Faithtalk Fall 2014

Jim Daly

President of Focus on the Family

In This Issue

5 Ways to Strengthen Your Marriage PAGE 18

Living Life in HIS Strength Not Just Our Own PAGE 28

How Can I Keep My Family Strong in the Midst of Tragedy and Suffering?

PAGE 34

Pastors & Spouses You’re

invited to our

FALL WATOTO AND YOU Luncheon

Where:

Seasons 52

204 N Westshore Blvd Tampa, FL 33609

When:

Thursday, October 30th, 2014

11:45am- Meet and Greet and Raffle Prize Entry 12:00pm-1:00pm Lunch and Program If your church is looking for an exciting, life-giving ministry to partner with, we recommend Watoto …

You will be engaged, encouraged and transformed by this ministry, which is making a difference in breaking the cycle of children orphaned by war and disease in Uganda.

– Craig Altman, Lead Pastor, Grace Family Church

If pastors are truly kingdom minded, then they're compelled to think globally and to engage in missions that will not only save souls, but will also raise up Godly leaders. Watoto is one of those missions.

– Ed Russo, Lead Pastor, Victorious Life Church

RSVP online by Oct 27th at watotoandyou.eventbrite.com

Dear Friends, I’m delighted you’re reading this edition of FaithTalk Magazine. The pressures of the world surround you but you’re just going to stop and refuel with words of wisdom from spirit-led pastors and teachers you’ll find inside.

It’s so easy to rush through each day and each task. But God urges us to “be still and know that I am God”(Psalm 46:10). So as you read, soak in the knowledge that God loves you just as you are and has a very special plan for you.

For strength between Sundays we know that “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 So also take time today to refuel by hearing God’s wisdom through radio ministries on FaithTalk 570 & 910 WTBN.

BARBARA YODER GENERAL MANAGER 5211 W. Laurel St. Tampa, FL 33607 ph- 813-349-8232 f - 813-639-1272 barb@salemtampa.com www.salemtampa.com www.letstalkfaith.com www.talkradio860.com www.wlssradio.com

If you’re like me, you’ve found strength from the phenomenal programming of Focus on the Family. At some of the most challenging times in my life, Focus on the Family radio programs have either brought me to tears or have me laughing hilariously with teachable moments that gave me the strength to meet a new day.

In this issue our spotlight is on Focus on the Family and its President, Jim Daly who leads their life changing ministries that support and strengthen families in Tampa Bay and around the world. If you haven’t done so lately, take just a minute to go to their website at www.FOTF.com, send them a note of appreciation or check out the life changing resources they have for you or someone you know. Tell your friends to listen to their program everyday on FaithTalk 570 & 910 daily at 2:30 am, 7 am and 7 pm.

I pray that you find encouragement within these pages and when you listen to FaithTalk WTBN. Blessings,

BARBARA J. YODER GENERAL MANAGER Faith Talk 570 & 910 WTBN Tampa Bay’s Christian Talk L E T S TA L K F A I T H . C O M

FA L L 2 0 1 4

|

3

18 9 12 21 23 25 28 31 34

5 Ways to Strengthen Your Marriage

by Jim Daly

WTBN Program Highlights & Schedule How to Trust When You are Troubled?

by Charles Swindoll Put Your Faith in Christ

by Dr. Michael Youssef A Life Changing Lesson in Missing the Point

by John MacArthur Finding God’s Strength in Defense of the Persecuted

by Jay Sekulow Living Life in His Strength Not Just Our Own

by Bill Bunkley

|

25

Courage

by Joni Earecson Tada How Can I Keep My Family Strong in the Midst of Tragedy and Suffering?

by Dennis Reiney

Verse behind the theme for this edition of Faith Talk Magazine He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:29-31 ESV

4

23

F A I T H TA L K 5 7 0 & 9 1 0 W T B N

31

C

www.letstalkfaith.com www.salemtampa.com www.salem.cc

BARBARA YODER barb@salemtampa.com

KENNETH BONNETT kenneth@salemtampa.com

ZULIMAR RODRIGUEZ zuli@salemtampa.com

General Manager BARBARA YODER barb@salemtampa.com

Production Director/Morning Host BILL CARL bcarl@salemtampa.com

General Sales Manager STEVE BALTIMORE steveb@salemtampa.com

The Bill Bunkley Show Host BILL BUNKLEY afternoons@letstalkfaith.com

Marketing/Promotions Director KENNETH BONNETT kenneth@salemtampa.com

The Bill Bunkley Show Producer/ On-Air Studio Engineer HORACE ANDREWS afternoons@letstalkfaith.com

Operations Manager JOE WEAVER jweaver@salemtampa.com Chief Engineer ROBERT HAILEY robert.hailey@salemtampa.com Business/Traffic Director KIMO GRAY kimo@salemtampa.com Office Manager/Human Resources TAMMY BANCROFT tammyb@salemtampa.com Executive Sales Director MERRY BROCKET merryb@salemtampa.com Account Executive (Sarasota) RACHEL KNIPFER rachelsarasota@salemtampa.com

Please contact Zuli Rodriguez by email Zuli@salemtampa. com to be added to the mailing list, report a change of address or to request a bundle of magazines be delivered to your location L E T S TA L K F A I T H . C O M

Sales Assistant LAURA DIEZ laurad@salemtampa.com

The Home Team Host / Account Executive PAUL PORTER paul@salemtampa.com On-Air Studio Engineer/Operations Asst. Mgr. JOSE CRUZ josec@salemtampa.com On-Air Studio Engineer CHRISTIAN GANLEY christiang@salemtampa.com On-Air Studio Engineer REYNALDO DEL VALLE reynaldod@salemtampa.com Traffic Coordinator CINDY SHEFFER cindy@salemtampa.com Promotions Coordinator/On-Air Host CASEY MYRICK cmyrick@salemtampa.com Web/Graphic Project Coordinator ZULIMAR RODRIGUEZ zuli@salemtampa.com

FA L L 2 0 1 4

|

5

On The Cover

In this edition of Faith Talk you’ll have an opportunity to learn more about maximizing your marital potential in Jim Daly’s featured article “Five Ways to Strengthen Your Marriage.” Jim is president and chief executive officer of Focus on the Family, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping families thrive. He’s the host of the ministry’s National Radio Hall of Fame radio broadcast, as well as the author of several books, including his latest, The Good Dad: Becoming the Father You Were Meant to Be. Prior to becoming president, Jim held several other leadership positions within the Focus organization, predominantly in the area of the ministry’s Public Affairs, Marketing, and International efforts.

What’s new at Focus on the Family these days? How much time have you got? At the moment the Focus crew has so much going on that it’s difficult to know where to begin or how 6

|

F A I T H TA L K 5 7 0 & 9 1 0 W T B N

much detail to provide! But the following short list should give you some idea of the scope of the Colorado Springs-based ministry’s ambitious and widereaching endeavors.

•In May 2014 the Focus team released Irreplaceable: The Definitive Story of Family, a documentary film that premiered in select theaters across the country last May. Irreplaceable was designed to serve as an introduction to The Family Project, a DVD-based small group experience that explores the theological, philosophical, and cultural underpinnings of the traditional family, and combines this information with heart-warming stories and practical tools to help 21stcentury families thrive. This series, which is now available for purchase, represents the ministry’s latest effort to provide participants with a hope-filled, optimistic antidote to the current landscape of familial breakdown.

•Meanwhile, preparations are being made for the release of a second documentary. The Drop Box, installment Number Two in Focus’s Reclamation Series, tells the story of Lee Jong-rak, a Pastor in Seoul, Korea who has set up a “drop box” at the front of his church in an attempt to rescue babies who would otherwise be abandoned.

Produced by Will Tober and Bryce Komae and directed by Brian Ivie, The Drop Box paints a moving portrait of a modern day hero and points viewers to the loving God whose heart is always compassionate towards the fatherless. This film is due to hit the big screen in select theaters across the country for a special three-night engagement during the first week of March 2015.

• On another front, Focus on the Family has recently (Spring 2014) taken a giant step forward in the area of strengthening marriages by joining forces with the National Institute of Marriage (NIM).

NIM, a counseling-based outreach that has pioneered

a unique and innovative approach to assisting couples in marital crisis, is now officially part of the Focus organization.

As an international ministry with the capacity to touch more than ten million families across America, Focus hopes to refer tens of thousands of struggling couples to the intensive programs available through NIM. And Focus’s Counseling Department, backed by the ministry’s National Referral Network of trained Christian therapists, is ideally positioned to help NIM provide marital triage while simultaneously strengthening the other two emphases of its comprehensive marriage ministry model: marriage formation and

marriage nurture. It’s easy to see why both entities view the merger as a match made in heaven.

Lots more could be said about the exciting things Focus on the Family is doing to shore up marriages and strengthen the fabric of the family, but we’ll limit ourselves to one final example.

Boundless, the ministry’s Webzine for young adults (Boundless.org), is working hard to push back against the culture and disseminate a new and more biblical way of thinking about dating and marriage among the up-and-coming generation. As part of this effort, Focus hosted the Boundless Pursuit 2014 conference on its Colorado Springs campus from August 7 to 9, 2014. Pursuit

2014 was attended by hundreds of like-minded singles from around the world. Participants agree that it was an unforgettable weekend of mingling, worship, and high-quality teaching from some of today’s top experts on relationships, life, and faith.

We hope this quick introduction to Focus has whetted your appetite not only for the insights Jim has to share in this edition of FaithTalk, but for a closer acquaintance with the ministry as a whole. If you want more information, simply visit the Focus Website at http:// www.focusonthefamily.com/, send them an e-mail at help@ focusonthefamily.com, or give them a call at 1-800-A-FAMILY (1-800-232-6459). They’ll be glad to hear from you!

OUR STRENGTH IS YOUR OUR STRENGTH IS YOUR STRENGTH

STRENGTH

We’llthan put100 more than 100 years of financial experience We’ll put more years of financial experience and stability on the sideand stability of your goals. of your goals.

(Superior)—the highest of 16 ratings—by independent insurance • Rated A++ Rated • Best.1 A++ (Superior)—the highest of 16 ratings—by independ analyst A.M. analyst A.M. Best.1 • $174.4 billion of life insurance in force.2 2 billion life insurance in force.2 • $174.4 in assets under of management.

• $82.2 billion

• $82.2 billion in assets under management.

2 1 As of April 2013. Ratings reflect Thrivent Financial’s overall financial strength and claims-paying ability, but do not apply to the investment performance of investment products.

2 1 2012.

As of Dec. 31, As of April 2013. Ratings reflect Thrivent Financial’s overall financial strength

and claim

but do not apply to the investment performance of investment products.

Hillsborough County Pinellas County 2 As of Dec. 31, 2012.

Pam Markle Hansen

Thrivent Financial was named one of the “World’s Most Ethical Companies” by Ethisphere Institute from 2012–2014.

Deborah S Barnard

ChFC®, CLU®, RICP® FIC Hillsborough County Financial Representative Financial Representative 12551 Indian Rocks Rd, Ste 4 1202 W. Linebaugh Ave Pam Markle Hansen ® Largo, FL 33774 Tampa, FL 33612 ChFC®, CLU®, RICP Office: 727-538-4293 Office: 813-443-5088

Financial Representative Thrivent Financial was named 1202name W. Linebaugh Ave for Lutherans, Insurance products or offered

by Thrivent Financial, the marketing for Thrivent Financial one ofissued the “World’s Most Ethical Appleton, WI. Not Companies” all productsbyare available in all states. Securities and investment advisory services are offered Ethisphere Tampa, FL 33612 through Thrivent Investment Institute fromManagement 2012–2014. Inc., 625 Fourth Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55415, a FINRA and SIPC member Office:are 813-443-5088 and a wholly owned subsidiary of Thrivent. Thrivent Financial representatives registered representatives of Thrivent Investment Management Inc. They are also licensed insurance agents/producers of Thrivent. For additional important information, visit Thrivent.com/disclosures.

FIC Financ 12551 Largo, Office

Insurance products issued or offered by Thrivent Financial, the marketing name for Thrivent Finan Appleton, WI. Not all products are available in all states. Securities and investment advisory serv 26226A R3-14 through Thrivent Investment Management Inc., 625 Fourth Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55415, a FIN and a wholly owned subsidiary of Thrivent. Thrivent Financial representatives are registered repre Investment Management Inc. They are also licensed insurance agents/producers For F A L L 2 0 1 4 of | Thrivent.

7 information, visit Thrivent.com/disclosures.

Appleton, Wisconsin • Minneapolis, Minnesota • Thrivent.com • 800-THRIVENT (800-847-4836)

L E T S TA L K F A I T H . C O M

Pinella Debo

8

|

F A I T H TA L K 5 7 0 & 9 1 0 W T B N

L E T S TA L K F A I T H . C O M

FA L L 2 0 1 4

|

9

LetsTalkFaith.com WTBN MORNINGS WITH BILL CARL WEEKDAYS 12:00 am Hope in the Night with June Hunt

(Tuesday - Friday) 2:00 am Jay Sekulow Live 2:30 am Focus on the Family

with Jim Daly, Juli Slattery, & John Fuller 3:00 am Verse by Verse with Pastor Steve Kreloff 3:30 am In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley 4:00 am Leading The Way with Dr. Michael Youssef 4:30 am Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah 5:00 am Family Life Today with Dennis Rainey 5:30 am Joni and Friends with Joni Eareckson Tada 5:45 am Just Thinking with Ravi Zacharias 6:00 am Verse By Verse with Steve Kreloff 6:30 am Grace To You with John MacArthur 7:00 am Focus on the Family

with Jim Daly, Juli Slattery, & John Fuller 7:30 am Pathway to Victory with Dr. Robert Jeffress 8:00 am Moving Forward with Dr. Stephen Rummage 8:30 am Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah 9:00 am Someone Loves You with Raul Ries 9:30 am Renewing Your Mind with Dr. R.C. Sproul 10:00 am Bibleline with Pastor Ralph “Yankee” Arnold 10:30 am Hope For The Heart with June Hunt 11:00 am In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley 11:30 am Leading The Way with Dr. Michael Youssef 12:00 pm Jay Sekulow Live 12:30 pm Faith In Practice with Dr. A.R. Bernard

WTBN MID-DAYS WITH CASEY BELL 1:00 pm 1:30 pm 2:00 pm 2:30 pm 3:00 pm

Dynamic Life with Pastor Dimas Salaberrios Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah Moving Forward with Dr. Stephen Rummage Watchman on the Wall with Noah Hutchings There’s Hope America with Dr. Richard Lee

WTBN WEEKDAY EVENINGS 4:00 pm 6:00 pm 6:30 pm 7:00 pm 7:30 pm 8:00 pm 8:30 pm 9:00 pm 9:30 pm 10:00 pm 10:30 pm 11:00 pm 11:30 pm

The Bill Bunkley Show Verse by Verse with Pastor Steve Kreloff Pathway to Victory with Dr. Robert Jeffress Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, Juli Slattery, & John Fuller Adventures in Odyssey with Whit & the Gang Bibleline with Ralph “Yankee” Arnold Someone Loves You with Raul Ries In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley Faith In Practice with Dr. A.R. Bernard Moving Forward with Dr. Stephen Rummage Leading The Way with Dr. Michael Youssef Renewing Your Mind with Dr. R.C. Sproul Grace To You with John MacArthur

The Faith Talk 570 & 910 WTBN Program Schedule is subject to change at any time.

Please visit www.letstalkfaith.com for our most up-to-date programming information.

10

|

F A I T H TA L K 5 7 0 & 9 1 0 W T B N

LetsTalkFaith.com WTBN SATURDAYS 12:00 am 2:00 am 2:30 am 3:00 am 3:30 am 4:00 am 4:30 am 5:00 am 5:30 am 7:00 am 7:30 am 8:00 am 9:30 am 10:00 am 10:30 am 11:00 am 1:00 pm 1:30 pm 4:30 pm 5:00 pm 5:30 pm 6:00 pm 9:00 pm 11:00 pm

Hope in the Night with June Hunt Jay Sekulow Weekend Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, Juli Slattery, and John Fuller Verse by Verse with Pastor Steve Kreloff In Touch Weekend Edition with Dr. Charles Stanley Leading the Way with Dr. Michael Youssef Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah Paws & Tales Grace to You with John MacArthur Renewing Your Mind Weekend Edition with Dr. R.C. Sproul Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah Ask An Attorney with Joseph Pippen Jene’s Tropicals with Jene Van Butsel Bibleline with Pastor Ralph “Yankee” Arnold Hope For The Heart with June Hunt For The Fathers Ministry with Fred Myers Exciting Central Tampa Baptist Church with Pastor Jeffrey Singletary Love First Christian Center with Dr. Jomo Cousins This Day in the Word with John Couch The Universe Next Door with Dr. Tom Woodward Townhall Weekend Journal Higher Praise with Pastor Stephen Nunn Baldwin McCullough Live with Kevin McCullough and Steven Baldwin Steve Brown Etc.

WTBN SUNDAYS 12:00 am 1:00 am 2:00 am 2:30 am 3:00 am 3.30 am 4:00 am 4:30 am 5:00 am 6:00 am 7:00 am 7:30 am 8:00 am 8:30 am 9:00 am 9:30 am 10:00 am 10:30 am

In Touch Weekend with Dr. Charles Stanley Focus on the Family Weekend Jay Sekulow Weekend Moving Forward with Dr. Stephen Rummage Verse by Verse with Pastor Steve Kreloff In Touch Weekend with Dr. Charles Stanley Leading the Way with Dr. Michael Youssef Turning Point Weekend with Dr. David Jeremiah The Bill Bunkley Show Weekend Edition Townhall Weekend Journal Family Life This Week with Dennis Rainey Verse by Verse with Pastor Steve Kreloff Renewing Your Mind with Dr. R.C. Sproul Road to Reality with K.P. Yohannan Heart of Messiah with Rabbi Wyler Moving Forward with Dr. Stephen Rummage Bibleline with Pastor Ralph “Yankee” Arnold Grace To You Weekend with John MacArthur

L E T S TA L K F A I T H . C O M

11:00 am 12:00 pm 1:00 pm 2:00 pm 5:00 pm 6:00 pm 6:30 pm 7:00 pm 8:00 pm 9:00 pm 10:00 pm 11:00 pm

Ministry Impact Worship Service Focus on the Family Weekend Ministry Impact Spotlight with Bill Carl The World and Everything in It with Nick Eicher and Joseph Slife Best of Ask An Attorney with Attorney Joe Pippen Leading the Way Weekend with Dr. Michael Youssef Exciting Central Tampa Baptist Church with Pastor Jeffrey Singletary Watchman on the Wall with Noah Hutchings In Touch Weekend with Dr. Charles Stanley Bill Bunkley Weekend Townhall Weekend Journal Late Night with Pastor Al FA L L 2 0 1 4

|

11

y l i am

e m o H

How to Trust When You’re Troubled F

Health

ces an Fin

by Charles R. Swindoll

Some of you are facing what could easily be called an unsolvable problem. It’s you I hope to encourage today. Often the situations with no human answers form the basis upon which God does some of His best work.

This is illustrated beautifully in the life of Job, who, in my opinion, is a living example of unsolvable problems. Job’s biography includes a clipboard full of questions about suffering.

Is God fair? Is this situation just? What is a person to learn when going through deep waters of suffering?

12

|

F A I T H TA L K 5 7 0 & 9 1 0 W T B N

In Job, we have a unique and rare Job—“blameless and upright.”

Job’s life was a wonderful model look within the veil of heaven and of courageous living. Job trusted behind the scenes on earth.

God in the good times. Now the The LORD said to Satan, “From scene was set to determine if Job where do you come?” Then Satan would trust God in humanly answered the LORD and said, impossible situations.

The next chapter of Job’s life “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” The is a dark one. He endured loss LORD said to Satan, “Have you like few have known. His home considered My servant Job? For . . . destroyed. His family . . . there is no one like him on the perished. His health . . . ruined. earth, a blameless and upright man, His finances . . . wiped out. His fearing God and turning away from friends . . . questioned his godly reputation. evil.” (Job 1:7-8) In the long process of working What would God say about you through his questions and if He were to address Satan right struggles, Job finally resolved to now and tell him about your life? trust God—no matter what. He “Have you considered _______,” had worshiped. He had humbled and then He calls your name. As himself. He had sat in silence. he describes you, what would He He finally responded to his wife, say? With some of you, it might fit “I accept what God has sent. I very closely to what He said about have accepted good, now I accept

adversity.” Read that once more. It is the secret of his stability.

I find three real reasons Job could respond like this. First, he looked up and was comforted

by God’s sovereignty. He saw more than God’s actions; he saw His heart. He accepted what God gave and took away. He saw God’s sovereign love, and he said to his wife, “Should we not receive both without question?”

Job also looked ahead and was reminded of God’s promise. In chapter 19, Job said, “I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will take His stand on the earth.” (19:25) Job was reminded of God’s promise that at the end all will be

made right. Looking ahead, he felt spurred on.

Lastly, Job looked within and was shaped by God’s instruction.

Job 42:6 states that he looked at his life, and he repented “in dust and ashes.” He saw that God had instructed him in his suffering and illness as in no other way. He said, in effect, “Lord, for the first time, I honestly can say, ‘I give myself to You as never before.’”

It’s a courageous thing for a believer to give himself to a sovereign God while facing impossible situations. Perhaps that’s exactly what you need to do right now. I recall what a wise and surrendered person once prayed: Lord, I am willing to receive

what Thou givest. I am willing to lack what Thou withholdest. I am willing to relinquish what Thou takest. I am willing to suffer what Thou inflictest. I am willing to be what Thou requirest. Lord, I’m willing.

My friend, if your days have been difficult and nights have been like a tunnel, dark and long, find your comfort in God’s sovereign control and everlasting love.

Your Savior knows your breaking point. The bruising and crushing and melting you are enduring are designed to reshape you, not ruin you. Your strength and courage increase the longer He lingers over you. Remembering Job’s secret can make all the difference.

Charles Swindoll’s Paws and Tails Children Radio Program can be heard Saturday mornings at 5:00 am.

Adapted from Charles R. Swindoll, “How to Trust When You’re Troubled,” Insights (February 2002): 1-2.

Copyright © 2002 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

L E T S TA L K F A I T H . C O M

FA L L 2 0 1 4

|

13

On the Road Again “Word of Life announced in the winter of 2012 that we would no longer be performing the Sights & Sounds of Christmas at the Harry Bollback Performing Arts Center,” says Brandon Arnold of the Music Department in Florida, “but that we would be creating a new show to take on the road.”

That show became Magi...

Brandon’s brother in New York, Ryan Arnold, the Music Coordinator of Word of Life Bible Institute, continues this line of thought, “A big part of that was getting back on the road. We’ve been reaching a lot of the same people every year and we wanted to get Word of Life’s name out on a broader geographical spread.

Because Magi is a long tour, we’re able to travel farther than your typical weekend ministry, and that helps us in

14

|

F A I T H TA L K 5 7 0 & 9 1 0 W T B N

reconnecting with people we used to know and connecting with brand new people.” Recent Gospel Productions have been anchored in the Harry Bollback Performing Arts Center in Florida. Ryan states that with those productions “People come to you, but with Magi you’re able to travel out to what’s home for them. You get to go to their home churches, you have to adapt to where they are, even trying to learn their culture because it’s not

necessarily the same as where you’re from. That was a big part of it, just learning about the people in order to minister well to them in a way that’s appropriate and in a way that they understand.”

In this manner, Magi touches its roots with the older Gospel Production plays - tours like Daniel, Revelation, and Ring the Bells - a touch where “rubber meets the road” in a drive to deliver the Gospel across eastern America. However, though Magi and its ancestors share this nomadic spirit, it is a very different animal. Magi travelled with a much smaller group, about twenty-five people, and had much less equipment in tow. The casting for the show was also different. Whereas in the past staff generally held the main roles, the

entire cast was filled with students.

The differences in Magi were obvious. As it went into production, a question formed in the back of everyone’s mind: Is it too different?

How will audiences respond to something this compact and contemporary compared with the old Gospel Productions? Brandon relates, “Every part of Magi was stressful, because it was all new, and we hadn’t been on the road with a show in over twenty years. We didn’t know if it was going to come together, or if it would be a flop.” When Magi hit the road, Brandon realized his fears were unfounded.

Brandon look like? Ryan gives us an insider’s continues, “Magi far perspective, “Our first actual performance on the road was in Loudonville, NY, one of the biggest surpassed churches that we went to, and it all of our expectations. It was packed. Everybody was super ended up being incredible, pumped. We had practiced a lot, and all the praise goes but there was still that first time to God. Everyone was nervousness. In our opening song, I in for a shock, because mixed up two of the line which didn’t it was unlike anything make sense. So that’s how I started it; we had ever done before. that was a great way to kick off the Moving lights, live music first Magi tour.” Though a line went with a band, more intimate awry, it was a good cause for a laugh setting - it was awesome, and I think backstage.

What defined the show, however, the audiences were taken aback with the professionalism and intimacy was not so much the enthusiasm of this particular show. We received of those producing the play as the many compliments, and I know from general reaction of audiences and observing many tears in the seats that the message portrayed. Ryan affirms, people were moved by the Gospel, “You’ve got an entertainment response and encouraged in their walk with and then a spiritual response. With the entertainment side we have all God.” So what did the first showing these lights and music which cause little kids and adults alike to light up in joy. That was a lot of fun, but obviously the bigger impact is people realizing that they’ve been celebrating Christmas all their lives, but never knew the whole celebration of Christmas, which is…Christ coming on our behalf. Seeing that

transition where everything finally came together for the audience was the best part. Then we’re able to talk to them after the show. That’s really powerful. Sometimes we take it for granted that we know what Christmas is all about, but there are so many people who don’t know. There was one lady, who was seventy-two, that was seating in the front row and nobody saw her, but I saw her raise her hand. She raised it just a little bit, so afterwards I went and talked to her. She said she had heard it her whole life, but that night was when it really made sense. That’s just evidence of the Holy Spirit and what He does the power of God.” Though Magi is smaller and very different than its predecessors it has proven worth through the eternal impact it has made. It has taken one of the most important events inscribed by hand and illustrates the greatest news ever proclaimed by lips of men or angels- that Jesus Christ came to the Earth, humbled Himself to become like men, died for our sins, and then rose from the dead! Brandon reflects, “Magi reminded me, in a very powerful and sweet way, how majestic the birth of this child was, how great His sacrifice, and how precious and significant the tearing of the veil was.

God had provided a way to reconcile us to Himself through the sacrifice of His one and only Son, Jesus.”

FA L L 2 0 1 4

|

15

HOST A

FREE

Watoto Children’s Choir Concert!

“If your church is looking for an exciting, life-giving ministry to partner with, we recommend Watoto, Grace Family Church hosted the Watoto Children's Choir previously and what an incredible impact they made on our church and in our community. You will be engaged, encouraged and transformed by this ministry, which is making a difference in breaking the cycle of children orphaned by war and disease in Uganda. I encourage you to consider how you and your church can support Watoto.”

Craig Altman, Lead Pastor, Grace Family Church

REACH Unchurched People in Your Community INSPIRE Your church to care for the orphan and widow EDUCATE Your people about pressing global issues

16

|

F A I T H TA L K 5 7 0 & 9 1 0 W T B N

April 8, 2014: Woman of the Word Luncheon Featuring Lauren Dungy at A La Carte Event Pavilion - Tampa

May 1, 2014: National Day of Prayer FaithTalk 570& 910 WTBN joined countless others in prayer at Steignbrenner Field for National Day of Prayer and as a special treat we got to see the Flag of the Nations being opened before our eyes.

Aug. 5, 2014: Live Broadcast from Bell Shoals Baptist Church Candidate Forum FaithTalk 570 & 910 WTBN and The Bill Bunkley Show broadcasted live from the Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon as they held a forum for the candidates of the August 26th primary elections.

Aug. 9, 2014: Live Broadcast from Family Christian Store in Brandon FaithTalk 570&910 WTBN partnered with Family Christian Store in Brandon Regency Square to celebrate the release of, one of the most anticipated Christian movies of the year, God’s Not Dead.

L E T S TA L K F A I T H . C O M

FA L L 2 0 1 4

|

17

5

Ways to

STRENGTHEN Your

e g a i r r Ma

By Jim Daly

Terri Orbuch is a psychologist and research professor at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research. She recently identified some of the top common regrets of divorced couples.

Her findings mirror what we hear from people every single day here at Focus on the Family.

“Divorced individuals who step back and say, ‘This is what I’ve done wrong and this is what I will change,’ have something powerful to teach others,” she told the Wall Street Journal.

Here are five things divorced couples regret not having done more of along with a few comments of my own:

1. Boost your spouse’s mood

2. Talk more about money

3. Get over the past

Encouraging and affirming your spouse in very simple ways can go a very long way. One study found that when a husband reported his wife didn’t express love and affection (not necessarily sex) the couple was twice as likely to divorce. Do not underestimate the power of a few words, a card, text, email or even freshly picked flowers. While you can’t control how your gesture is received, you can invest the energy into making an overture.

As we’ve discussed on numerous broadcasts and articles, money is a magnifier of problems but it’s also a common source of significant tension. Don’t keep secrets.

Establish a family budget and stick to it. It doesn’t have to be elaborate.

In fact, there are many online tools available for free download.

One of our most popular guests on our broadcast is author and broadcaster Dave Ramsey. His website, DaveRamsey.com, is a practical source full of helpful financial information.

Couples who can’t forgive past hurts grow bitter and resentful.

Again, talk it out. Write a letter.

Talk with a friend. It’s good to remember that an important element of forgiveness is that once the matter is settled, to not regularly remind someone of the past offense.

18

|

F A I T H TA L K 5 7 0 & 9 1 0 W T B N

4. Blame the relationship Studies suggest that 65% of divorcees blame the ex-spouse for the demise of their marriage.

When discussing relationship problems, Dr. Orbuch suggests saying “we,” not “you” or “I.” For example, you might say, “We are both so tired lately,” not “You are so crabby.” It’s almost never just one person’s fault.

5. Reveal more about yourself Dr. Orbuch recommends: Every day, for 10 minutes, the couple should talk alone about something other than work, the family and children, the household, the relationship. No problems. No scheduling. No logistics.

A Christian woman a few years into her marriage once reflected back on the days leading up to her wedding

“As excited as we were to start our new life together, my husband and I were also a little fearful. We had heard from so many Christian couples, and in so many sermons, about how difficult and challenging marriage is. You can’t help but think, ‘Am I crazy to go through with this?’”

She’s right – Christians spend a lot of time talking about marriage in light of the commitment it requires and the sacrifices we must make as husbands and wives. That line of messaging is probably a response to the attitude the world too-often takes toward marriage.

To be certain, it’s an issue we need to address.

Sure, marriage can be difficult.

We can’t ignore the reality that every marriage, including the

healthy ones, will face seasons where marital satisfaction dips and where the journey becomes harder.

But I would hope that – especially for Christians – marriage can also be full of joy and life – and strength!

Jesus laughed. He went to parties.

As married couples, we can and should do the same.

So go ahead… enjoy life and your marriage. Laugh together, have fun. Be silly.

It does the culture and the Church a world of good when Christians mix in joy and pleasure into the message of commitment and sacrifice in marriage.

Do you resonate with these findings? What might you add as # 6 on this list?

If you’re in the midst of a troubled marriage, I hope you would consider reaching out to us. We have a tremendous counseling department and are prepared to help.

To reach Focus on the Family’s counseling service by phone, call 1-800-A-Family (232-6459) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

(Mountain Time).

If a counselor is not immediately available, you can leave your contact information and a counselor will call you back as soon as possible. This is available at no cost to you.

Jim Daly is the president and host of the National Radio Hall of Fame broadcast, Focus on the Family. He and his wife, Jean, were married on August 24, 1986, a sun drenched day in Santa Ana, California. They have two sons, Trent and Troy.

Focus on the Family airs weekdays starting at 2:30, 7:00 am and 7:00 pm on Faith Talk 570 & 910 WTBN

L E T S TA L K F A I T H . C O M

FA L L 2 0 1 4

|

19

Your Church Is a Beacon of Your Community.

Let JAN-PRO Help You Maintain It.

We understand that places of worship are very special environments with their own unique set of cleaning and maintenance requirements. That is why JAN-PRO provides extra training for the specific needs of each of the churches we maintain.

If JAN-PRO sounds like the right kind of commercial cleaning partner for your property, please contact us TODAY at

JAN-PRO OF TAMPA BAY

813-864-1940 • WWW.JAN-PRO.COM/TAMPABAY Located at 6908 West Linebaugh Avenue Tampa, FL 33625

Measurable Cleaning. Guaranteed ResultsÂŽ JAN-PRO provides one of today's exceptional business opportunities, allowing you to enter one of the fastest growing industries by safely becoming your own boss through the guidance and support of an established franchise organization. Additionally, it's a business you can tailor to your specific situation -- you can start small, even on a part-time basis, and build the business to achieve your financial goals.

The only commercial cleaning company ever ranked by Entrepreneur magazine as the fastest growing in five of the past seven years.

Call 813-864-1940 or Email: trace.thompson@jan-pro.com

20

|

F A I T H TA L K 5 7 0 & 9 1 0 W T B N

Put Your

h t i a

F

Although the storm is very real and the waves are imposing, Jesus has not left us guessing about what we should do in the face of rough weather.

In Matthew 8, we see the sudden onset of a ferocious storm. The waves were imposing. The waters were rough, and the disciples were surrounded by darkness. There were no life jackets, no life boats.

The disciples felt that they were at the mercy of a great storm.

In a panic, they cried out to Jesus, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” (Matthew 8:25). As Jesus woke from His sleep, He did not instantly calm the storm.

Instead, He asked the disciples, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” (Matthew 8:26). Only after His rebuke did He calm the wind and waves.

L E T S TA L K F A I T H . C O M

in Christ

By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

Many times, we want God to fix our problems instantly. We want the raging waters around us to cease immediately.

Yet, sometimes in the middle of the crashing waves, God has a word for us. He wants to deepen our faith and to encourage growth in Him before He intervenes. He wants us to follow in faith—no matter how dark our circumstances seem.

When Jesus spoke to the disciples, He acknowledged that their fears were great and their faith was little. The relationship between faith and fear is like a seesaw. When one is up, the other is down. So when we allow fear to rise, our faith will decline. But the opposite is true as well. When we increase our faith, our fear will fall.

Jesus wasn’t talking about our saving faith, but our daily living faith. Our saving faith remains constant, but our daily living faith rises and falls according to the strength of our relationship with God. When we are not in constant intimacy with God, the first storm that hits will create fear and panic.

When we give God the crumbs of our time and attention, our faith and understanding in Him will weaken.

FA L L 2 0 1 4

|

21

Faith that conquers fear depends on absolute trust in God. It is the kind of faith that has an open heart to whatever God provides for us. It is a faith that is manifested as an utter dependence on the sovereignty of God. When we live by faith, we know that even when the storm is at its worst, we can trust that God is working out His purposes for us.

When Jesus rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith, He was referring to their failure to trust Him in this practical situation.

How often do we trust God with our eternal souls, yet not our daily needs? God wants us to trust Him not only with our salvation, but also with our relationships, our resources, and our futures. He

wants to see our professed faith in action. He wants us to put our complete trust in Him for every detail of our lives.

When we walk closely with God and trust Him daily, our faith in Christ will conquer our fears.

When we focus on God, fear fades into the background. At the first sign of fear, our plan of action should be seeking God in prayer.

In my own life, I often find myself crying out, “Lord, help me. Lord, strengthen me. Lord, enable me.

Lord, give me your power!” What am I really asking for? I want the power to live in a way that is 100 percent pleasing to God. I want God’s power to make me equal to the demands and pressures I face, to fight temptation, and to

experience victory over sin. I want God’s power working in my life to defeat the spiritual enemy who continually seeks to bring about loss, destruction, and an end to blessing in my life (see John 10:10).

In seeking God’s power to bring about these works, I am seeking the same things that all who deeply desire to follow the Lord Jesus seek. In my own strength I will surely be defeated. But in the strength of the Holy Spirit, I am in position to be more than a conqueror.

No matter what you face, put your full faith and trust in Jesus Christ and continue to proclaim His Truth wherever you go. He is your salvation and your hope!

Tune in to Dr. Michael Youssef program Leading The Way weekdays at 4:00 and 11:30 am on Faith Talk 570 & 910 WTBN

22

|

F A I T H TA L K 5 7 0 & 9 1 0 W T B N

A Life-Changing Lesson in

Missing the Point

By John MacArthur

Dr. Charles Feinberg, dean of the seminary I attended, was one of the most brilliant and respected men I have ever known. God saved him after he had studied for fourteen years to become a rabbi.

Dr. Feinberg loved the Scriptures and read through the Bible four times every year. He knew more than thirty languages, including Dutch, which he taught himself just so he could read Dutch Reformed theology! We were all rightfully in awe of him, and I loved him at the same time.

In those days, every seminary student had to preach in chapel.

When my turn came, I was assigned to preach on 2 Samuel 7, the Davidic Covenant. My sermon was a fine example of structural craftsmanship—a zinger for a beginning, a zapper at the end. It was the lack of biblical content in the middle section that did me in.

I preached a “practical” message, superficially related to the biblical text, on not presuming on God. When I finished, I felt pretty good. The chapel audience seemed interested and approving. But I cared most about the opinion of

my mentor, Dr. Feinberg. I sensed his presence while I preached—he was sitting behind me, along with the whole faculty, filling out legalsized criticism sheets. At my first opportunity, I got out his paper, eager to see if he was impressed with my sermon.

I expected some constructive criticism, but I was completely unprepared for the few bold, red words that stared back at me. Ignoring all the preprinted categories and scoring helps, he wrote a one-line critique across the page: You missed the whole point of the passage.

That’s the worst possible mistake any preacher could make. Like many young preachers, I had naively concerned myself with just about everything except getting the meaning of the text right. I had focused on delivery, gestures, anecdotes, humor and illustrations, and alliterating my main points. The biblical passage itself was almost an afterthought.

Later that day, I received a message instructing me to go to Dr. Feinberg’s office. When I got there, he was sitting at his desk, shaking

his head in disappointment. “How could you? How could you? You missed the entire point of the passage, one of the greatest of all Old Testament passages. Don’t ever do that again.”

He never said another word about it to me, but that incident hit me like a sledgehammer.

Honestly, it was the deepest single impression I ever received in seminary. Never miss the point of the passage.

To this day, when I come to the biblical text each week to study its richness and depth, I can still hear Dr. Feinberg’s heartfelt admonition ringing in my ears. If you don’t have the meaning of Scripture, you do not have the Word of God at all.

If you miss the true sense of what God has said, you are not actually preaching God’s Word!

That reality has compelled me for more than forty-five years of preaching.

John MacArthur is founder and featured teacher of Grace to You. A fifth-generation pastor, John is also the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and president of The Master’s College and Seminary.

You can hear him daily on “Grace to You,” 6:30 am, 1:00 pm and 11:30 pm on AM 570 & 910 WTBN.

L E T S TA L K F A I T H . C O M

FA L L 2 0 1 4

|

23

24

|

F A I T H TA L K 5 7 0 & 9 1 0 W T B N

Finding God’s Strength in

DEFENSE of the

PERSECUTED

Nowhere is God’s strength more evident than through those enduring, and in those situations of, trial – not just life’s minor inconveniences, but in the face of true persecution.

Scripture is replete with references to the trials and tribulations that Christians will inevitable face, but also provides the promise of God’s strength.

In 2 Corinthians 12:10, Paul, no stranger to persecution, states, “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Every day over the last quarter century at the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), I have seen example after example of not only how our faith is tried, but how Christ provides the strength needed to face any situation.

Through our offices here in the U.S. and in difficult places for Christians like the Middle East, Africa, and even places I can’t mention for the safety of our staff, we witness the immense persecution faced by Christians across the globe. But we don’t L E T S TA L K F A I T H . C O M

just witness the persecution, we see God’s strength evidenced in the lives of the downtrodden and experience His strength as we fight for their freedom.

On October 13, 2009, a Christian Pastor in Iran, Youcef Nadarkhani, was arrested while registering his church in full compliance with Iranian law. He was charged with apostasy (abandoning Islam for Christianity) and sentenced to death, by hanging, for his Christian faith.

In the face of execution for his faith, Pastor Youcef was given three opportunities to deny Christ and obtain his freedom. There could not be a weaker time in one’s life than being confronted with certain death, yet God give him the strength to refuse – to boldly take a stand.

For three days, Pastor Youcef was hauled before the Iranian court and the judge demanded that he recant his Christian faith or die. Each time, he responded, “I cannot.”

At that moment, there was no hope of freedom, yet through his faithfulness, God not only gave him the strength to stand but showed his strength in miraculous ways.

While our organization is able to

By Jay Sekulow

work in a lot of difficult places, we can’t have attorneys on the ground in Iran. Most attorneys in Iran refuse to even be associated with Christian cases. Yet, God rose up a Muslim attorney (God shows his strength in many ways) who was willing to take up the case and worked with us as we began an international public advocacy campaign for his release.

Through that campaign, hundreds of thousands of people signed petitions for Pastor Youcef ’s freedom. Thousands more prayed for his release. Our social media effort on his behalf reached over 3 million Twitter accounts each day in 234 countries and territories, accounting for more than 97% of the United Nation’s member states, with daily updates about the fight for his freedom.

The worldwide impact of Pastor Youcef ’s plight was incalculable.

World leaders and national legislative bodies throughout the world decried his wrongful death sentence. The international media exposure even reached inside Iran itself.

Then, after three years on death row and the outcry and prayers of FA L L 2 0 1 4

|

25

hundreds of thousands around the world, Iran released Pastor Youcef in September 2012. Even then his ordeal was not over as Iran re-imprisoned him on Christmas Day (a date intentionally chosen to make a point) for a few additional weeks before releasing him again in January 2013.

Through the entire ordeal, God’s power was seen in a mighty way.

Pastor Youcef is now free from a death sentence for his Christian faith because of God’s faithfulness, prayer, and the willingness of Christians worldwide to raise their voices.

God uses his people to evidence his strength.

Another poignant example of this transpired earlier this year in Sudan. The wife of an American citizen was arrested, charged and convicted of apostasy (becoming a Christian). At the time of her arrest, Meriam Ibrahim was pregnant with the family’s second child. She was sentenced to 100 lashes for marrying an American Christian and then to death by hanging for her Christian faith.

She was to be beaten as soon as she gave birth (which she was forced to do still in chains in the prison), and her American son, a toddler, was forced to join her on death row.

In the face of impending torture and death, she too was given an opportunity to recant – to reject her Christian faith and obtain her freedom. Her words, like Pastor Youcef ’s, were as simple as they were profound, “I am a Christian, and I will remain a Christian.”

She evidenced supernatural strength of faith, God’s strength, under unthinkable persecution.

Thankfully, through a worldwide 26

|

F A I T H TA L K 5 7 0 & 9 1 0 W T B N

public advocacy campaign and the prayers of hundreds of thousands around the world, Meriam and her two American children were released and eventually allowed to return home to America.

Through the years if have witnessed and experienced God’s strength time and time again under the worst persecution.

Miraculously, a Christian woman in Gaza who we were working with after her husband, a Christian bookstore owner, had been murder

by Islamists, escaped to freedom in Israel. I was there as she was literally extracted from this lifethreatening situation.

We’ve been a part of numerous cases in Pakistan where Christians were charged with “crimes” because of their faith or murders would go unprosecuted because the victims were Christians. I’ve seen firsthand how God has used our lawyers to help bring true justice for these persecuted Christians.

Despite the many victories – and it’s easy to see God’s strength after you’ve won – I’ve also seen God’s power evidenced in impactful ways even in the midst of persecution, when you don’t know how it will

end.

American Pastor Saeed Abedini has now been wrongfully imprisoned for about two years because of his Christian faith.

A dual U.S.-Iranian citizen, he was working with the Iranian government to establish a nonsectarian orphanage in Iran, when he was arrested in July 2012.

After being on house arrest, he was thrown into a brutal Iranian prison on September 26, 2012.

Since then he has undergone torturous prison beatings and is suffering from internal injuries from those beatings. He’s endured periods of solitary confinement, lack of medical care, threats on his life, and malnourishment. He was convicted for undermining the national security of Iran because of his work years earlier in house churches and sentence to eight years in prison.

Yet, through all of this, his faith has not only remained resilient, but he has forgiven his captors in the midst of captivity. As he explained in a powerful letter: As a lawyer, I deal with evidence.

That is compelling evidence of

Maybe you ask, what is the secret of being so happy in such a hard situation? Forgiveness and a change of attitude. When we forgive, we become free and we become messengers of peace and reconciliation and goodness. . . . I forgave the prison doctor who did not listen to me and did not give me the medication that I needed. I forgave the interrogator who beat me. He concluded his letter with this,

“The Joy of the Lord is my strength. Amen.”

God’s supernatural provision of strength in the very midst of the worst situation one could imagine.

Today, Pastor Saeed is still in prison, but there is hope. We’ve seen God’s power exercised in mighty ways. We’ve undertaken a worldwide public advocacy campaign for his release. We’ve collected nearly a million signatures on petitions and letters calling for his freedom. Hundreds upon hundreds of thousands of You can learn more about how people are praying daily for his you can take action with us for release. his freedom at BeHeardProject. com and see more stories of God’s

strength evidenced in the lives of persecuted Christians throughout the world.

God has shown his strength time and time again through the actions of the faithful, the prayers and the petitions, as people across the globe raise their voice for the persecuted.

God gives the persecuted the strength they need to endure. But he also gives us, fellow Christians, the strength to take action and defend our fellow brothers and sisters in chains around the world.

Jay Sekulow is Chief Counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), which focuses on constitutional law. Follow him on Twitter @JaySekulow.

He hosts a daily radio show, “Jay Sekulow Live,” which air weeakdays at 12pm and 2am.

L E T S TA L K F A I T H . C O M

FA L L 2 0 1 4

|

27

Practicing the Presence of Christ...

Living Life in His

Strength

By Bill Bunkley

Bill Bunkley

Host of The Bill Bunkley Show

Bill Bunkley, is the President of the Florida Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and a familiar voice throughout Florida.

A native of Tampa, Bill brings his experience to today’s current spiritual, political, and cultural issues. Tune in to The Bill Bunkley Show weekdays from 4-6 PM on Faith Talk 570 & 910 WTBN. His commentary “Something to Think About” can also be heard daily on Talk Radio AM 860 WGUL and News Talk AM 930 WLSS as well as on Faith Talk 570 & 910 WTBN. Scan with Smartphonee

28

|

F A I T H TA L K 5 7 0 & 9 1 0 W T B N

Life seems to get more challenging each and every day. The demands we face can easily overwhelm us if we’re not careful. Sometimes our lives can get out of balance if we’re not proactive in monitoring our daily routines.

What can we do when we encounter feelings of being overwhelmed?

The first step, if you are a follower of Jesus, is to realize that you are not alone. The Holy Spirit has taken up residence in your body and is ready to minister to you anytime and anywhere.

It is an awesome realization to come to know that you are constantly in the immediate presence of the Creator of the universe.

But being aware that you are in the presence of Jesus throughout the day is not something that comes naturally.

In fact practicing the presence of Jesus throughout the day is a lifestyle choice that comes with numerous blessings.

For many, experiencing God’s presence most often seems to occur only when at a worship service. But the truth is He is with us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. If we would only yield and acknowledge Him and allow Him to be involved in our daily experiences, life would be so much more rewarding.

Practicing the presence of Jesus is similar to having a conversation with a close friend.

We have conversations with our friends in our homes, our offices, at the ball field or on the phone.

If you think about it conversing with Jesus is no different than chatting with one of your close friends.

As you allow Him to be an integral part and presence during your day it becomes easier to face life’s challenges knowing you are not alone. Considering our challenges from His point of view, based on His principles allows us to make better and wiser decisions. And knowing that you are making better and wiser decisions from a Christian

t o N

n w O r u

O t Jus

Be careful not to allow your Christian walk to develop into a set of daily do’s and don’ts. It’s so easy to get caught up in a stale, robotic daily routine of Christian habits, what we would call works, that puts us on a never-ending tread mill. You run harder and harder to please God by marking items off your “Please Him” list

but living life this way will never give you His peace.

Instead, try practicing a day just enjoying his presence and companionship.

By experiencing His presence daily you will develop the joy filled life He intended you to live. It is the joy of walking with Him each moment of each day that brings us true contentment, not to be confused with trying to be happy every day.

Happiness is dependent on happenings; what is happening

Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Matthew 28:20

Worldview will remove a tremendous amount of stress as well as loneliness from your daily life. around you. If you have a good and happy day you are up. If you have an unpleasant and unhappy day you will be feeling down.

That’s why the Bible teaches us not to seek happiness per se but the joy of the Lord which leads to true contentment. Joy keeps our daily life from being a roller coaster of emotional ups and downs predicated on the daily happenings in our life.

Consider some of the scriptural promises from God’s word about walking in the presence of the Lord:

And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Exodus 33:14

Where shall I go from your spirit?

Or where shall I flee from your presence?

Psalm 139:7 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures for evermore.

Psalm 16:11

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9

But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever.

Psalm 41:12 Use these passages to go deeper in your experience of acknowledging the presence of Christ in your daily life.

Commit these verses to memory or write them on 3 x 5 cards and take them with you. Sensing the moment by moment presence of the Lord will truly transform your life.

L E T S TA L K F A I T H . C O M

FA L L 2 0 1 4

|

29

30

|

F A I T H TA L K 5 7 0 & 9 1 0 W T B N

by Joni Eareckson Tada

Ken opened wide the front door so I could wheel to the van. For a long moment I sat squarely in the door frame, taking it all in: the tree beyond our brick path was turning a lovely shade of orange and the last of the marigolds were in bloom. It was the freshest of Fall mornings.

Oh God, I breathed, If only I could feel as fresh.

After more than four decades of quadriplegia, I’m tired. Please don’t think I’m a veteran or a professional when it comes to living in a wheelchair. I’m not an expert. My bones are weary and thin from battling everything from pressure sores and pneumonia to stage III cancer. My question nowadays is never “Why, God?” It’s most often “How?” How do I keep on going? How do I care about others when I’m consumed with my own physical challenges?

How can I be kind and civil when L E T S TA L K F A I T H . C O M

pain wracks me? How can I find the strength to face this day?

That morning, Ken had the answer. “Why aren’t you out by the van?” he asked when he came from the kitchen with my lunch bag. Staring at the splendorous morning beyond the door, I answered him with a deep sigh.

C

With a thick felt-tipped pen, he had penned on it the letter ‘C.’ “It stands for Courage,” he said, “The courage of Christ. I can see it in your eyes, Joni, and you can do this. I know you can!” With that, he pressed the post-it on my shirt, right above my heart.

I glanced at it, then up at him.

“Wait here,” he said, “I know I can’t explain what happened exactly what you need.” Soon he next, but grace flooded my heart. was back with a yellow post-it note. His note felt like a holy sacrament through which God was imparting hope and faith. It felt so liberating.

A breeze wafted in and my eyes became wet. “Thank you,” I whispered to Ken and lifted my arm to give him a hug. My husband wiped my nose, kissed my cheek, and said softly, “Let’s get this day going.” I then wheeled out into the morning feeling a fresh wave of strength from my Savior.

FA L L 2 0 1 4

|

31

Proverbs 18:21 sums it up: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Ken only said a few words, and probably without giving them much thought. But those words were brimming with power and life. His was a pronouncement, a declaration of the good he saw in me… or, at least the good he wanted to see. And God gave me His amazing grace to rise to the occasion.

It’s why I’m so honored to be able to share words of hope and life with you through the “Joni and Friends” radio program.

Every day I have the wonderful

opportunity to pass on words of courage to you – and it’s why I’m so grateful to Faith Talk Radio.

It’s a hard world. Even the best of Christians are feeling the weight of weariness. So the Bible says we are to “Encourage one another daily” (Hebrews 3:13). Think of the people you’ll see today… friends recovering from surgery, neighbors dealing with grief, coworkers coping with pain. Whether you say it in an email, over the phone, or in person, your words have the capacity to change their countenance and character.

And the best word? The Word made flesh, Jesus, who always has courageous words of life.

Tune in to Joni and Friends weekdays 5:30 am on Faith Talk 570&910 WTBN

32

|

F A I T H TA L K 5 7 0 & 9 1 0 W T B N

L E T S TA L K F A I T H . C O M

FA L L 2 0 1 4

|

33

How can I keep my family strong in the midst of tragedy and suffering?

Trials, problems, and even calamities are a normal part of life.

by Dennis Rainey

You cannot avoid the storms of life. But you can learn how to withstand them.

Suffering has certainly not been a stranger to the Rainey family. In the spring of 1993, for example, our family began to experience the force of a storm that would change all of us—and especially our son, Samuel—forever.

For a few weeks we had seen some warning signs that something wasn’t right with Samuel’s body. Then, one night as our family was hustling through an airport to catch a plane home, we noticed that Samuel could not keep up with the rest of us. This was puzzling, because he was a good athlete—just the year before he had been ranked seventh in the state for his age in novice tennis.

The next day we found ourselves in a neurologist’s office. Suddenly, words we only heard once a year during the Jerry Lewis Telethon were echoing loudly. Samuel had muscular dystrophy.

The good news, we were told, is that Samuel’s type of muscular dystrophy was not fatal. We were assured that he will most likely never be confined to a wheelchair.

The bad news was that Samuel’s athletic days were over. It was the 34

|

F A I T H TA L K 5 7 0 & 9 1 0 W T B N

death of a dream for a boy who wanted to play tennis in college.

And for a mom and dad who thoroughly enjoyed watching him compete.

The Foundation of Our Home

in order to stand strong when a storm hits. First, during times of trial and suffering we need to use this as an opportunity to draw close to God. Nothing happens in our lives apart from what He allows or ordains. As 1 Chronicles 29:11 tells us, “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.”

Yet this same sovereign Lord also seeks a close relationship with us.

And He is our Comforter during times of distress and suffering.

Psalm 23:4 says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

A second conviction about dealing with suffering is we need to be there for each other. A husband and wife must be involved with each other during a crisis.

Barbara and I knew that our marriage was strong even before this particular storm hit us. From the beginning of our marriage, we have resolved to build our lives and our family upon God’s Word and upon daily prayer together.

In Matthew 7, Jesus says that those who act upon His words “may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock” (Matthew 7:24-25).

God is the head of our home and the foundation of our home is the truth of God’s Word. We have found that, as we make God and His Word the focus of our relationship and home, the trials During our experience with and tribulations strengthen rather Samuel, I remember it took a than weaken our relationship.

What to Do When the Storm Hits deliberate act of my will to move toward Barbara and the pain she Our experience with Samuel was experiencing, because I wasn’t also reminded us of a number of at the same place she was. I wasn’t important things we need to do as ready to talk about it as she was,

and she needed to talk about it. So I took the initiative to talk with her.

We also resolved to make our marriage a priority. We knew that if our marriage remained on solid ground, then our children would feel stronger and more secure.

Not long after Samuel’s diagnosis, Barbara and I took some time to get away and just be by ourselves to talk with each other.

Fourth, we learned that we need to allow the body of Christ to minister to us. The biggest way our friends helped during the situation with Samuel was in writing letters.

These letters really broadened Samuel’s perspective of the body of Christ. I don’t think he had any idea that people cared like they do.

Finally, Barbara and I learned to hold to the truth of God’s Word no matter what our emotions told us. We can’t deny our emotions, but we can’t allow them to control our responses, either. You’ve got to hang on to the truth of Scripture and let that be the foundation of your home.

Even when we don’t feel God loves us, we know from Scripture that He does. When we don’t feel any good can come out of a trial or calamity, we know from Romans 8:28 that all things really do “work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Through the entire experience Samuel learned how to trust God

even when he didn’t understand His plan. I remember one evening, a few months after the diagnosis, when he and I were driving home from the grocery store. I shared how God has always used people regardless of their situation. My feeble efforts to comfort him seemed shallow. A moment of silence filled the car.

Then Samuel turned from looking out the window and said resolutely “Well, Dad, I guess you don’t need legs to serve God.” Tears filled my eyes. My son was teaching me a lesson on trust. And as I drove home I prayed silently, “Lord, increase my faith and use our son for Your purposes.”

Dennis Rainey is the Host of FamilyLife Today airing on Faith Talk 570& 910 WTBN Monday through Friday at 5:00 am © 2003 by FamilyLife, all rights reserved. Used with permission.

B ELGIUM D IAMONDS I NC. Bigger Diamonds at Better Prices than a Jewelry Store

Serving our sophisticated customers with guaranteed satisfaction for over 30 years.

Call MaryAnn Back to schedule a personal appointment

813.997.2033 C H E VA L R E S I D E N T

W W W . M A RYA N N D I A M O N D S . C O M

L E T S TA L K F A I T H . C O M

FA L L 2 0 1 4

|

35

letstalkfaith.com