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Please purchase gifts or donate online to help support this ministry: www.spagmag.com Single Person Approved by God
Other articles: - Ask the big questions - The cult of violent vegan vigilantism - FICTION SHORT STORY: The Way of Hozho - REST MINISTRIES: When everyone seems to have God’s blessings but you - DIDUNO: ANZAC - Battle of Beersheba - CREATION MINISTRIES: the tragic story of Emma Wolverton … and lots more
Regular Segments: ☬ Letters to Lou ☬ Puzzle Page ☬ Creation Ministries ☬ ☬ Kristie’s Kitchen ☬ Words of Wisdom ☬ Rest Ministries ☬ Open Doors ☬ ☬ Tantalising Trivia ☬ Diduno ☬ Thrifty Tips ☬ What is it? ☬ A quarterly, online magazine for all Christian adults, with a focus on singles. Issue No. 18 Sep-Nov 2019 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Contents CCoonntteennttss
The function of Greatness: Marry the man Win a $50 prize Beauty from ruin The airplane doubt exploring identity who stays (ends 30 October and purpose 2019)
Do Facebook, Barnabas Fund: Ask the big What does it mean The cult of violent The great Google and God’s intervention questions being purged? vegan vigilantism commission is not Twitter censor saves Nigerian optional conservatives? Christian children
Don’t give up The way of Hozho When good things Is masturbation a How to survive happen through sin? cooking for your bad people family
Regular Sections:
Wombat Nutty names: p9 Coloured Hearts p12, p22, p54, Other: p14, p30 p58
Disciples Battle of Lessons from Pay yourself Can you Two Fulani drunk? Beersheba the persecuted first identify this herdsmen find church item? Jesus
When everyone The tragic story The utensils you Spot the Low-carb Keep up to date on seems to have of Emma need to be a difference seafood recipes relevant news God’s blessings Wolverton good cook from across the but you world
2 ~ Issue 18 Sept to Nov 2019 ~ 2
~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Editor’s Letter; SPAG Team and Contact Details SPAG Magazine Staff and Contact Details Vicki Nunn: Editor, Journalist, layout planner & graphic artist
Joseph Kolapudi: Journalist
Liz Gill: Journalist Welcome to SPAG Magazine’s 18th issue Michael Hannett: Journalist Don’t miss out on our 4th birthday giveaways and a chance to win a mystery prize valued at AU$50. The competition ends on Ziri Dafranchi: Journalist 31 October 2019. This competition was organised in the hopes of raising some much-needed finances. More information on the Kristie: Chef competition can be found on page 13 or on our webpage. Lou: SPAG Counsellor (anonymous) We’ve expanded our News Snippets section from this issue which covers various news topics of interest to Christians. We’ll Mail: PO Box 9772, Frenchville, Qld 4701, Australia share those snippets and links to the full articles in our last Email: [email protected] section, which in this issue begins on page 55. It’s quite a number OR of news items, and as we head into what may just be end-time Phone: (+61) 042 44 33 772 (+61) 07 4961 1202 events, these may help to keep you up-to-date and informed Web address: www.spagmag.com about events in developed countries, Israel and around the world. SPAG (Single Person Approved by God) is a free quarterly, online As always, we have lots of terrific articles, and in this issue we magazine for Christians adults, with a focus on singles. While it is based have Mike Frost’s “When good things happen through bad in Australia, it is an international, inter-denominational publication. Our people,” which tackles the question about why God allows sinful threefold aims are: people to be given positions of power on page 45. On page 16, to honour and exalt God; Kurt Mahlburg asks whether social media is censoring to encourage, challenge and inspire all Christian believers, with conservatives such as Christians. Bill Muehlenberg shares “The articles suitable for all Christian adults; and cult of violent vegan vigilantism” on page 28, about the recent to provide Christian singles, Church leaders, married couples and extreme behaviours being seen in vegan circles. Our feature Christian counsellors with some insight into the problems and needs article in this issue is “Marry the man who stays,” by Phylicia of singles who can sometimes feel overlooked or even unwanted in Delta Masonheimer which you can check out on page 11. John their church or Christian community. Wesley Reid delves into the uncomfortable topic of masturbation SUBMISSIONS: on page 48, with which many Christian struggle, but few know Feel free to write to us via our email: [email protected]. how to raise or even discuss with their Pastors and leaders. Please title your email with the relevant section of SPAG or address it to On the subject of uncomfortable topics, may I ask, have you the Editor. You may feel compelled to respond to an article, or you may considered praying for this ministry, such as to meet our like to submit an article* or photo* of your own for consideration. purposes which are: Perhaps you have a question or personal struggle you’d like Lou, SPAG's Counsellor to respond to. to encourage, challenge and inspire our readers; and to honour and exalt God. Please note that any article, photo or other item for publication must be your own original work and not copied from elsewhere.* May I also encourage you to pray that our readership will ADVERTISING: grow, and also for our volunteer team? You can find out more about our team on our website on this link. Thank you - your If you would like to promote your business or major Christian prayer support is greatly appreciated. activity in SPAG, please contact the Editor, Vicki Nunn on email: [email protected] or phone (+61) 042 44 33 772. Information about I understand that like many of us, you probably feel pressured advertising costs can be found on our website (link here) to donate towards many worthwhile causes, but please do consider that even $5 a month can help us financially: Community or non-profit groups are advertised free, though we cannot guarantee that there will always be sufficient space to do so. 30 supporters x $5/month = annual costs ------That’s not too big a challenge is it? Do you have some friends you * By submitting your letter, item, photo or article for inclusion in SPAG, you personally accept all legal responsibility for your submission, and acknowledge that you have not extracted nor copied written or could rope in to form a regular support group? Since we began in photographic or other material from elsewhere that does not belong to you or whose copyright is owned by 2015, we’ve never yet met our annual costs which has led to another. You hereby accept all legal responsibility and exempt SPAG and anyone associated with this magazine from any and all legal consequences and responsibilities. By submitting your letter, item or article around $7,000 coming from my own limited finances, though I’d you are giving your complete approval for SPAG Magazine and anyone associated with it, to freely use it in like to extend my thanks to both Laurie and Steve who donated 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. SPAG agrees not to share your personal details or your contribution enough to allow us pay the annual fee for our post office box and with any other organisation or person not associated with us. some towards computer repairs after its major hissy fit in June. We’re already planning ahead for our next couple of issues, so Singles: we understand that you may feel invisible, overlooked or even if there’s a topic you’d like us to discuss, please let me know. You unwanted in the church. Be assured that your needs, concerns and problems are real. You are not alone, but are part of a vast family of can email us on [email protected]. brothers and sisters. God sees you and your struggles: He knows you I’ll catch up with you next time, as we head into Christmas. and He loves you. The articles here are written to encourage, challenge Warm regards and inspire you, whether single or married. Vicki Nunn (SPAG Editor) ~ I encourage you to share SPAG Magazine with others.~
3 ~ Issue 18 Sept to Nov 2019 ~ 3 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Letters to Lou
Letter 1: I'm ready for marriage … again Five years later you are looking to move on and hope Dear Lou for a better outcome. Dr Phil always comments that the best indicator of future behaviour is past behaviour. I was divorced by the time I was 27. I remember how The time is right for you to do some serious personal selfish I was in those first few years and that I expected to development to prepare you for what might be in your keep on living the way I did when I was single, and my wife future. was hurt and became withdrawn. I know I wasn't a good husband, though we started getting some counselling and I Marriage is about relationship, it is about being best began to understand what I was doing wrong and I tried to friends, it is about making big changes in your life. It is do better. My wife though seemed to want to hold onto her all about seeking how you can edify the other person. hurt and her anger and she would pick faults about the When you stop thinking about yourself and thinking dumbest things. about how you can be a blessing to your life partner - you will start building solid a foundation for your life The thing that really destroyed our marriage was that she faked being a Christian. She knew that was important to me At this point in your life do some serious self in marriage, that my wife would be a Christian and so discovery and evaluation. After that you can think before we got engaged, she said the right words and went to about finding a life partner. church with me, and I was so excited about being in love Lou and getting married, that I didn't see the warning signs. I was really devastated when our marriage fell apart, and I felt terrible guilt about my part in it. It's been five years Letter 2: I'm torn about my partner now I'm a now and I thank God that we didn't have any children Christian because my guilt would be much, much worse. I think I'm Dear Lou ready now to consider getting married again, but I find Before I became a Christian, I lived with my partner for myself hesitating. What if I make a mistake again? How nine years. Neither of us felt the need to get married, though can I tell if someone is genuine or they're just saying the it was something we talked about doing in the future. We right words? I still feel fearful, but I don't want to let it have two kids who are now in grades 2 and 3. run my life any more. So I guess my question is,, how do I I became a Christian just over a year ago, but my husband overcome my fears? has shown no interest in coming to my church, or in Louis learning about Christianity, even though I take the kids to Dear Louis, church with me. After reading and rereading your letter I would Recently I've become convicted that we aren't married and suggest you take a good hard look at your life, to go that I'm living in sin with a non-believer. Does this mean we on a journey of self discovery to help you understand should separate? Our relationship is good and my partner is what makes you tick, and then bring significant a good man, and a great father to our kids. I'm worried how change into who you are as a person. this will affect the kids, if we separate. You give a lot of your thinking away in the first I'm confused and not sure what to do now. paragraph. You were a selfish person living how you Jennifer wanted to live in your marriage and then when that Dear Jennifer, didn’t work you tried counselling. That apparently Nine years ago you made a commitment to live with stopped because your wife was angry with you. Your a man in a permanent relationship. You might not have thinking now says “I tried, but it hasn’t changed, so it had a lavish wedding but you made a decision to be is my wife’s problem.” The blame game continues one together. Separation is not an issue for you because when you say that the reason your marriage fell apart you are already a family unit. was because she faked being a Christian. Congratulations on your decision to become a The problem as I see it is this. You went into a Christian. Christ always makes a massive change in marriage with a very selfish attitude and when things your life. Now your role is to pray for your partner and weren’t working out you sort to take the high road so your children that they too will come to know Christ. you could find someone to blame for your problems.
4 ~ Issue 18 Sept to Nov 2019 ~ 4 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Letters to Lou
Just over 12 months ago, I don’t think you would about what others think? If I'm not sinning, then anyone have been interested in church. You became a talking about me is really just gossiping aren't they? Christian and now expect him to want what you have. Should I be concerned about how this situation appears? Your role now is to love him and show him Christ’s The ridiculous thing is nowadays, there are tongues that love through the way you live your life. You will wag when 2 women live together cause people think we're make more impact through showing true love rather lesbians, so it doesn't matter what I do, people are going to than setting in place a whole new set of rules. talk. Should I seriously reconsider this arrangement? Be gracious. In his world at present, he sees what Kym you have become, and possibly sees the church now Dear Kym as competing for your time and love. This is why you No matter what you do there will be people who have a massive responsibility to be Jesus in your find fault, and there will always be people who family and hopefully in due course enjoy the blessing judge the motives of others without any justification of a Christian partner. Be the best example you can be or truth. When you make any major decision in life of a loving, Christian woman, pray for your partner, make sure you have God’s peace in your heart. and see God go to work. I know there are some women who would never Somewhere down the track you can make plans have a male as a flat mate and for others this is not with your partner about becoming a married couple. even an issue. In this day and age where there is so God will bless you on your journey. much violence against women, I think there is Lou wisdom in having a male with you for a little bit extra security. Letter 3: Will it be ok to have a male flatmate? You know your standards and you maintain your Dear Lou integrity and live according to God’s standards for you. When you do this, you are not allowing your I've been renting for years and always shared with a life to be directed by the whims, attitudes and gossip female flatmate. After my last flatmate moved out, I from other people. advertised the room vacancy, and had several calls, and while some women sounded ok on the phone, there were Stick to your decision and enjoy your several reasons why none of them were suitable. accommodation and the people who share it with you. I’d advertised for a female flatmate, so I was surprised to receive a phone-call from a younger man in his late When I read your letter, I thought of old Joe who twenties. He was desperate for a furnished flat as the house was a new Christian. One day he had parked his old he'd been living in had burned down along with his ute not far from the only hotel in his town as he went furniture and other belongings. about his business. Martha the church gossip, saw the ute there and promptly told people in the church Initially I just automatically thought, "No, sharing with that Joe was seen drinking at the hotel. Joe was a man might cause some tongue-wagging in my church." I confronted with this gossip but he did not say a said I'd think about it and get back to him. Knowing he was thing. That night he parked his ute outside Martha’s couch-surfing with friends, I knew he needed a quick house early in the decision. I checked with the real estate where he'd rented evening then came before and they confirmed he'd been a good tenant, and kept back and picked it up the house clean and tidy. the next day. So I offered him the room, and he came and inspected the I like old Joe! flat and we talked for a bit, then he moved in the following day. Kym, I hope enjoy your home and your Now, I'm concerned about how this will look to my living arrangements. church and family. Anyone who knows me well, knows that I'm celibate and trusts me, but should I really be concerned Lou
5 ~ Issue 18 Sept to Nov 2019 ~ 5 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ The Function of Doubt The Function of Doubt
by Roden Meares into our hearts so perfectly, and Press Services International lovingly point out our flaws. Once we hear and obey we will One of the biggest tragedies notice that these doubts that once that we can hear about is people seemed petrifying, have now led falling away from the faith. It’s a us closer and deeper into our kind of reverse testimony where relationship with God. people fall out of love with God. I’m sure many of us have heard a New Approach story like this. A lot of the times it In Tim Keller’s book, “The happens when people finish high Reason for God,” he suggests a school and enter the real world. new way to look at doubt. He Maybe it is sparked by a friend suggests “…a faith without doubt that probes with fundamental is like a human body without any questions about their beliefs. antibodies in it.” He suggests that Maybe people dismiss God people who don’t wrestle with because of a painful tragedy. What objections will be left defenceless against smart sceptics or against all these stories have in common is What the Bible tells us that they start with seeds of doubt. tragedy. Yes, doubts have a function, These seeds of doubt then go So too the body, if without any but yes, doubts are from the on to morph into a plant of antibodies, is left completely enemy: unbelief. susceptible to disease. “Now the serpent was more Discreditation Wrestle crafty than any of the wild animals Because of all these stories, I Dealing with doubts, for some the LORD God had made. He said believe we internalise a mentality of us, can quite possibly be the to the woman, “Did God really say completely discrediting the most challenging thing we are you must not eat the fruit from usefulness of doubts. We think we going to go through. They hit us any of the trees in the garden?” shouldn’t have them, and if we do, where it hurts. Even if we are Genesis 3:1 [NIV] we are doing something wrong. scared and in pain, the best thing This is how the devil operated to do is to run towards the roar. I It’s not a shameful thing to in the garden, and this is how he believe the people who fall away have doubts. We should never operates today. But I believe in a from God leave doubts hide them. There’s no need to God who is so supreme and unaddressed. We ought to chase panic. All it means is that God sovereign that He can use evil for them, pursue them into the wants to grow your foundation, so His purposes. As illustrated ground. your faith will be even stronger, several chapters later with the life even more rigid when dealing Doubts beg for a dose of truth. of Joseph: with spiritual attacks. They plead to be addressed so “You intended to harm me, but they don’t transform into The Function God intended it for good to something ugly. When we do Doubts serve as the signposts accomplish what is now being wrestle with our doubts we can of weakness in a foundation. done, the saving of many lives.” have confidence that we will find Nobody is wise enough to Genesis 50:20 [NIV] truth. The truth is out there. In examine themselves internally and every layer of reality, however Doubts have a function because identify their own weaknesses. We you cut it, God is evident. The our God is that powerful. He is so need something objective. Rightly deeper we dig, the more truth we aggressively benevolent that He so, we follow a God who can peer find.
6 ~ Issue 18 Sept to Nov 2019 ~ 6 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ The Function of Doubt & Up Close and Personal with Wildlife: Wombat Up Close and Personal
With Wildlife:
~ Wombat ~
Wombats are four-legged, between eight
muscular Australian marsupials and fourteen about 1m in length, and have small, days to com- stubby tails. The three existing pletely digest species adapt well to their environ- their food, ments whether forests, mountains which helps
or grassy plains and are found in them to adapt to harsher environ- south-eastern Australia and Tas- ments where tough food may be the mania, with a small group located only thing available. in Central Queensland. When intruders show up near These mostly nocturnal creatures their burrows, they can be quite dig extensive burrows using their aggressive Usually slow moving, He can create a function out of powerful claws and front teeth. they can put on bursts of speed up evil. They’re different to other Australian to 40km/h for short periods, when Unmovable marsupials who have pouches, as they want to escape danger. They’re The good news is, that we can the wombat’s pouch is backwards natural enemies include Tasmanian reach a point where no matter the so that as they dig up soil, it won’t devils and dingos, and now dogs. degree of pain or suffering, fill up their pouch and suffocate The wombats tough rear end nothing will topple our faith. No their young. hide and lack of a tail make them amount of tragedy will be able to With their strong stocky bodies, difficult to catch, which gives them forever undercut our belief that they’re known for damaging fences a little more time to dive into their God is real, active and good. that get in their way. Their rodent- burrow and into safety. If a predator like teeth enable them to chew up tries to enter, they can crush the This type of foundation is out tough vegetation including bark, aggressor’s head against the roof of there. The truth is out there. Be roots, plants and grasses. the burrow with their rump, or kick diligent; be prepared; ready a Their colour ranges from black to them with their powerful rear legs. defence against an imminent grey and the three species weigh When startled by humans, attack. Pursue your doubts to the between 20 and 35kg wombats have been known to ends of the earth. [END] During spring female wombats charge at them, knocking them ------give birth to just one young, the down. They can also inflict wounds Biography: with their claws and teeth, with one Roden Meares is a student studying young stay in the pouch for up to mental health. He enjoys playing basket- seven months and are fully weaned record of an attack when a wombat ball, reading comics and going to the gym. around fifteen months.. bit through a rubber boot, pants and He has a passion for evangelising and Like koalas, wombats have a thick woollen socks inflicting a helping others in their faith through very slow metabolism. They take wound 2cm deep into the man’s leg. writing. Wombats are now a protected ------Bibliography: species, with the northern hairy- Roden Meares, Feb 2019, Christian Today: nosed wombat listed as endangered.
The Function of Doubt, available: https://christiantoday.com.au/news/the------function-of-doubt.html, accessed 19/03/19 Bibliography: [NIV] New International Version, Holy No name, undated, Wikipedia: Wombat, Bible, New International Version®, NIV® available: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Wombat accessed 15/12/16. Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
7 ~ Issue 18 Sept to Nov 2019 ~ 7 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Greatness: Exploring Identity and Purpose Greatness ~ Exploring Identity and Purpose ~
by Ziri we are all born to be great! Each served the people who appointed Dafranchi life was ordained for greatness - him a leader. So some of today's each life is unique and occasioned ‘great’ men and women are SPAG Journalist for a purpose some aspects which actually corrupt individuals and can only be accomplished by the public servants who have unjustly Not a few people would love to particular person. The mere fact excelled at the expense of others. be great, to be known in history only you can accomplish a for a great or outstanding achieve- Greatness, however, isn't fame particular task ordinarily sets you ment. or fortune. It is my reasoned apart from the rest, making you, opinion that greatness is Sometimes we read of people effectively, a great person. accomplishing the purpose behind who invented transformational Furthermore, the popular our creation and existence. things (e.g. electricity, telephone, concept of greatness is automobiles, aeroplanes, the An illustrative analogy is this: significantly flawed: greatness is internet, etc.) or who achieved rare we enrol in a university to pursue commonly mistaken for fame and feats such as bringing down learning in a particular field after fortune. inglorious regimes (e.g. Apartheid which we are certified - purpose. in today's South Africa) or A person, based on popular If, instead of engaging in effecting significant changes in concept, is deemed great usually if learning so as to obtain a good global or regional social injustice he is a very famous or financially grade, we devote our time (e.g. slavery, colonisation and wealthy individual, and so world pursuing other ventures, which racism) and we somehow wish we leaders, political figures, and the don’t form a part of our original were them. global rich have come to be purpose for enrolling in the regarded as ‘great,’ ironically, for We dream of being reported in university, and we graduate with simply having more money than history as someone who did a poor grade, we cannot be said to others or for being elected to something remarkable, only to be be a great scholar even if during serve, regardless of how such awakened by the reality of our our university years we made moneys were acquired or whether mediocrity, or so we think. several achievements in other or not the public servant actually areas. It may surprise you to be told
8 ~ Issue 18 Sept to Nov 2019 ~ 8 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Greatness: Exploring Identity and Purpose; International Awareness Days; & Nutty Names We could've been an influential International Awareness Days member of the Student Union, an September: indomitable sportsperson or a 5 International Day of Charity; 8 International Literacy Day; famous socialite - none of which 10 World Suicide Prevention Day; 15 International Day of Demo- cracy; 16 International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer; 18 World Water Monitoring Day; was our main purpose for going to 21 International Day of Peace; 25 World pharmacist Day; 26 European Day of Languages; & Inter- national Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons; 27 World Tourism Day; 28 World Rabies university. If we failed to be Day; International Right to Know Day; International Day for Universal Access to Information; & World certified or graduated with a very Maritime Day; 29 World Heart Day; & International Coffee Day; 30 International Translation Day. October: low grade then we have failed, 1 International Day of Older Persons; & World Vegetarian Day; 2 International Day of Non-Violence; simply because the real purpose World Cerebral Palsy Day; & World Habitat Day; 5 World Teachers' Day; 9 World Post Day; 10 World Mental Health Day; & European and World Day Against the Death Penalty; 11 International Day of the for going to the university was to Girl Child; 13 World Thrombosis Day; & International Day for Disaster Reduction; 14 World Standards become certified, ie to acquire a Day; 15 Global Handwashing Day; & World Students' Day; & International Day of Rural Women; 16 National Boss Day (Boss's Day); & World Food Day; 17 International Day for the Eradication of good degree. In this regard, Poverty; 18 World Vasectomy Day; 20 World Osteoporosis Day; & World Statistics Day; 22 International Stuttering Awareness Day; 24 United Nations Day; & World Development Information getting a good grade makes the Day; 27 World Day for Audiovisual Heritage; 28 International Animation Day; 29 World Stroke Day; venture a success. 31 World Cities Day; 1st Monday - World Habitat Day; 1st Friday - World Smile Day; 2nd Thursday - World Sight Day; 2nd Saturday - International Migratory Bird Day. Likewise, if we become the November: 1 World Vegan Day; 2 International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists; 5 World world's richest person but fail in Tsunami Awareness Day; 6 International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in our primary life’s purpose, we War and Armed Conflict; 8 International Day of Radiology; 10 World Science Day for Peace and Development; & World Keratoconus Day; 12 World Pneumonia Day; 13 World Kindness Day; 14 World cannot be rightly great, even if the Diabetes Day; & Children's Day; 15 Day of the Imprisoned Writer; & World COPD Awareness Day; society thinks we are. We become 16 International Day for Tolerance; & World Philosophy Day; 17 International Students Day; & World Prematurity Day; 19 International Journalist's Remembrance Day; World Toilet Day; & International great only by accomplishing t he Men's Day (not all countries); & World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims; 20 Universal Children's Day; 21 World Television Day; & World Hello Day; 25 International Day for the Elimination reasons which occasioned our of Violence against Women; 3rd Thursday - World Philosophy Day; 3rd Sunday - World Day of existence, which usually will Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. impact others in variable degrees SPAG Magazine Vacancies and by so doing ultimately impact (voluntary positions) Nutty Names the world, sometimes unbe- Did your parents saddle you knownst to us. Book-keeper Up to 1 hour/week with a dreadful name? If so, you An irony is that many truly SPAG Magazine is seeking the services of a may feel a little better after great people are unknown, part-time qualified and/or experienced checking out these monikers. Yes, unacknowledged and unsung, but book-keeper, cognisant of Australian tax the following are real names of real requirements and associated paperwork. people, extracted from birth that doesn't matter, so long as they (This position is volunteer-based) records, voting rolls and more: attained true greatness, because Task: manage our books including the the reward for how we lived here standard income, expenditure etc, and seek Threepersons Appleyard; is not remitted here, but given to data on how to become a charity. Zirl D Birge; ------us outside of this world. It is in the Valentine Card; Community Relations Person Neely C Derryberry; hereafter that true greatness is Up to 2 hours/week Anghony Falsetto; revealed and rewarded. Do you have experience in community relations? Are you able to spare up to 2 Urban Flusche; Conclusion hours a week? Hilbert Gitchuway; Let us aspire not to be known Task: manage our public pages including Mrs Ruth Hogwood Harp; or to be seen as ‘great,’ but to do social media and our website, and develop Calamity Iffershort; ideas about how to inexpensively promote the things we are meant for. Let us Rose Larose; our magazine. (This position is volunteer- Perpetua McGurk; not aspire for material wealth but based) Esker New; for the wealth which stems from ------John T Parsnip; impacting the lives of others. Let Presently both of these task fall to our Editor Vicki Nunn, who has neither the Wayland Plaster; us be true to who we are in Christ experience, knowledge nor the time to Brite Rash and why we are here, because in undertake these important tasks. ------Does that sound like you? becoming our true selves we Bibliography: Contact Vicki Nunn via email on Dickson, Paul, 17 December 1998, What's in a achieve greatness. [END] [email protected] or Name? Reflections of an Irrepressible Name Phone: 042 44 33 772 Collector, Publisher: Merriam-Webster Incorpor- ated, Springfield, Massachusetts, ISBN 10: References preferred please. 0877796130
9 ~ Issue 18 Sept to Nov 2019 ~ 9 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ I Wonder as I Wander: Coloured Hearts
~ Coloured Hearts ~ by Liz Gill SPAG Journalist
I’ve been working on a blanket for a friend. It is made up of knitted squares. Each square has the imprint of a heart in the middle of it. I chose this design because I wanted to remind my friend how loved she is. I also chose to knit each square with a different kind of yarn. Initially, I thought this would be a great way to use of some of my leftover bits. But, this blanket has become a bigger project than I originally Sometimes having our hearts There is nothing that we can imagined so I had to go and buy shaped is a painful process. Yet, hide from God. While we can keep extra balls of wool. Most of the the most difficult experiences can others at a distance so that they extra wool I purchased has been produce the most beautiful results. only see what we want them to, random stuff I’ve picked up out of As I look at all of these hearts God sees every little part. He sale bins. that I made, I see that they are all knows our wickedness, our pain, The end result is a crazy mix of different, but the uniqueness is and our brokenness, and yet, He colours and textures. part of what makes each special. loves us. As I was looking at all of these From a distance, the flaws fade Romans 5:8 reminds us: different hearts piling up, I and they are all seen as whole. “God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, couldn’t help but ponder the I know the little imperfections. Christ died for us.” [ESV] reality of our many different I see the things that give each hearts. heart its character, and I love how He loves us in our imperfection Some hearts are perfect and all the variety and individuality and transforms us into something innocent; some hearts are full of make it beautiful. beautiful, wonderful and treas- ured. light and joy; some hearts are In the same way, God sees each misshapen; some are dark; and of our hearts. He knows where Then we are able to rejoice like some are broken. things have not gone right. He the Psalmist and say: As we go through life, our brings all the different colours “I praise you, for I am fearfully hearts are touched, changed, together. He takes all the and wonderfully made. Wonderful scarred and shaped by the things individuals and makes something are your works; my soul knows it we experience, the people we beautiful. very well.” Psalm 139:14 [ESV] interact with, and what we The fact that God knows our believe. hearts can be both terrifying and reassuring.
10 ~ Issue 18 Sept to Nov 2019 ~ 10 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Greatness: Exploring Identity and Purpose; International Awareness Days; & Nutty Names
“In five years it won’t matter if he was cute.”
11 ~ Issue 18 Sept to Nov 2019 ~ 11 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Marry the Man Who Stays Marry the Man Who Stays
by Phylicia kind who sticks through the left standing there. It’s choosing to Delta messy of your soul. stay when you have every reason He’s often overlooked, this to leave. Masonheimer man. You won’t find a micro- The man who stays faithful phone in his hand or a stage when no one is looking – in his In five years it won’t matter if beneath his feet. He may not lead job, in his ministry, in his life – is he was cute. the Bible study or share profound the man who stays with you when It won’t matter if he was well- insights into the Word. Instead, marriage gets hard. dressed, if he said all the right his hands do the work unnoticed, This man doesn’t run from a words, if he was funny or trendy and he stands fight, not so he can or cool. quietly in the back- “…love and win it – but so he The pictures won’t matter. The ground. He leads can win back your “likes,” the status, the #relation- by serving. But he faith are one trust. He stays to ship goals achieved – they’ll just lives profoundly. the end because he be ripples on the surface of a If you move too and the same. values a happy newfound depth. fast you might ending. His glory There is so much relationship miss him. If you’re They cannot isn’t in applause advice out there and I’m just one captivated by the exist apart from and popularity but voice among millions, but if I spotlight you in the quiet assur- could tell you one thing, dear girl, won’t see him in one another.” ance of his faithful it’s this: the shadows. If love. marry the man who stays. you’re looking for a “type” you He’s the man who chooses love Anybody can tell you you’re might never notice he is there. when love means being patient pretty in yoga pants and a messy But he is. and kind – when you deserve bun. You need the rarer kind; the We’re trained to look for the neither patience nor kindness. movers and shakers, the leaders He loves because Christ first and the loud. loved him. We think spiritual leadership Paul warned against being means holding the microphone – “unequally yoked with un- but it’s more about holding the believers,” an admonition many fort. The man who stands on Christian girls question in the principle isn’t en route to throes of attraction. But if there anywhere else; he’s neither ever was reason to follow Paul’s moving nor shaking. He simply command, it is in the necessity of stays. faithfulness. We think of faithfulness as Many a man can say he loves something practiced once we’re you. Many can win and woo with married, but it doesn’t just happen words. And even more can when the rings slip on our hands. persuade you that faith is of little It’s a discipline of the heart that consequence; that love can make begins early. It’s the choice to stick up the difference. with it when things get tough, But love and faith are one and when you’re overlooked, when the same. They cannot exist apart your work is ignored and you’re
12 ~ Issue 18 Sept to Nov 2019 ~ 12 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Marry the Man Who Stays; Words of Wisdom & Competition from one another. God’s love stays. ”Your steadfast love, O Lord, So marry the man whose love Words of Wisdom extends to the heavens, your faith- is like God’s: faithful, eternal, and “According to the teaching fulness to the clouds.” steadfast. This kind of love sticks of the apostle, ‘The husband Psalm 36:5 [ESV] through the hardest moments and is the head of the wife.’ Don’t Staying love isn’t built on buoys you through every storm. emotion. Sometimes it simply It’s a slow love, mundane in its you (women) try to be the exists. But deep beneath its quiet dailyness. But it’s the kind of love head; but you be the neck, existence burns an unquenchable you wake up to every morning then you can turn the head because you can trust that it will fire fuelled by faithfulness. As we whichever way you like.” choose love in unlovely moments still be there. [End] the fire burns brighter and hotter. ------Charles Spurgeon The heat of it warms the heart that Biography: could otherwise grow cold. Phylicia teaches women how to Lasting love is built on the live as overcomers in Christ! In Celebrate staying power of faithfulness. singleness or marriage, work or SPAG Mag’s 4th birthday home, we don't have to live in defeat. It seems too simple, choosing to ~ COMPETITION ~ Join her in learning how to apply stay. It looks easy, but it’s so God's Word and preach the gospel ~ Birthday giveaways ~ incredibly hard. Faithfulness is the with your life! You can find her blog We’ve increased the stock in our online store with very essence of God Himself, who at: www.phyliciadelta. com/ a heap of new keyrings and a small range of strives with the sinner and stays fabulous bookmarks. What great ideas for gifts! ------with the broken even when it Every purchase from our new range of keyrings, Bibliography: hurts. Even when it costs Him will receive an extra charm for free! All purchases Delta Masonheimer, Phylicia, 24 from our online store or donations during this everything. February 2016, Driven Women: Marry the competition, will go into the draw for a mystery 1 Don’t look for a man to Man Who Stays, available: prize valued at AU$50 . https://phyliciamasonheimer. com/marry- Our range of keyrings includes ones for medical “spiritually lead” you; you need a personnel and you can choose extras to go on these. man-stays/, accessed 22/04/19 man spiritually led by God, whose There are keyrings for Christians, plus a couple of [ESV] English Standard Version The faithfulness is the foundation of quirky keyrings like ones for nerds! Holy Bible, ESV® Text Edition: 2016. We still have some stock of our older products every true love. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a including a range of gorgeous earrings. The man led by God is led by publishing ministry of Good News (Please note that due to taxes and costs, and other complications Publishers. with overseas purchases, we cannot offer this competition or purchases God’s love. God’s love is of physical items, outside of Australia at this time.1) unfailing. God’s love is steadfast. All costs include packaging/postage and GST. ~Competition ends 31 October 2019 ~ Why buy or donate? It’s an easy way you can help support this growing ministry and help us pay for ongoing costs. Link to the online shop. Here some examples:
1. For the prize-draw to proceed, a minimum of ten separate purchases by buyers must have been made through our online store between 21 June and 31 October 2019. Each purchase will have equal chances in the draw, ie purchase 2 items, and gain 2 entries into the prize-draw. The winner will be selected at random by an independent person.
13 ~ Issue 18 Sept to Nov 2019 ~ 13 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Beauty from Ruin; The Airplane; and Tantalising Trivia
Beauty from Ruin A father and his young son were walking along one day "Satan loves to take what's beautiful and ruin it. talking about general things when God loves to take what's ruined and the boy asked, “How big is God?” make it beautiful." Unknown It was a difficult question to answer clearly to a young boy with the limited words of our by Michael and whole. language, and as the father Hannett He will make from those pondered how he might respond, SPAG Journalist shattered pieces, a work of art. he noticed a plane in the sky and He will make someone who is asked, “First, let me ask you - how I read that inspirational quote braver than their fears, who has big does that plane look?” and posted it on my social media a courage that overcomes them The boy glanced up and account. I love it because it is so all. replied, “It looks really small.” true. He will bond those pieces After they returned home, the God loves us so much, and together with His great love, that father took his son for a drive to Satan hates that. He wants to cannot be broken, so they will the airport and as they looked out destroy anything that is precious of the large windows near the never shatter again. to God, and he works every day runway, he repeated his earlier to try to tear us down as a result. He will give us His hope for question “How big does that the amazing tomorrow that He He does so by trying to make plane look?” promised so long ago, which will us doubt who we are, to make us “Big! Really big!” the boy said. carry us through the worst hate ourselves. His dad added, “We can storms of life that lie ahead of us. He tries to make us hate each sometimes find it hard to Remember this my friends, other, to get us to tear down one understand just how big God the next time you feel torn apart another. really is, but when we get closer and broken. Remember it, and be and closer to Him, the bigger and He tries to make us afraid, at peace. greater He becomes in our lives.” depressed, ashamed, confused, "The Lord is near to the or he tries to make us sin broken-hearted and saves the outright …anything to bring us crushed in spirit." low. Psalm 34:18 [ESV] Sometimes it leaves us "But He was pierced for our shattered and in pieces, but, God rebellion, crushed for our sins. will not let our story end that He was beaten so we could be way. whole. He was whipped so we If we trust in Him, He will Tantalising Trivia could be healed." take those pieces and make Here’s a rather startling Isaiah 53:5 [NLT] something new and beautiful situation to keep in mind should you happen to visit Minnesota in the USA. At one time in that state, if a man kissed or just hugged a woman in front of her parents, it was considered to be a binding proposal of marriage!
14 ~ Issue 18 Sept to Nov 2019 ~ 14 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Jerusalem Journal: Disciples Drunk?
?Disciples Drunk ירושלים יומן
by Abel Lissnar A local merchant whose store that “everyone who calls on the 3 July 30AD?? was across the road said he and name of the Lord will be ‘saved. ” two customers heard an almighty Then he quoted King David who As I shared in my previous roar, that sounded like a huge had prophesied about the article, Jesus’ followers were windstorm, coming from heaven Messiah, and continued: adamant that their leader had and then fell down upon the place “God raised Jesus from the risen from the dead, so I joined the where the followers were meeting. dead, and we are all witnesses of man claiming to be the risen Jesus The noise had been so loud, this. Now he is exalted to the place of Nazareth, and his disciples who that people from nearby came of highest honour in heaven, at walked to the Mount of Olives. running, including Jews visiting God’s right hand. And the Father, When they reached their from other countries whose first as he had promised, gave him the destination, he spoke to them and language was not Hebrew. Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, then, to my astonishment, rose At the moment the roar came just as you see and hear today. slowly up into the sky and down upon the place where they So let everyone in Israel know disappeared from sight. met, Luke said that tongues of fire for certain that god has made this It was the most incredible instantly appeared and came to Jesus, whom you crucified, to be illusion that I’d ever witnessed, rest upon each of Jesus’ believers. both Lord and Messiah!4” and how he achieved that is still He said that the Holy Spirit had Peter continued preaching, unexplained. I’ve spoken to others come upon them and was urging those there to repent of who perform feats of magic, but absorbed into them. their sins, to turn to God and be they were unable to identify how Instantly they began speaking baptised. He promised too that Jesus’ final trick was accom- in other languages they had never those who did so, including plished. known before. Each of them came gentiles, would receive the gift of After our return journey to outside, speaking in a foreign the Holy Spirit. Jerusalem, I continued occasion- language and those Jews from Witnesses later testified to me, ally meeting with the group where other nations were astonished and that their hearts were touched so sometimes they discussed Jesus’ confused to hear these people that they yearned to know more command to remain in Jerusalem. speaking in their own tongue. about the Messiah, Jesus. Luke, the physician wrote about Others wondered what jibber- This whole Messiah thing the events that had transpired and ish they were speaking, and seems to be me to be getting out of Jesus’ final words: assumed that they were drunk. control. What will they say and do “You will receive power when the Stepping forward Peter next? [END] Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you shouted to the crowd, that they will be my witnesses, telling people weren’t drunk. about me everywhere - in Jerusalem, “No,” he said. “What you see throughout Judea. In Samaria and to was predicted long ago by the 1 the ends of the earth. ” prophet Joel: Jesus’ followers prayed almost In the last days, God says, ‘I constantly, with the group will pour out my Spirit upon all numbering about 120 including people. Your sons and daughters some women, Jesus’ mother and will prophesy. Your young men his brothers. While I wasn’t there will see visions, and your old men on the day of Pentecost, both Luke will dream dreams.2” and witnesses outside, shared He shared more of Joel’s Note: 1,2,3,4 Acts 2 New Living translation what had occurred. prophesy including the promise
15 ~ Issue 18 Sept to Nov 2019 ~ 15 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Do Facebook, Google and Twitter Censor Conservatives? Do Facebook, Google and Twitter Censor Conservatives?
by Kurt Mahlburg Cross + Culture
‘Big tech’ plays a huge and ever-expanding role in our lives. Without a thought, we now trust platforms like Facebook, Google and Twitter to inform us about the latest trends in culture, the products we want, and the news stories that matter. But over the last year or so, evidence has been mounting that big tech is biased. Disgruntled employees are leaving Silicon Valley with stories of systemic prejudice. Organisations have formed, claiming that the companies we trust are using their power to silence conservative1 viewpoints and favour progressive2 ones. Could it All be True? Ultimately I can only speculate of politics - but given Labor’s I first became aware of this about causes, since big tech policy platform this year, I issue not through news stories but companies are tight-lipped about couldn’t in good conscience vote 3 through my own experience. I their techniques. But in May this for them. That’s all. (Read it here. ) began a blog back in 2014. Like year, something ominous happen- This wasn’t the first time I’d many bloggers, I’ve since worked ed. heard of ‘conservative’ content hard to increase my readership A close friend shared one of my being censored, so I decided to do and visibility, relying mostly on articles, only to be told by one of some research. What I discovered Facebook for traffic. I’d been his Facebook friends, “I just about big tech’s track record was seeing great progress - until posted this to a Christian Group worse than I’d imagined. Here’s around a year ago, when my stats Page I am a member of and just a sampling. began to stagnate. received a warning from the Google Fires its First Whistle- Maybe the explanation is Facebook Admin for posting blower - July 2017 inappropriate content.” simple: I’ve become irrelevant. As The first big story begins in mid I’ve pondered this, it seems an What was so evil about my 2017. It centres around Google unlikely reason, given that in the article that it violated Facebook’s employee James Damore4 who same period I’ve had many ‘community standards’? Well, in sent an internal memo highlight- articles published by websites advance of Australia’s federal ing what he called Google’s with readership in the tens of election, I explained that Christian ‘ideological echo chamber’. thousands. values can be found on both sides
16 ~ Issue 18 Sept to Nov 2019 ~ 16 ~ Single Person Approved by God ~ Do Facebook, Google and Twitter Censor Conservatives?
The company, he complained, profit PragerU10 filed a lawsuit In her post, she wrote, “They was guilty of ‘reverse discrimi- against YouTube for what it are banned from Facebook and nation’ against conservatives, claims is unlawful restriction of Instagram for exercising their free white people, and men. In speech.11 speech - while violent jihad response to his complaint, Google PragerU’s videos focus on groups are allowed on these fired him5. America’s founding values, and platforms to spread their mur- Damore is currently pursuing they’ve been viewed online over derous poison… I do not know legal action against the big tech 2.3 billion times. how much longer it giant. But currently over “We are a will be before I am 12 next.” Twitter Allegedly ‘Shadow-Bans’ 100 of their videos political Republicans - July 2018 - or a full ten She was next. percent of their monoculture A year later, it came to light Facebook removed video library - are that’s intolerant that Twitter was using a technique her post, saying that it flagged as called ‘shadow-banning6’ to make of different was a violat