and changeless in both His nature and apostles who penned Scriptures psychological resources to cope loving regard for us. No wonder were not employed by God as spin with the tough times. He is referred to as our ‘Rock and doctors to put an optimistic gloss With such superficiality and salvation’ (Psalm 61:2; 89:26). on a raw deal. On the contrary, shallowness, even a toothache can In the midst of the vagaries of they told the truth about the cost lead to spiritual crisis and life, He is the only certainty. of obeying God and representing meltdown! Whatever happens, our feet are him in a sin wrecked world. Horatio and Anna’s love for planted firmly on the Rock. Paradoxically, we’re offered God was not based on a profit I am alarmed by the super- peace in a motive (serving ficiality of much contemporary storm, joy in God is a fan of him for His gifts evangelicalism. Watch Christian suffering, and rewards) but TV and it is not long before a triumph in tough circuit on a sincere and religious celebrity informs you rejection, selfless love. that it is God’s will that you power in training. Anna suffered should be wealthy, healthy, happy weakness and terribly after the and trouble free. All that keeps life in death. loss of her daughters, but she was you from a long and prosperous This world is not a playground salvaged by the remark of a friend: life is a lack of faith. The logic but a battlefield: a deadly war “It’s easy to be grateful and (syllogism) seems reasonable: zone in which we engage in hand good when you have so much, but • God is our heavenly Father. to hand combat with the Devil and take care that you are not a fair his demon armies. • Only a psychotic dad wants his weather friend of God.” children to wallow in poverty, Okay, so we’re going to My question for you is this: conquer: our commander-in chief, tribulations, persecutions and “Where is your security? sickness. the Lord Jesus, has already won Is it in the blessings and the decisive victory at the cross, • God is love and therefore only rewards that accrue from serving but we’ve been enlisted in the wants his children to be happy, God? Or is your security in God clean-up operation. healthy and self-fulfilled and and God alone? Is He your Rock, Arguably, the Second World enjoy long, prosperous lives. the changeless One in a changing War was won as soon as the allies All negative experience is from world? Satan and should be resisted. established a bridgehead on the 1.1 The World at Warp Speed Normandy beaches, but it took • Martyrs and sick Christians die eighteen months of fierce fighting Professor Michio Kaku3, one of because they do not have before Hitler’s evil empire was the leading scientific commentat- enough faith to appropriate destroyed. ors of our time, wrote: God’s blessings and give Satan “Clearly we are on the his marching orders. Between the Normandy invasion and Hitler’s suicide in a threshold of yet another revolution. It may seem logical enough but Berlin bunker, more allied troops the only problem with this

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Human knowledge is doubling people; a new breed of to comprehend controls more and every ten years. In the past decade, entrepreneurs run multi-million more of the world around us.5” more scientific knowledge has been dollar businesses from home The world is accelerating to created than in all human history. computers; students download warp speed. Change is so rapid Computer power is doubling research papers and exam and kaleidoscopic that it becomes every eighteen months. The questions; glam models strip for confusing. the digits on internet is doubling every year. All the credit cards, The number of DNA sequences Technological established terrorists plan we can analyse is doubling every solidarities are atrocities in two years. Almost daily, headlines change is changing. These code, and herald new advances in computers, changes are predatory telecommunications, biotech- paralleled by comparable to earth hackers spy and nology, and space exploration. during a huge steal. tectonic shifts In the wake of this technological geological upheaval upheaval, entire industries and This in human that shifts lifestyles are being overturned, revolution has continents, changes only to give rise to new ones. But had a more relationships. the course of these rapid, bewildering changes significant and oceans, throws up are not just quantitative. They immediate impact on the world new mountain ranges, and makes mark the birth pangs of a new than the invention of the printing conventional geography obsolete. press. In thirty years, everyone era.4” Technological change is from the Massai herdsmen of Computers have revolutionised paralleled by tectonic shifts in Kenya to the Inuit of Alaska are the way that we receive human relationships. The old connected through the internet to societal pillars of marriage and information and communicate an exploding global culture. with each other. family are breaking down at such “We are moving at dizzying an alarming rate that governments An ethereal cyberspace has speed’, writes computer boffin are referring to a new era of serial become the electronic membrane Marc Dery, “to a wraithlike age of monogamy and endorsing more that contains all human software, in which circuitry too exotic patterns of family life.6 knowledge, the global meeting small to see and code too complex place and market for millions of Where once a person was employed by the same company for life and was rewarded with a gold watch and a pension, the new workforce only remain in the same job for a few years before moving on. The blurring speed of change has made life transitory and ephemeral. People often move too quickly to put down roots and find permanence and security. Alvin Toffler, the futurist and social chronicler, documents the outcome of life on fast forward: “The acceleration of change does not merely buffet industrial nations. It is a concrete force that reaches deep into our lives,

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compels us to act out new roles, a warm, cosy subculture and sing deity, transcendent in majesty, and confronts us with a new and pretty worship songs. and utterly changeless and powerful disease. This new disease What is the solution? There is immutable. 7 is called ‘future shock’. ” no simple answer but there is one God, in this parody of the A society at terminal velocity is fixed certainty: our security must Bible’s gutsy, colourful and in danger of disintegrating. People be in a God who is changeless but vibrant Creator, is analogous to an need secure landmarks in order to always contemporary. In a world antique Grandfather clock that feel secure. Sadly, in their absence, of dizzying flux, He is our Rock. keeps exact time because all its we are in danger of becoming a 2. What is Meant by a cogs and mechanical parts are generation of escapees, nostalgic Changeless God? perfectly aligned and synchron- for an idyllic past that only exists ised. Quintessentially perfect, the “The family has often been in TV period dramas. clock is self contained requiring no regarded as the external The world has become a cornerstone of adjustment or dangerous place. With the collapse society. In pre- Our security alteration from a of the Soviet empire, we believed modern and watchmaker. Its that we were entering an era of modern societies must be in a consistency is glasnost, but a new, elusive enemy alike it has been God who is based entirely on emerged: the Taliban and al- seen as the most immutable Qa’ida and their legions of terror. basic unit of social changeless ... in mechanical Why this sudden hatred of all organisation and precision. The things American and Western? one which carries a world of world may Antipathy to Israel is merely a out vital tasks change but the symptom of a much deeper such as socialising dizzying flux, clock continues disorder: the techno revolution children…From to maintain with its secular presuppositions the 1960s, an He is our Rock. perfect time, has collided head on with a increasing number never deviating by a nanosecond monolithic religion. of critical thinkers began to from its purpose. This high tech blitzkrieg, with question the assumption that the God is much, much more than its panzer divisions of mass family was necessarily a beneficial a perfect machine. He is communication and secularist institution. Feminists, Marxists unchanging in His essential ideology, is sweeping through and critical psychologists began to nature, but unlike the Grandfather cultures that have remained highlight what they saw as some clock, He adapts to changes in His unaltered for hundreds of years. of the negative effects and the ‘dark side’ of family life. universe. Scripture describes Him No wonder people become paradoxically: ultra-fundamentalist and savagely 2.1 Changeless, Changing God • God is transcendent over the resist the invader! (Malachi 3:6) universe but immanent in His Unfortunately, evangelicals God is complete in Himself and creation (Psalm 139:7-12; Isaiah therefore utterly self-sufficient. cannot afford to be smug and 57:15; I Kings 8:27). complacent. Unlike our 18th and The old theologians, influenced by 8 • God is One in three Persons 19th Century predecessors, we Greek philosophy , referred to the (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians seem strangely reluctant to engage ‘impassibility of God’ and argued 13:13). with the world. Visit our book that the Almighty transcended stores, read our literature, attend passion. • Christ is fully human and our churches and you cannot fail This ‘god’, forged from both divine but remains a unified to notice that most of us are in Scripture and Greek philosophy, personality (John 1:14-18; hibernation. did not resemble the dynamic, Colossians 2:9). Islam waves a sword at the passionate and involved God of • God is changeless but invader; we run away and hide in the Bible. He was a pale, aloof constantly changing (Genesis

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6:6; 1 Samuel 15:11; 2 Samuel definitions of ‘personality’. a storm. Admitting that the storm 24:16; Jonah 3:10; Joel 2:13). He is ‘Person’ par-excellence: is the result of his disobedience to Changeless and yet constantly more alive and vibrant, more real God, Jonah requests to be thrown changing! That sounds like a and durable, more colourful and from the ship; he is swallowed by proposition from Alice in beautiful than we can ever be. a ‘great fish’ and transported in its belly to the coastal area nearest to Wonderland. When I first encountered Him, I Nineveh. Surely God is changeless and felt like a tiny mote of sentient utterly consistent in all His dust in a blaze of brilliant light. Stained by the fish’s gastric juices, Jonah cuts a macabre figure actions? Certainly, but that does In His essential being, God is as he tramps through Nineveh’s not imply that He is incapable of utterly consistent and unchanging. suburbs proclaiming, “In three change and adapting to new James attempts to convey this idea days you’ll all be destroyed!” contingencies and circumstances. when he describes God as the: He is not a deterministic machine, “Father of heavenly lights, who On hearing the message, the programmed to behave predict- does not change like shifting king and his officials attempt to ably, but a living Person who cries shadows.” placate Israel’s angry Deity, out to us in love, yearning, grief “Everyone must fast in sackcloth James 1:17 [NIV] and even rage. He is a Person in and ashes and plead with God for God is reassuringly solid; that an altogether different category forgiveness.” is why He is often referred to in from us. “Who knows? God may relent Scripture as the ‘Rock’9, but this C.S Lewis, wrestling with this and change His mind; He may designation does not denote that idea, described him as the: turn from His fierce anger, so that He is incapable of change. On the we do not perish.” ‘supra-personality’ - a God who contrary, because He is always Jonah 3:9 [NRSV] transcends all our narrow consistent and true to himself, He is always changing in His Scripture records God’s engagement with the world. response: These apparent ‘changes’ do “When God saw what they did, not indicate capriciousness or how they turned from their evil dangerous instability, for He ways, God changed His mind always behaves according to His about the calamity that He said character. that He would bring on them; and He did not do it.” Jonah’s reluctance to deliver Jonah 3: 10 [NRSV] God’s word to Nineveh, the sworn enemy of Israel, is based on this Jonah is mad with God for His assumption. God gives him a mercy: message of destruction, but Jonah “O, Lord! Is not this what I knows too much about God to said while I was still in my own believe that this is His true country? That is why I fled to intention. He knows him as loving Tarshish at the beginning: for I and forgiving, and concludes that knew that you are a gracious God God will relent if the Ninevites and merciful, slow to anger and turn from their cruelty and abounding in steadfast love, and injustice. Why give them this ready to relent from punishing. chance? And now, O Lord, please take my Jonah packs his suitcase and life from me, for it is better to me departs for Tarshish-on Sea, a to die than to live.” trading port at the opposite end of Jonah 4:2-3 [NRSV] the world from Nineveh. God stops him in his tracks by sending

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God replies, not with a labour and which you did not This is an extraordinary idea but it reprimand or lecture, but with a grow; it came into being in a is clearly taught in the Bible. question: night and perished in a night. In Exodus 32:1-14, Moses has “Is it right for you to be And should I not be concerned been with God on Mount Sinai for angry?” about Ninevah, that great city, forty days. The people, believing Jonah 4:4 [NRSV] in which there are more than a that Moses is lost or dead, 120,000 persons/children... and Angry, sulking and resentful persuade Aaron to make a Golden many animals?” against God, Jonah leaves the city Calf. God alerts Moses to their to await events. God provides Jonah 4:9-11 [NRSV] idolatry and tells him that he’s Jonah with a bush as a sunshade. Can you relate to Jonah? He about to annihilate them: “Get out of my way, Next day as the sun scales reminds me of the Moses. I’ll Nineveh’s walls and invades the elder brother in Scripture not vaporise them city, God sends a parasite to attack the Prodigal Son. and make you the bush, thus depriving Jonah of He was resentful only teaches the founding his only shade. of the partying that attended the father of a great With no shelter, the sun fills the that God return of his nation.” sky above him, beating down with profligate sibling. Moses’ such ferocity that the land shakes changes His Like our sulking reaction is heroic and quivers like a drum skin. prophet, he had mind but He and selfless. God aggravates his torment by no knowledge of Moses declines sending a desert wind, abrasive his father’s heart also permits us the ‘founding with superheated grains of sand, of grace and father’ honour’, which lashes his skin leaving to influence His forgiveness. and then thrusts wheals of festering blisters. We too are decisions... himself in the “This is my reward for often capricious crossfire between obedience,” he grumbles, “a and show considerably less grace an angry God and a stupid nation. grandstand seat to watch God’s and patience than our heavenly Remember, God has already mercy on these…” He struggles to Father. Our treat-ment of people is told Moses, “Get out of my way!” find language strong enough to generally determined by mood, When the Almighty’s in a rage express his loathing: “these filthy, temperament, preferences, per- and about to vaporise a nation, it’s murderous Assyrian swine. God ception and motives. not a sensible idea to interfere. But forgives the Ninevites but roasts God’s engagement with people Moses does just that. me alive. It’s not fair! Better for me is based on completely different to die than live.” In an act of suicidal bravery, he criteria: His perfection and argues with God and tells him At this all time low in Jonah’s consistency, His complete genocide is a bad idea: “Lord, the experience, God repeats His knowledge of us, and His Egyptians will say you recruited earlier question but in a slightly unconditional regard and love for their workforce only to annihilate different way: human beings. them in the desert. And how “Is it right for you to be Unsolicited and unprompted, about your covenant with angry about the bush?” He changes His mind. In the case Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? You This time Jonah replies without of the Ninevites, He feels pity for made an oath to them by your hesitation: the boys and girls and domestic own self that you’d multiply their “Yes, angry enough to die!” animals and postpones judgement. descendents like the stars and give God has set Jonah up; the trap Scripture not only teaches that them Canaan forever. It’s not right snaps shut: God changes His mind but He to go back on your word.” “You are concerned about also permits us to influence His One thing is obvious from the the bush, for which you did not decisions and change His mind. exchange: Moses values the people

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more than his own life. He argues Israel give their vote to the ten Mr (omniscient) and governs history with God to save them. And God’s Negatives and decided on and human destiny according to response? evacuation: better to return to His own will and purpose “And the Lord changed His slavery in Egypt than be (omnipotent), change His mind at mind about the disaster that He slaughtered by the Nephilim and the request of a man? planned to bring on His people.” scythed to pieces by their war Were these two incidents set- chariots! Exodus 3:14 [NRSV] ups contrived to dupe Moses into Once again, God is exasperated believing that he had actually In Numbers 14:1-25 Moses and insulted by their unbelief: changed God’s mind? If so, God is sends twelve spies to reconnoitre guilty of a cruel act of duplicity. Canaan. When they return, the “How long will this people The argument that God rigged the spies report that the land despise me? And how long will vote by predetermining Moses’ ‘overflows with milk and honey’ they refuse to believe in me, in response makes both stories a and produce a mouth watering spite of all the signs that I have sham. Think about it! selection of fruit. done among them? I will strike them with pestilence and disinherit God creates the illusion that Opinion between the spies is them, and I will make of you a Moses has changed His mind, but divided. Joshua and Caleb nation greater and mightier than in reality, he is merely reciting recommend immediate invasion, they.” from a prearranged script. This and the others, totally demoralised Numbers 14:11-12 [NRSV] sort of scam is unworthy of God. by the Canaanite war machine, demand instant retreat: “We’ve Suicidal encounter with God The obvious inference from seen their special forces: a was certainly not on Moses’ job both narratives is that God regiment of giants called the description, but once again he intended to annihilate Israel but Nephilim. Very scary indeed! risks his life and hurls himself Moses changed His mind. What We’re like grasshoppers compared between God and the people: does this tell us about God’s to them. They also have the very “Lord, the Egyptians have already government of the world? The latest high tech iron chariots with scared the Canaanites to bits by Biblical evidence suggests that blades bristling from their wheels. giving them a full account of your God has constructed the world in We don’t stand a chance against exploits in Egypt. They’re quaking such a way that He permits people them. RETREAT!” with fear at the prospect of to share His sovereignty and fighting you. What are you saying influence His decisions. Unfortunately, the ten pessi- if you annihilate your people in mists forget one important fact: if Certainly, He could rule the desert? God is on your side your enemy without any co-operation from His The message is clear, Lord: human subjects, but He chooses to their gods scared you off? You include us in His terrestrial said recently that ‘you were slow operations10. to anger, and abounding in Motor manufacturers like Ford steadfast love, forgiving sins and or Toyota design their vehicles for wrongdoing’. Genocide seems to very specific markets and contradict your compassionate purposes. A sports car, for side. Show your extravagant love example, would not be marketed and mercy by forgiving the as a family saloon. Engine capacity people.” and fuel type and consumption Then the Lord said, are also determined by the car’s “I do forgive just as you have function. The designers restrict asked.” themselves to the parameters of Numbers 14:20 [NRSV] their design: a diesel car will not run on petrol; a 1000 cc mini will Here we have a dilemma! How not be able to haul heavy freight. can a God who knows everything doesn’t stand a chance. Typically,

76 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 76 The spies share news of the promised land. ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Changeless God in a Changing World - Part One

Similarly, God, as our Creator, What does this teach us? Through After his death in 1880, Horatio has deliberately restricted himself prayer, we have the capacity to and Anna decided to leave to His design. This is the only way change the mind of the changeless American and found a Christian to make sense of Moses’ God. He transforms our simple utopian community in Jerusalem. experience. God permits Moses to requests into the edicts of His In an old part of the city which step between himself and Israel purpose. became known as the ‘American and change His mind. One fact, 3. How Do We Discover Our colony’, they cared for the poor, however, needs to be clearly Security in God? sick and orphans. Swedish established: novelist, Selma Ottiliana Lovisa Having attempted to define Lagerloff, described this colony in Moses is Able to Change God’s what is meant by the ‘changeless- her two volume Nobel Mind But Not His Character. ness’ of God, we must now reflect Prizewinner, “Jerusalem.” God always acts in harmony on the practical consequences. with himself. On both occasions, Does God’s changelessness make God’s kingdom is not an Moses appeals to God’s mercy, any difference to our lives? It underground fallout shelter that integrity and consistency. He may certainly did to Horatio and Anna protects us from all the difficulties argue with God in an attempt to Spafford. Without the certainty of and tribulations of life. On the deter His judgment, but he does the Rock beneath their feet, they contrary, God trains his crack SAS so, on the basis of his knowledge would never have been able to regiments on the battlefield. It is and experience of His character. cope with the sorrow and loss of here that He develops our faith, tenacity, courage and character. God, in turn, shows that His all their children. Faith in a friendship with Moses is not changeless God gave them the What resources do we have in contrived but congruent: He strength to go on. God to cope with the blurring, listens to him, respects and Returning to Chicago, Anna nauseous speed of change? When reviews his arguments, and gave birth to three more children. we’re pummelled by blows and decides to rescind His judgement Their second son, christened knocked down, where do we find in favour of mercy. Horatio after his brother, also died the strength to clamber from the canvass and continue the fight? Moses has averted holocaust. of scarlet fever. Sorry, there are no formulaic answers to these questions. Empathy is often more important to the sufferer than religious clichés. What I will attempt to do, however, is to describe some of our securities in God. These give us the resilience to cope with the vicissitudes of life without caving in. [END] ------We’ll continue Part 2 of this article in the December 2017/ February 2018 issue of SPAG Magazine, where we’ll discuss the first three of our seven securities of life in God; and the final section (Part 3) in the March-May 2018 issue, we’ll finish by discussing the final “God has made an upright way; the promise of the Eternal rings true; He stands and four of our seven securities of life in shields all who hide in Him. Who is the True God except the Eternal One? Who God. stands like a rock except our God?” 2 Samuel 22:31-32 ------

77 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 77 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Changeless God in a Changing World - Part One & Tantalising Trivia

Biography: number of different genres: science fiction, some of the negative effects and the ‘dark Andrew Brandon is the Director of fantasy, comedy, musical theatre, side’ of family life. In the following decades CWEST, a mission and media charity, and historical, romantic, Westerns, action and the family was not just under attack from academic writers - social changes seemed to the Creative Director of Gladius Pictures topical. be undermining traditional families. Rising Ltd. He has worked internationally as an He has recently completed a divorce rates, cohabitation before marriage, evangelist and itinerant Bible teacher, but groundbreaking twenty episode TV series and increasing numbers of single parent in recent years has been writing for that combines two parallel narratives: a families and single person households, and theatre, film and documentaries. His First Century action e pic and a Twenty- other trends have all suggested that most recent film, 'Parallel City', is First Century family saga. The individuals may be basing their lives less and less around conventional family life’ currently on the international film festival interconnected stories race towards a circuit and is beginning to pick up award (Haralambos and Holborn, Sociology totally unexpected climax. Brandon's (Themes and Perspectives), p503). nominations. aphorism, "If the imagination doesn't 7 Alvin Toffler, Future Shock, Pan, London, Andrew is an itinerant Christian move it stagnates," defines his approach to 1975, p19 minister with literary and creative talents. his art. 8 Platonism, Neo-Platonism and Aristotelian- He is a writer, playwright, broadcaster, He is the creative powerhouse behind ism influenced the formation of Christian presenter and an 'imaginer' and Gladius and is responsible for the theology. Platonism and neoPlatonism screenplay writer for film, TV and radio. company's motto: 'Excellence without influenced the formation of early Christian His work is characterised by ethical, Compromise'. He is a professional with theology and the mystical theologies of the philosophical, psychological and spiritual high professional standards. Andrew has Medieval period. Aristotelariniasm influ- enced Thomas Aquinas and Medieval themes. Forty years of work in a mosaic of never missed a writer's deadline. cultures has given his writing an Scholasticism and also Calvin and the As creative director, Brandon mentors theological tradition he established called internationalism and a marvellous collage and inspires other artists, most of whom ‘Calvinism’. of perspectives. He has written for theatre come from the UK's ethnic minorities. He 9 2 Samuel 22:2. 47; 23:2; Psalm 18:2; 28:1; and in film in Europe and India and is lives and breathes diversity. Change 31:2, 3; 42:9; 62:2, 7;71:3; 78:25; 89:26; 92:15; also an accomplished lyricist. stimulates him. He is happiest when he's 94:22; 95:1; Habakkuk 1:12 Andrew learnt his craft in a combat in transit through London's diverse ethnic 10 Isaiah 38; Amos 7:1-6 zone. For almost two decades, he was in worlds, drawing his inspiration from the Bibliography: demand as a storyteller in Britain's city's melting pot of cultures. [NIV] Holy Bible, New International toughest inner city schools. With only his In his spare time, he reads, writes Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, stories and a flair for performance, he poetry, weight trains, treks and cycle - 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All subdued some of the most unruly pupils camps across countries and continents. rights reserved worldwide. in the U.K. The experience taught him an For his last documentary, 'Epic Journey: [NRSV] New Revised Standard Version important lesson: a brilliant narrative, Seven Ancient Churches', he cycle - Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of credible characters and gripping action camped from London to Istanbul. Christian Education of the National Council of are the essential components in the Churches of Christ in the United States of storytelling. ------America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. He learnt to mix genres, combining Notes: comedy, tragedy, action and intrigue. 1 Horatio’s Spafford’s comment on learning Brandon, Andrew, 2009, Burnt Oak Christian Fellowship: Changeless God in a These lessons have been transferred to his of his family tragedy. 2 John 15:18-25; 16:33; Romans 5:3-5; 1 Changing World, available: www.bocf.org.uk/ work in film, theatre and radio. Multiple pdf/Sermons/Changeless%20God%20in%20a%2 award winning Indian film and theatre Corinthians 4:8-13; 2 Corinthians 1:3-11; 4:7- 12; 6:3-10; 11:16-33; James 1:2-4, 12; 1 Peter 0Changing%20World%20-%20Andrew%20 director, Etienne Coutinho, remarks, Brandon.pdf, accessed 28/03/17. 1:3-9; 2:21-23; 3:17-18; 4:12-19). “Brandon combines creative brilliance and 3 Michio Kaku is the Henry Semat Professor accessibility with an academic's commit- ☬ of Theoretical Physics at the City College of ment to meticulous research. He is a New York. magical storyteller with an intuitive 4 Michio Kaku, Visions (How Science will understanding of human character. He's Revolutionise the Twenty First Century), impossible to categorise, a creative Oxford University Press, 1998, p4. gymnast who somersaults from one genre 5 Mark Dery, Escape Velocity, Hodder and In November 1960 the Cuban to another, approaching his material from Stoughton, 1996, p4.) government gave a cow an official original and unusual perspectives. He has 6 ‘The family has often been regarded as the funeral as the victim of “imper- the rare gift for comedy and tragedy. cornerstone of society. In pre-modern and ialist aggression”. It seems that an "Neutralise their defenses with humour," modern societies alike it has been seen as he quips, "and you can slide a knife the most basic unit of social organisation American rocket launched from between their ribs." Brandon's an artist and one which carries out vital tasks such Cape Canaveral in Florida, USA with a dangerous edge.” as socialising children… From the 1960s, an accidentally killed the cow in increasing number of critical thinkers began Andrew's writing includes theatre and to question the assumption that the family Cuba after the rocket went off pantomime for children and adult theatre was necessarily a beneficial institution. course. and film as well as documentaries. He Feminists, Marxists and critical psycho- defies stereotyping and has written in a logists began to highlight what they saw as

78 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 78 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Up Close and Personal with Wildlife: Loggerhead Seat Turtle Up Close and Personal with Wildlife ~ Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) ~

Averaging 90cm in size as an adult and weighing around 135kg, the Loggerhead Sea Turtle is found in waters around the globe. They are the world's largest hard-shelled turtle with the biggest found reaching a massive 450kg. Their shells are usually a red- brown colour, while their skin tone can range from brown to yellow. They live to between 47 and 67 years, and until adulthood, are vulnerable to many larger creatures such as sharks. some countries such as Mexico where In the water, it is the female that is Listed as endangered, the there is little enforcement of the laws, most aggressive of the species, Loggerhead Sea Turtle is protected they still remain a popular food- usually with two fighting over under the International Union for the source. feeding grounds. Conservation of Nature. There are various important The loggerhead is an omnivore Vulnerable to drowning in fishing nesting areas around the world and feeds on bottom-dwelling trawler nets and becoming entangled including Oman on the Arabian invertebrates which it can easily tear in fishing gear, efforts have been put Peninsula and Western Australia in apart with its powerful jaws. into place to limit their impact on the the Indian Ocean; Japan and Eastern Other foods include sea anemones, turtles, but introduced predatory Australia and particularly the Great barnacles, sponges, corals, sea species (such as the red fox in Barrier Reef in the Pacific Ocean; and urchins, starfish, fish and sea Australia) have also contributed to a the south-eastern coast of North cucumbers. They have also been decline in the survival of their America and the Gulf of Mexico in the known to consume hatchling turtles hatchlings. Another impact has been Atlantic Ocean. including their own species. [END] the reduction in numbers of nesting Behind the turtle’s eye is the ------beaches as more land is used up for lachrymal gland which allows it to Bibliography: dwellings. secrete excess salt, and when on land No name, undated, Wikipedia: “Loggerhead While once a popular food source Sea Turtle,” available: www.en.wikipedia.org/ this has led to the misconception that across the world, because of world- wiki/Loggerhead_sea_turtle accessed 15/12/1 they are crying. It is usually the wide legislation, consumption of females who are found on land when turtle meat and eggs has declined. In building a nest for their eggs. ☬

79 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 79 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ It’s Not About Being Right It’s Not About Being Right by Cheryl debates, racial relations, and “my ‘correct’ one. McGrath denomination is better than your In theory, we’ve got more denomination” type content. In Press Service information on the web, but it can one week, for example, plenty of International easily become less if we only people debated about Muslim Introduction subscribe to sites that happen to beliefs and whether the Koran be in tune with our own opinion – There’s an adage about the condones terrorism. whether it’s politics, philosophy, internet: These may all be worthy topics faith or whatever it might be. “Don’t read the comments.” to discuss – but how we disagree Without realising it, it’s all too I should probably listen to that with others as Christ-followers easy to end up in our own silo – advice more often. makes a world of difference. with no frame of reference for how It’s an unfortunate truth that, in When we disagree online or non-Christian friends see the the comments section of any elsewhere, here are some areas we world. This is why it’s important website or post, you’re most likely should keep in mind. to read widely and critically on going to be confronted with Social Media Doesn’t Help Us topics that matter. immaturity and prejudice that We can get too used to hearing More Than One Opinion Can be make you feel uncomfortable to be only our own worldview – a Valid a fellow human. phenomenon which is increas- Sometimes our politics and our What’s even more unfortunate ingly common with the rise of faith can be so intertwined that we is that Christians are not immune social media. We may be more think they’re interchangeable. But from this kind of behaviour, biased than we realise. it’s still important to ask ourselves especially around hot button At a Christian media if we’re disagreeing based on the topics. At least once a week, I see conference, an editor from a high- Bible, or just on our own opinion situations like Christians arguing profile Christian news outlet (or that of other Christians around back and forth with non- commented, “On the internet, we us). Christians (and even other live in our own little worlds.” In the last election (in Christians) on topics like feminism Australia) for example, I or gender roles. By definition, our worldview on the internet is filtered and remember seeing articles on why There’s no shortage of topics selected. You pick and choose voting for the Greens was, and that can provoke this kind of your friends and pages you follow was not the Christian thing to do. division: same-sex marriage, on Facebook, and you’ll see Disagreements like this are not female ordination in churches, updates based on what you’re always a matter of right and sexual orientation, political interested in, thanks to algorithms wrong. Each one of us carries bias that aim to please1. that we may not even be aware of With more and more – whether it’s from our people getting their upbringing, our culture, or other news exclusively experiences. from Facebook2 we We also should seek wisdom can easily be wherever it may be found, even reinforced in with someone that we disagree thinking that our with. We need to keep humble view of life is the and ask ourselves if we’re

80 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 80 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ It’s Not About Being Right disagreeing on the basis of human that we should gently engage and When we disagree, here are a opinion, or on the basis of the build relationships with those who few questions to ask ourselves: Bible. (This is where going back to don’t agree with us: - Are we hearing other sides of the Bible is essential.) “Again I say, don’t get the story, even if we don’t I love the quote from Aristotle, involved in foolish, ignorant agree with them? which says: “It’s the mark of an arguments that only start fights. A - Is our disagreement based on educated mind to entertain a servant of the Lord must not the Bible, or our own opinion? thought without accepting it.” quarrel but must be kind to (Read up and research.) everyone, be able to teach, and be Even if we conclude that we - Are we speaking in a way to patient with difficult people. still don’t agree, it’s an important benefit the person we’re Gently instruct those who oppose part of faith to tackle issues with speaking to, or to prove the truth. Perhaps God will change discernment. ourselves ‘right’? those people’s hearts, and they will Change of Mind Begins with the Let’s keep an eye on how we learn the truth.” Heart respond to others, whatever the 2 Timothy 2:23-25 [NLT] I’ve concluded that getting into forum, and, even as we disagree, Is this what we see around us? heated debates in places like maintain our gentleness and grace. Too often, we can forget in the Facebook is the digital equivalent [END] heat of the argument that no-one of standing in public preaching at ------wins when an argument is fought the top of your lungs. It’s not Biography: solely on the basis of being inherently wrong necessarily, but Cheryl McGrath is a communications “right”. it’s not very effective. professional at the Christian mission Chances are, when the two organisation CMS Victoria. She has a You may mean well – a background in editing and publishing, parties come away, no-one wins, percentage of the time, it may and lives in Melbourne. no-one is edified, and both are even speak to someone who’s Cheryl McGrath's previous articles may pushed further into their be viewed at www.pressserviceinter listening – but nine times out of respective silos. It becomes a national.org/ cheryl-mcgrath.html ten, it changes no-one’s mind. matter of pride, rather than a ------Why? Because there’s no Bibliography: matter of heart. relationship. The Bible advises 1. Chamorro-Premuzic, Tomas, 13 May 2014, So let’s be mindful that proving The Guardian: How the web distorts reality and impairs our judgement skills, available: ourselves right isn’t important www.theguardian.com/media-network/media- compared to graciously speaking network-blog/2014/may/13/internet- truth. After all, we have the confirmation-bias, accessed 28/06/17 2. Liddy, Matt, 16 June 2015, ABC News: responsibility to be good Australians don't trust the news - except when representatives of what we believe it comes from their favourite sources, available: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06- so “...that it may benefit those who 16/australians-digital-news-trust/6548232, accessed 8/06/17 listen” Ephesians 4:29 [NIV]. McGrath, Cheryl, undated, Christian Today: It’s Disagreeing Well Not About Being Right, available: www.christiantoday.com.au/news/its-not- I don’t think we should shy about-being-right.html, accessed 28/06/17 away from stating what we [NLT] Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House believe. But, like Paul said in Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale Ephesians, we need to speak the House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. truth in love. We need to treat our [NIV] Holy Bible, New International Version®, disagreements as gospel oppor- NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 tunities, not as a forum for us to by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. prove that we’re correct. ☬

81 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 81 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Letter to a New Christian Letter to a New Christian

Christians are often accused of by Lori Yanez being too serious, and don’t get me wrong we tend to be, but there

is more humour, joy, laughter and

peace ahead of you than you even

knew was possible. Welcome to the Family! When you gave your heart to Jesus, as He accepted it, His touch I am so thrilled for you! changed you in a fundamental A wonderful, challenging and and profound way. His grace exciting adventure lies before you. cleansed your soul and as such I imagine that you might be you are worthy of respect and wondering what comes next. love, and I won’t make light of Perhaps you’ve received a such a wondrous gift. That’s what pamphlet that walks you through you are now, a precious gift God what you might expect or maybe has given to the world. The gift: forgiveness of sins, adoption into someone is taking you by the hand Do you believe and accept that God’s family; eternal life in heaven, and to walk beside you on the God welcomes you as a precious the Holy Spirit who now lives in you beginner’s path. member of His family? It’s true. providing guidance and strength Possibly you are alone, trying Right now, His eyes are upon you, remind yourself that you are to navigate these waters on your His heart is warm and tender God’s chosen child. He has own. I suspect you are excited, towards you. Isn’t that amazing? confirmed your worth and value. and enthusiastic to share your This is your first lesson. He has shown His love for you experiences and just want to get Often, as new Christians, many and prepared a place for you. started on your new life. of us have difficulty reconciling There are consequences how- Some people are, understand- what we were in our past life to ever, that you must now cope with ably, a little nervous and unsure of what we now have become. It’s from your past life. what to do, how to act, or what to not unusual to feel unworthy or say. There are some things I wish I guilty for our past sins. When I was a new Christian, someone told me that the only had known in the beginning that Understand that your past does thing that changed in my life after no one really explained and, so I not define who you are. Your past I accepted Christ as my Saviour, thought I would share them with life is a learning experience for was me. My life was still in you. Perhaps this might help you you to draw upon, but it is not turmoil. None of my circum- along your path to maturity as a who you are now. God chose you stances changed. Christian. as His own. Your First Lesson Becoming a Christian does not He knows and believes in your mean you wave a magic wand and When I began to think about worth. He loves you regardless of everyone lives happily-ever-after. how to write this article I initially your past sins, so much so, that He The difference is that now you thought I would make it a sent Jesus here to prepare a way have God by your side. humorous piece. Humour is, for you to join Him in heaven. frankly, my go-to style. I have a That is how special you are. Let’s face it, most of us come to difficult life at times and find There will be times of self- God when we are too weak to humour goes a long way in doubt and insecurity. These are continue alone. It is only when we relieving stress. However, this is tools the enemy uses against us. realise how weak we truly are that not a humorous conversation. During those challenging times, God’s strength is clearly seen.

82 ~ Issue 9 Jun - Aug 2017 ~ 82 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Letter to a New Christian

Your Second Lesson There are so many lessons to be Him. That list is the foundation of God gives us many tools. The learned, so I encourage you to be our family. first and most important is His sure you are understanding the You can study the Bible alone, word. I encourage you to study context of the chapter and how it with others, and even online. the Bible. Many times, new applies to you in your life. Other people can give insight into Christians are so excited about The Bible has meaning in every passages that you may not finding God they ravenously single word. God warns us comprehend. There is strength in consume the word of God and are severely, many times not to add or those words, wisdom, and under- determined to read the Bible cover take away from His word. But standing. to cover. This is wonderful. how does it apply to you? When you want to ask a However, the Bible can be difficult Historical chapters that tell question, look for answers in to read and understand. who begat whom, ie lists of people many chapters, not just one. Here is your second lesson. A and who was their child, and who Remember, chapters have diff- common mistake is to ask God a was their child’s child etc. These erent meanings based on the story question and randomly open the are fine to overlook at this stage of they are telling. Learn to under- Bible expecting an answer. God your walk as a Christian. You stand the context of the chapter sometimes does provide answers needn’t really worry too much and how it might apply to your that way but more often He about that. Later they may become question. doesn’t. That is like asking a relative. There are many Christians physics professor to explain Understand though, the true asking questions of God. He quantum physics in one word. It importance of those long, seem- provides answers to all of us so doesn’t really work that way. ingly rambling chapters of don’t be surprised if what you’re It is easy to take a single genealogy have tremendous reading doesn’t make sense to passage and misunderstand the significance. That long list is the you. It may be that the answer was meaning without the context of historical record of God’s word, intended for someone else. Keep the entire chapter. You can read passed from one generation to the searching and you will find God’s the same chapter many times and next. These records are the proof response. receive different understandings of His agreement, and commit- So how does His word help each time. ment to His children. with the consequences of your Consider: who was the chapter They show that His word has past life? He teaches us about written for? Was it relaying a stood the test of time. His word finances, redemption, courage, historical foundation? Was it can be traced throughout history hope, strength, marital difficulties, telling a story about God’s for- as unchanged and infallible. It is family problems, health issues and giveness and mercy? Was it giving the testimony of generation after even death. us guidance for daily living? generation that have followed

83 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 83 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Letter to a New Christian

God has given you salvation from the enemy and his anticipated fate for you. The enemy will not take this easily. He will use his own tools to steal away your grace. Fear, doubt, illness, deception and pride are his favourites. He will weave them skilfully throughout your life in an attempt to recover what There is no pain that He has not remainder are somewhere in God has taken from him, (that is experienced. There is no sorrow between. you and your life). He cannot offer comfort for. He is Since I gave my life to God, I He will undermine you at omnipotent, which means He is have known Christians who are every opportunity. The fact is, the most powerful Being both very mature and wise. One of the God has not promised you an easy inside the universe and outside of wisest things I ever learned from life. Actually, He promised the it. He knows everything, sees them is that no matter what our opposite. everything, and is in charge of the age, God will continue to teach It was your parents who overall plan for mankind and this and grow us, whether we’re 18 or decided where you were born and world, from beginning to end. 118! raised, and you were faced with He knows our thoughts, words If you look up to somebody in the consequences of their and actions. There is nothing that your church such as your Pastor decisions. You had no say in the is hidden from Him. He sees and or a church leader, remember that matter but that is just how it is. understands your trials and has they are still growing too and will So too did your ancestors provided us with a how-to manual sometimes make mistakes. Don’t Adam and Eve set in motion the (the Bible) to overcome the be disappointed in them or expect consequence of their sin, challenges that life throws our them to be perfect. There is no orchestrated by the enemy, to be way. point in our lives when we will visited on us even today. God’s Church know it all. We have difficult lives because He has also provided a Keep that in mind if you’re of the choices made by others, and support system - His Church. If ever struggling with a situation or that is just how it is. Sin is loose in you haven’t joined one, I feeling stupid over a dumb the world, as well as within each encourage you to do so. This will mistake. If a person of 118 is still of us, and we must cope with all be your new family. They are learning, then don’t be dis- the ramifications. there to love, help and support couraged when you make a Fear and doubt are often the you. blunder. God loves you so much, first tools to be used by the enemy. that He isn’t content to leave you Your church family can help Right now, you are like an that way. guide you through the new life infant, that is anxious to drive a you’ve accepted. They can help If you continue to allow Mack truck through your new life. you to learn, and show you ways yourself to be guided by His hand But first, you must learn to crawl, to get closer to God. When faced your wisdom will increase with then walk, then run, then ride a with challenges, they are God’s time and experience and in God’s bike, then finally drive a car. first line of defence on your behalf. perfect timing. In that process from crawling to Within your church you will Your Third Lesson driving, you will fall. Then you meet people of all ages and walks Here is your third lesson. will fall again - and again. You of life. Some are young Christians Challenges are coming your way. will fall many times on your path like yourself, others are mature in to maturity as a Christian. That is years and/or wisdom, and the a common experience for every

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does not comprehend that the skinned knee it received when falling is part of the learning process, he just feels the pain of it. Just as we sometimes don’t comprehend that conflict or pain is part of our own learning process. There will be pain, there is no doubt about this truth. When faced with pain, cry out to God. He does hear you. It’s ok to get Christian, but that doesn’t mean Do not allow the enemy to steal angry with God. It’s ok to question that you have failed. your gift from God. It is your Him. Venting to God releases your Perhaps an addiction plagues birthright, not his. Remember own pain. He understands. you or bad habits, or you have your worth to God. God chose Just remember, God is still ongoing family problems. These you, and values you, and God will there, waiting for you and, in time, issues may never seem to end. strengthen you to make it through He will reveal to you the blessing these challenges. You may begin to doubt your hidden within the pain. own strength or question your Deceptive thoughts from Satan Your Final Lesson will sometimes make you wonder faith. That’s not unusual. The final lesson for you to learn why you are faced with trials. A toddler will often fall as he is is prayer. Why does God allow them? The learning to walk, and sometimes enemy would have us believe God When I first became a he is knocked down by an outside is at fault, or uncaring. Christian, I prayed often. But I force in that process. As a parent, didn’t feel comfortable in prayers. As I shared earlier, God did not we tend his wounds, stand him I would listen as others prayed promise us easy lives. He allows back up again and start over. God aloud and felt they knew what challenges because He alone, will do the same for you. they were doing and I didn’t. comprehends the big picture and So, when you fall, backslide, or our part in it. I asked my study group once even if you succumb to tempt- how to pray. I was told it didn’t What we perceive as an ation. Oh well - get up, dust matter. Just talk to God. There is unthinkable evil may be the yourself off and start over again. wisdom in those words. But still, I catalyst for change that God needs Confess your sins to God and ask felt I was missing something. Then to happen in the world or even in for His forgiveness. one day I just asked google, ( Yes, your own life. We simply can’t see Find an accountability partner, google), “How do I pray?” I was the big picture. someone you can talk with about presented with a whole list of your struggles who will encourage Who could imagine the options. changes made to our world and support you through your In frustration, I changed the because one man was cruelly, and temptations. An accountability query to, “What does Jesus say undeservedly tortured and mur- partner can help you start over about how to pray?” Lo and dered on the cross? It was an evil and stay true to your path. behold an answer popped up: the act that saved us all. God uses all Pray daily for strength and Lord’s prayer. things for His purpose and His guidance. Atone for your good will. “Our Father in heaven, hallowed mistakes. be your name. Your kingdom come, Understanding that God uses If you have harmed someone, your will be done, on earth as it is our pain for our own benefit is a ask them for forgiveness and, if in heaven. Give us this day our difficult and challenging concept. possible, attempt to right the daily bread, and forgive us our It does not mean God is uncaring - wrong you committed. debts, as we also have forgiven our it is the basis of faith. A toddler

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Our willingness to accept God’s will and submit to His wisdom is often challenging yet, for us, God expects it. We must learn to follow the example Jesus set for us. Submitting to God’s will is not about submitting like a slave to their master, who submits under threat of punishment or a beating. Submission to God is more like that of a child that wants to stay up late on a school night watching a horror film on television. The child may not understand that the debtors. And lead us not into honour as holy. When Jesus spoke horror film may lead to night- temptation, but deliver us from the words “hallowed be your mares, or that the lack of sleep evil.” name,” He acknowledged God’s deprives them of the ability to Matthew 6:9-13 [ESV] power and holiness to the extent focus and understand the lessons that even His name should be taught in school the next day. I studied this prayer for quite a honoured. while. I often recited it before I As parents, we recognise the prayed. I came to realise that this God created the universe, our threat of these actions and instead is a wonderful example of how to world, our bodies and our spirits. encourage the child to go to bed pray. He infused us with His grace. He regardless of their wants. bestowed upon us the gift of It gives us a guideline to follow God recognises threats eternal salvation. He is due the that may show some insight into unknown to us and asks that we ultimate respect, so our prayers our relationship to God. I began to willingly submit to his superior are one way in which we can formulate my prayers to follow wisdom and knowledge so that show our respect and gratitude by this guideline and have found we may benefit from His guidance honouring His name. tremendous peace in doing so. and not suffer the consequences of ...your kingdom come, your will be these unknown threats. Our Father in heaven done, on earth as it is in heaven ...Give us this day our daily bread First, Jesus reminds us that Then Jesus shows His willing God is our Father as well as His, Next Jesus asks that our needs submission to God’s will. Jesus an important revelation. be met, “Our daily bread”. acknowledges that it is God’s will God knows our needs. He We are His chosen children and on earth as well as heaven, and He is awaiting us in heaven. This knows our desires. He knows our not his own. It may be difficult at is a reminder for when we are wants. But Jesus only asks that our times to accept God’s will rather weak and needing strength. needs be met. This is an important than our own, yet even Jesus knew distinction. When we ask for strength this that God’s will must be accepted There is no harm in asking for portion of the prayer is our and respected. answer that God is our Father and our wants. Even Jesus asked that God is omnipotent, which will lend His strength. He will God take away the cup that was means He is the most powerful, guide us and support us as any his fate. God hears our pleas, but the all-knowing and all-loving our desires are often fleeting and loving Father would for each of God, something so incredible it is His children. ill-considered. far beyond our wildest God knows what is best for us ...hallowed be your name imagination. On the other hand, and will provide what is in our Next, Jesus shows His respect we are bound by ignorance. best interest. I am often amazed at to God. The word hallow means to how grateful I am now that God

86 ~ Issue 9 Jun - Aug 2017 ~ 86 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Letter to a New Christian said “No” to prayers I asked at This is part of our covenant placed first in your life, then He one point or another. (agreement) with God. He is all controls your life, not the enemy. Faith is knowing that our needs powerful and will protect us from Finally, when things get hard, will be provided even when the evil. We may not have the strength think back to that moment when answer is no, and we may have no to resist temptation but God does. you asked Jesus into your heart. idea why. Our challenge is to learn how Remember how it felt to know He Our request may seem to rely upon His strength and was there and accepting your perfectly legitimate to us, but we draw from it. spirit. Focus on the memory of His must consider that God is not only Ask for help, ask for strength, touch as His grace filled your in control of the time, i.e. the past, ask Him to send people to you, spirit. present and future, He is also in ask Him to take away the threat, That moment was sacred. It control of the plan for mankind, ask Him to guide you and finally, was the binding of a permanent, and His plan for you. ask Him to help you to submit to and solemn agreement between ...And forgive us our debts, as we His will, and not your own. you and God. You are His child also have forgiven our debtors Knowing how to pray is and are dearly loved and cherished. Jesus then asks for forgiveness, helpful, but It is the act of prayer while reminding us of our own that is more important. The strength He infused into responsibility to forgive others. Making prayer a habit is one of your spirit, by His own Holy Spirit remains and will help you We have no right to ask from the most beneficial habits you can through anything you may face. God what we are too selfish to cultivate. give to others. We must forgive Often, we begin our Christian “May the God of hope others even as much as seventy lives praying about everything, fill you with all joy and times seven. and then as time goes by we peace in believing, so that That may seem terribly unfair become distracted and prayer sometimes when we come across becomes a response to difficulty by the power of the Holy people who act so poorly towards rather than a daily conversation Spirit you may abound in us or towards those we know and with God. love. You need to remind yourself Again, the enemy is patient and hope.” that God Himself forgave you often waits for this advantage to Romans 15:13 [ESV] when you asked, even though He creep back into our lives. He didn’t have to. sneaks into our lives in ways that Anyone who is repentant, we least suspect and we may not (sorry) and asks our forgiveness, recognise. must receive our forgiveness. You can help avoid this by There is no leeway, there is no scheduling time for God. middle ground, and there is no Determine a time and place harbouring of hidden resentment. dedicated only to Him. Make it What we ask from God, we private and quiet. Keep dis- must learn to give to others as tractions to a minimum even if it well. It may take time and effort, means very early mornings or Welcome to the family! but God will help you, and there is late-night sessions. ------a peace in forgiveness unlike any Keep a list of people you need Bibliography: other. to pray for, problems you need ESV: The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ...And lead us not into temptation, help with, and blessings you are ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a but deliver us from evil. grateful for. publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Finally, Jesus asks that God Check your list daily and add keep us from temptation and to it as needed. When God is ☬ protect us from the enemy.

87 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 87 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Kristie’s Kitchen

LOW-CARB RECIPES Easy recipes for one or two people, with regular supermarket ingredients. All recipes have been tried and tested, right in Kristie’s Kitchen!

ENTRÉE / APPETISER:: MAIN COURSE:: Chiicken Nuggetts wiitth Tzattziikii Diip ((serves 2--3)) Lemon--crustted Sallmon wiitth Hollllandaiise Sauce Ingredients: ((serves 2))  Chicken nuggets Ingredients: 2 medium chicken breasts  Lemon-crusted salmon 1 tsp white vinegar (or apple cider vinegar) 2 pieces of salmon (skin-on) 3 tbsp salt Rind of 1 lemon 1 cup almond flour Pinch of salt 2 tbsp coconut or olive oil  Hollandaise Sauce ¼ cup low carb mayonnaise or Greek yoghurt 3 egg yolks ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp of black pepper 175g butter  Tzatziki dipping sauce 3 tbsp lemon juice 600g of Lebanese or continental cucumbers*, peeled and Salt and pepper chopped (remove seeds if you wish) Instructions: 500g (2 cups) Greek or natural yoghurt (full-fat)  Lemon-crusted salmon 3 garlic cloves (crushed) Preheat oven to 180C. 2 tsp olive oil Pan fry salmon, skin side down for 5 minutes. Remove 1 tsp ground cumin, ½ tsp salt and pinch of black pepper from pan and place skin-side up in a greased baking tray. Instructions: Sprinkle over a pinch of salt and the lemon rind and bake  Chicken nuggets in the oven at 180C for ten minutes. Cut chicken into nugget-sized portions. Fill a large (While that’s baking, steam some vegetables and put bowl with water and stir in 3 tbsp of salt, then place the aside with a cover to retain the heat.) chicken pieces into the brine for at least ten minutes.  Hollandaise Sauce While the chicken is ‘brining,’ in a small bowl mix the Whisk or blend together the 3 egg yolks, butter, lemon vinegar and the mayonnaise and put to the side. juice and a pinch of salt and pepper. Once mixed, In another small bowl, mix together the almond flour microwave for 30 seconds on high. and ½ tsp of salt and ¼ tsp of black pepper. (Be Remove the salmon from the oven, drizzle the sauce over adventurous and try another seasoning or two.) the top, and serve with vegetables. Dip the chicken pieces one at a time, first in the vinegar ------and mayonnaise mixture and then gently roll each piece Bibliography: No name, undated, www.taste.com.au: cucumber and yoghurt dip, available: www.taste.com.au/recipes/cucumber-yoghurt- into the almond flour mixture until each is well-coated. dip/558fe9c0-814c-4ae9-b66b-bdc83859e031, accessed 29/08/17 Maya (no surname), 8 February 2017, Wholesome Yum: 5-Ingredient Paleo Low Carb Chicken Nuggets (Gluten-Free), Sauté the chicken in the oil for 6-8 minutes until available: www.wholesomeyum.com/recipes/paleo-low-carb-chicken-nuggets-gluten-free/, accessed 29/08/17 cooked, turning occasionally. Serve with the tzatziki dipping sauce.  Tzatziki (Dipping Sauce) Using the coarse side of a grater, grate the cucumber and mix with a pinch of salt. Then press it into a sieve to remove any excess moisture. Mix together the yoghurt and remaining ingredients, then blend that together with the cucumber pulp. Serve with the cooked chicken pieces. Note: Dip can be prepared ahead of time - cover and keep in the fridge until required. *FYI: Continental cucumbers are also known as telegraph cucumbers

88 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 88 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Puzzle Page: Names of God Word-search PPaaggee Names of God Word-search While this is not a complete list of the names of God, there are fifty-five here for you to find. Note that if the name consists of more than one word, they will run into each other, ie, without any spaces. The names to find are listed below the puzzle grid.

E N L O H A Y S H A B L O M E S J P H V H X H R Z S A G C P F W Z K R R D A T O O W W Z M V T R G K K R P E P F K M D T X U E A W H Y X A F A T O V W W A S G I D P Y F E F S D I N Z A M I P X G V I J A V I Q E Q I P L B C I E S W R E A T J D A M C W F I P J T N L R N I H L J D I J F I O T D U C K M L X E N L H O A D S W V G K A G J L I C E I R A G E M O D N A A H P L A O L L A Y U H Z G O L Y R N M D M I B G C R I M T E G K D U T D B B F E R D F K I N J N U R F I F E I P C P T H H W T V Y E P O Y I Q R C W R M U R S Z I M N A G X A G R Y H M V X M R O T G S N S W O N O F K Q F K E W J L I K Z S B G D J N O Z W E U E V E U O T V F J P A T M P T I M B X A G V W W J K I R E P E A D O K D S T T H E R O S O D I Y T M W P N O R I T L V B F I N M R A V L L C D Y I N O R R V T T F R T R Z E T F F G G I F H G N X O A T R Z L E E A I P L G O T J D I O H F E O I H R R A Y S O D C O D F H T T M N G J L L R C V X E C O P A N R E F W O T T X I T N W L E N F O M A I T F X E C G M N L E E L D R G D E V N E O M O R F I H G S J G T T O E N R Y P P K S O P H P A M R N S A U P O A L T H F O L E E R O H R Z H T S S I E O S W G S G W R Y S V E I S S H T T F Y A G P B C R W O I O F E W S F P T H E A L M I G H T Y T Q R V U H C I A T G R S R E O Q F O O P A W I E S L O R D O F L O R D S F I D N M S G O O S N A L O F F H L R M P L S A X I S O V E R E I G N R M L O N I Q I E N A E O C E T O M O O S J D M V H R T R C X V L E U N A M M I J R G G Q E S D J V E P A N E R V N T Z I J F I B R P S E R V A N T Y P J X A T G F Y C F A I Q X E R R I I Y Z R G Z D J A S P H F B G L W W V A H L Y J R O K R O M V K A R Z C Z N V V W H O J R F L T P G N Q J P N X D O A L B X E D V Q R J R M C T I C G D V I T N O H B I W C V I Q V B T U R Z C N D C K S W Q G J X B U P E O K D L T Y D N A C E J L K V H W H B S O C A Q S T W F S W Z P I B X M S S I R S E P N N E B T L R L H C T X N C W O Y D R E F S U N O X Y H Q P B M N X R M I M J C C H E O U O R Z A E I E R D M D H Q X E J I J K K Z T U I D W H O E H J A B Y M T V P U O P E R H N L D I H M U N R R P R I I Q I F N Q G D V U S B C F Z R Y E V D H B R T E R E D E E M E R A R U H N Y B C E Y T H G I M L A D R O L U D O A Z B G R Z I V M D T X L B I Y Q S G V T S N I P U S G S E M E H T I I S X R J Y S I U C V L P R K B N E D V X O F S R N V I V X R M V Y T V D A P O A G I T I G V C P B Y P I C D P C A D F V S M F Q L Z A N E W K M F I Q G N P B O E Y U W D G X T W E D J M U F V T D U O Q F K P G P Z Y H R K T T U X H N B M S Z Q V S Z S O Q Q N M J G H H Q T X G F F N V O A O P W L N C J F E Q V A I E O R X H F U K O V V Q M W E W S P I R I T O F H O L I N E S S Q I U T A I P C A N P U Q T H E D O O R J L F X X V U J C O T H H Q Y Q Q L B W H U N M A G G E Y O V G D W Q V M V E D P W C H G M J I D E N K M S N U H P E E J Z H E A P Y B H H V R X G Z J W O M V H Q S W F E T H V W F P Z K S P O G B P Y C C P V T H H F Q Z M E K S T F C M K W M M C U W E R I S O E E N H R U L E I L G X S F F M Y U D H D T X F U S O V P P F E R C M C Y R X O Q O R M K Z T Q F X Z V Y W W K Z V A W Z Alpha and Omega Consuming Fire Abba Messiah Beloved Son Prince of Peace Ancient of Days Light to the Nations Majesty Most High Bread of God Spirit of Might Rock of Israel Power of the Highest Comforter Potter Cornerstone Lord Almighty Everlasting God Spirit of Holiness Creator Deliverer Dwelling Place Spirit of Grace Faithful Witness Breath of the Almighty Rabbi Redeemer God of Glory Bridegroom Father of Mercies Spirit of Revelation Saviour Fortress Lord of Lords Immanuel Great High Priest Spirit of Wisdom I Am Mediator The Word The Almighty Horn of Salvation The Divine Nature Servant Shepherd Son of Man Loving Kindness King of the Jews The Door King Sovereign Shield True Vine Tower of Strength

89 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 89 Bibliography: ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Next issue; Words of Wisdom; Tantalising Trivia; & Answer to What is it Next quarter’s issue: T a n t a llii s iin g T r ii v iia A b o u t N A S A & S p a c e T r a v e ll 1. During the Apollo expeditions, it was discovered that the moon rings like a gong or a bell when struck. Parts of the second and third stages of Apollo rocket crashed onto the moon and caused the resonating sound. The echo lasted almost an hour on one occasion and up to four hours on another. The scientists were baffled as to why the moon should sound like a bell or a gong when struck. 2. When astronauts were orbiting around the earth, they could see the wakes or paths of ships in the oceans.

3. If you are ever able to visit the Washington Cathedral in the USA, be sure to take a good long look at the stained glass window that is dedicated to scientists and technicians. A tiny slice of moon rock that was brought back by the Apollo astronauts in 1969 is sealed in the window.

4. A young girl by the name of Rebecca Shroeder created an invention and beat NASA to the punch. At the age of ten, Rebecca wanted to be able to write in the dark. She tried different methods including using bioluminescence which is what fireflies emit. Eventually she came to use phosphorescence, which is a substance that glows after being exposed to light. She patented her invention, and with time, continued to improve on it. By the time Rebecca had reached the ripe old age of twelve, she’d created the “Glo-Sheet”, and both NASA and the US Navy became interested in buying her invention. NASA at first they thought that she’d been employed by them at the time when they had been working on a similar project, until they discovered her age.

5. On 10 August 2003, a rather amazing thing happened in outer space. No, there wasn’t a “Praise the Eternal! All you in the heavens, praise new planet discovered or a comet, rather, there was a wedding on the International Space the Eternal; praise Him from the highest places! All Station! Yuri Malenchenko, a Russian cosmonaut arranged to wed his fiancé Ekaterina you, His messengers and His armies in heaven: Dmitriev, who was in Texas. This was the very first ever space wedding! The two praise Him! Sun, moon, and all you brilliant stars above: praise Him! Highest heavens and all you exchanged vows before 200 people via a satellite video hook-up through the Johnson waters above the heavens: praise Him! Space Centre. A life-size cut-out of the cosmonaut was placed next to his bride as his Let all things join together in a concert of praise to stand-in during the ceremony, and as was permitted under Texan law, a friend was the name of the Eternal, for He gave the command permitted to stand in as the cosmonaut’s proxy. The bride wore a traditional white dress and they were created. He put them in their places to and the groom put on a bow-tie with his flight suit. The two had to wait for a further ten stay forever - He declared it so, and it is final.” weeks for Yuri to return from space before they could start their married life together. So Psal m 148:1-6 [VOICE] could we suggest that it was a match made in heaven?

Suggestions for Electronic Daily Devotions: Adults: What is it?  www.worthydevotions.com Did you guess this  www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/encouragement issue’s ‘What is it?’  www.insight.org/resources/devotionals (p12) Answer: it’s a bee Women: known as the  www.joycemeyer.org/Articles/Devotional.aspx Bearded Bee.  www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/girlfriends Bee..autiful!  www.justbetweenus.org/dailydevotionsfor christianwomen Men:  www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/mens-devotional-bible  www.powertochange.com/blogs/experience/ devotional  www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/harvestdaily Seniors:  www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/seniors  www.lightsource.com/devotionals/daily-living-for-seniors  www.christianity.com/devotionals/daily-living-for-seniors  www.hope-fulldevos.com

NB: these links are provided as a suggested resource only. Provision of these in no way suggests that SPAG Magazine endorses these sites or their products, or other materials connected with them, nor does SPAG Magazine vouch for the content of or security of these sites.

90 ~ Issue 10 Sep - Nov 2017 ~ 90 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Next Issue, What Is It Answer, Tantalising Trivia &Words of Wisdom

Karijni National Park Western Australia