Faith Pittsburgh South by IN Community Magazines

FAI H

T h e h a rv e st i s p l e n t i f u l , b u t t h e w o r k e r s a r e f e w. -

M att h e w 9 : 3 7

Pi sburgh South

Hope for Tomorrow page 6

Abolitionist Calling page 14

Nothing Less Than a Miracle page 32

Coming Full Circle page 36

guided by the light

Fall 2013

Jesus Came To Give Abundant Life. Real Life Begins at 40! WPCB-TV

• Discover ways to strengthen your relationships. • Understand how to manage your finances. • Worship the Lord with powerful, uplifting music.

You will be blessed by our daily special features... Hard Questions, At Home, Sister 2 Sister & more! Weekdays at 9 AM LIVE, 1 PM, 8 PM & 1 AM. Watch anytime @ ctvn.org.

Teri Black

Pittsburgh’s Christian Television Station

Don Black CEO

FAI H PUBLISHER Wayne Dollard

Letter from the

Publisher

Managing Editor Mike Granovitz m.granovitz@faithpittsburgh.com Faith Pittsburgh Advisory Board Steve Carlson Chris Jerin Jake Clawson Herb Shaffer Ken Culbertson Bryan Thiessen Melba Dibble OFFICE MANAGER Leo Vighetti l.vighetti@icmags.com AD PLACEMENT COORDINATOR Debbie Mountain d.mountain@icmags.com

of the holiday season, going back to school, family gatherings and football season. Fall is a very special time of the year beginning with the beauty that we encounter outside as the leaves become a kaleidoscope of color and continuing with the fellowship with family and friends that we are so blessed to share during the holiday season. When you watch the sun glistening on the fall foliage you can’t help but marvel at the brilliance of God’s creation. As the journey with our Lord becomes the focus of your daily life, rarely does a day pass without something precipitating thoughts of God’s glory, not only that which is outwardly visible but much more so the myriad of things that only faith and God’s Word can explain.

Art Director Melissa St. Giles ADVERTISING SALES MANAGERS Tamara Myers Brian McKee ADVERTISING SALES Sophia Alfaras Laurie Holding Anna Marie Lee Connie McDaniel Brian McKee Gabriel Negri Aimee Nicolia

As the leaves start to change colors, thoughts turn from summer fun and vacations to the start

Aimee Nicolia Vincent Sabatini Mark Seamans Michael Silvert RJ Vighetti Nikki Capezio-Watson

With the start of the holiday season it is important to take time to reflect upon the many gifts that we have received by virtue of God’s grace: our family, friends, jobs, homes and the fact we live in a country where we have the freedom to worship as we please. Each and every day is a gift from God; please don’t forget to thank Him. It is our desire at Faith Pittsburgh that this magazine be a tool, used not only to reach those who don’t know Jesus Christ as their savior but of almost equal importance is uniting those within the Christian community in Pittsburgh. Please help us achieve these goals by continuing to read each issue, sharing your copy with those in your sphere of influence and supporting the

advertisers within the pages of the magazine. If you don’t already know Jesus as your savior please know that God loves you and wants a personal relationship with you.

Correspondence: Direct all inquiries, comments and press releases to: IN Community Magazines Attn: Faith Pittsburgh 603 East McMurray Road McMurray, PA 15317 Ph: 724.942.0940 Fax: 724.942.0968 www.faithpittsburgh.com

Please recycle this magazine when you are through enjoying it.

Wayne Dollard, Publisher

FALL 2013

In this Issue

H FAI FPiAIsburg Hh f e w. - M aT T h e w 9 : 3 7 T h e h a rv e sT i s p l e n T i f u l , b u T T h e w o r k e r s a r e

T h e h a rv e sT i s p l e n Tiful

, buT The w orkers ar e f e w. - M aT Thew 9:37

South

Pi sburgh North

the

faith

Matters of the Heart

Following and the

page 12

Purpose Ques t

Features

page 16

Raising Up Young Leaders Following Jesus on page 30 the Job page 22

Built

Matters of the Heart page 30

Word of God on the

To Everything a Season

Hope for Tomorrow

A Marriage Made in Heaven

Abolitionist Calling

Heaven Can Wait

What Really Matters

Holding Hands

Behold: the Power of Cheese

The Road to Heaven

These Three Words

Nothing Less Than a Miracle

Coming Full Circle

You Always Marry the Wrong Person

We are the Church

A Different Kind of Prayer

Faith Event Calendar

page 34

page 7

Gotta have Faith! If you would like free copies of Faith Pittsburgh for your church, nonprofit, or any other group check the website www.faithpittsburgh.com for distribution sites or contact us at 724.942.0940. At any of our distribution sites you are free to take as many copies as you would like. If your church or group needs 300 or more copies please contact us and we can arrange delivery to you.

FAITH Media

If you would like copies for an event please contact Mike Granovitz at 412.779.6733.

Bible Study

Who Said That? New Testament Quiz

Book Review

The Disappearance of God

Movie Review

Taken by Grace

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Faith Pittsburgh Bible Study

Hope for Tomorrow

Behold the Power of Cheese

TODAY’s SCRIPTURE

1 John 3:1 (ESV)

We are the Church

FAITH BASED NEWS

News

KIDS CORNER

Finding Happiness A Children’s Story

Crossword

NonProfit Focus

12 Pregnancy Resource Center of South Hills

Coming Full Circle

Sponsored Content

Business Spotlight

Sponsored Content

Price Light Electric

Wired up for Family

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FAITH Pittsburgh South | Fall 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 5

HOPE for tomorrow Forgiveness is freedom

By Michael Granovitz

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On August 23 On August 23 I had the privilege of spending time with Rev. Kimberly Greway (executive director, Foundation of HOPE) and some of the men living in the HOPE pod at the Allegheny County Jail. Upon our arrival at the jail we were greeted by Rev. Greway and passed through the security screening, after which we were guided upstairs to the floor that is home to the HOPE pod. The HOPE pod is part of a faith based preand post-release program established in 2002 for the inmates of the Allegheny County Jail. The program is overseen by The Foundation of HOPE and Allegheny County. The HOPE program as it is called is a completely voluntary program available to the inmates within the Allegheny County Jail. When we reached the pod we had the opportunity to speak with two of the program participants, Marcus and Sean; both were gracious and very straightforward, allowing us an inside look at the HOPE program. Marcus has been involved with HOPE for seven months and Sean for two months; in that time both have become servant leaders, inmates who have completed the program and shown leadership skills as well as the ability and desire to accept additional responsibilities to the program directors. Marcus told us he had been in and out of the jail enough times to know that he needed something to help him not return again, and in the search for that something he found HOPE. “I knew that it was faith based and felt that was what I was lacking from my personal situation,” he says. “The biggest impact on me has been the faith-based teachings and being able to focus on my relationship with God and Jesus Christ. I have been sober for six years…after 20 years of use I broke down and asked God to help me with my addiction and I haven’t had a craving or desire to use since.” Sean made a statement that really caught me off guard and was quite possibly the last thing I expected to hear from an inmate in the county jail. He started with a very similar mindset as Marcus in that he was looking to

enhance his faith and do something positive while in the jail, but what shocked me was when he said, “Since coming to the HOPE pod I have found inner peace and I’m happier than I have ever been in my life. The anger that I always felt before is gone, and I am in a much better place and I thank God every day for it.” To hear someone say that he is happier now in jail than ever before is a powerful statement as to the effectiveness of the HOPE program. Marcus succinctly points out to us, “We don’t end up here in the county jail because we don’t have any issues, but when you get

into the HOPE program you are instantly confronted with everything that is wrong in your life. If you’re willing to really look at stuff, it gets real uncomfortable real fast, and if you don’t want to fix [things] you don’t last here on this pod, but if you do choose to fix what is wrong you are given the tools needed to correct the issues.” He went on to tell us, “I think that the hardest thing for me was being able to forgive myself for the things that I have done to my life.” He is not alone; I absolutely believe that one of the most difficult things for any of us to do is forgive ourselves and let go ›

FAITH Pittsburgh South | Fall 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 7

of the past mistakes that we have all made, but without doing just that we will never get past the mistakes we make and begin the healing process. After finishing our time with Sean and Marcus, we left the pod and went to the chapel where we had the opportunity to talk with Rev. Greway in more depth about the HOPE program. She explained to us that the HOPE program was started out of the chaplain’s office in 2002 when the staff saw the need to have an intensive program that would give inmates life skills as well as spiritual skills to get them ready to live on the outside. “Originally the classes were all held in the chapel, which limited the intensiveness of the classes due to the logistics of having to move inmates from various parts of the jail to the classroom,” Rev. Greway explained. “Then in 2006 Warden Ramon Rustin allocated an entire pod designated the HOPE pod which enabled us to take a lot of people off the waiting list and allowed us to form an intentional and dedicated community that is there to hold each accountable. It also let us increase the intensiveness of the program by presenting us with the opportunity to have more and longer classes without the logistical difficulties of moving inmates throughout the jail. In 2009 we opened a second HOPE—this one for women—that is a lot smaller by number of participants because women only make up 10 percent of the inmate population.” She continued, “At the moment we have about 70 men in the program and 35 women. Our mission for the program is to restore people’s relationship with God, rebuild their lives and reconcile them to their community. If we can do these things covering the gamut of God, self and others we can provide what is needed to have a healthy life. On an annual basis we serve on average 400-450 people through the program. We have

had some tremendous successes, with the most telling statistic being the recidivism rate. The national average is around 6065%, for Allegheny County it is 40-50% and for graduates of the pre-release program it is 20%. That number goes down to 10% if the person also goes through the aftercare portion of the program.” The HOPE program is, without a doubt, a faith-based program with the core values and beliefs focusing on God and our relationship with Him. Rev. Greway attributes its great success to the faith element and being able to connect people to their faith. It is open to people of all faiths or no faith at all. “We are an inter-faith program, so what I try to do is find scriptural texts that are universal among the various faiths and build upon these,” she explains. “We also conduct a spiritual formation class where [participants] will break up into their respective religious groups. During the week they only have a couple of hours each day that is free time; to complete the program inmates will attend 210 hours of classes over eight weeks. A majority of the instructors are volunteers who come from a

Photography by Mark Berton

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“The first 48 hours after release are critical. Without a plan in place and support, it is very easy to end up right back in trouble.”

Rev. Kimberly Greway

variety of backgrounds. Some of the classes that participants take are anger management, parenting, stewardship, life skills and drug & alcohol. We have core classes that stay the same every eight weeks, as well as some classes that are only offered for one cycle that would be more like an elective.” One of the aspects that has greatly increased the effectiveness of the program is the post-release portion which includes the inmate receiving a mentor (who goes through an extensive training program) who offers the ex-offender friendship, support and other practical assistance in making a healthy transition to society. This may include joining “mentees” at recovery meetings, encouraging them in housing and job searches, meeting their families and inviting them to fellowship within a community of faith. The aftercare office on the North Side also plays a vital role in the process of reconciliation to the community, providing the ex-offenders with various resources to help them acclimate to their life on the outside. “The first 48 hours after release are critical. Without a plan in place and support, it is very easy to end up right back in trouble,” says Rev. Greway. She adds, “The two main difficulties that the HOPE program faces are pretty standard among nonprofit organizations: shortages of financial resources and volunteers. Even with the excellent results that we have been able to achieve, many of the foundations that offer grants of one sort or another don’t offer anything within the corrections field.” When I asked Rev. Greway why she chose prison ministry given all the different opportunities to serve, her answer was quick and definitive: “I really feel we are called to serve the least, the last and the lost and those people are here; you don’t get much further down than being in jail.” My gratitude goes out to all who made this story possible: Rev. Greway, the Allegheny County Jail staff, the Allegheny County public relations department, Marcus and Sean. I ask that you prayerfully consider the Foundation of Hope when you are looking for organizations to support with your time and resources. †

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Editor’s note: for more information, to volunteer your time or make a contribution go to www.foundationof hope.org or call 412.350.2057

FAITH Pittsburgh South | Fall 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 9

A Marriage Made in Heaven Part two By Tim Burgan

Christian marriages end in divorce at nearly the same rate as non-Christian marriages. What’s the solution? Simply have a happy marriage! In the summer edition of Faith Pittsburgh, I shared the joy of being married to Paige (my wife of 30 years)! If you recall our discussion, I shared three keys for a marriage made in heaven: 1) Pray together. 2) Enable your spouse to be the best he/she can be. 3) Be each other’s best friend. Here are three additional ways to enjoy marital success … Solution #4: Fight Fair! Do strong married couples ever disagree or argue? Of course, they do; they’re humans just like you and me! Sometimes we are selfish, misunderstood, stressed, prideful, or just simply poor communicators … But here’s the difference – So often, “growing” couples are quick to use careless words that lead to long-lasting wounds. The focus is on fighting, disrespecting our spouse, and “winning the fight,” rather than solving the problem. But Ephesians 6:12 reminds us of the big picture, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual {forces} of wickedness in the heavenly {places} ... Even when you’re in the heat of the moment, remember that your spouse is not the enemy. Fight fair by realizing why you are arguing. Although our flesh wants to win, our spirit cries out for a solution! There will be disagreements. Work toward solutions! In any relationship, it often helps to recall Romans 12:10: “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Solution #5: Forgive. We often struggle with the command to forgive, especially when we carry insecurities

and baggage from a previous relationship. One rule to live by is not to let the sun go down on your anger (as seen in Ephesians 4:26). The goal is to start each day new, fresh and free! After all, we are never more like Jesus than when we forgive. If Jesus could forgive those who hated him, how much more should we be willing to forgive those who love us? In Matthew 6:14-15, Jesus said, “Your heavenly Father will forgive you if you forgive those who sin against you; but if you refuse to forgive them, He will not forgive you.” Notice that Jesus doesn’t say that you can hold on to your grudge if you were hurt unjustly. Forgiveness isn’t just an action; it is a choice. Sometimes it is a moment-by-moment choice. At other times, it requires a daily decision to forgive. We need to keep forgiving until we have truly given up our desire for revenge. Remember: You’re far from perfect yourself! Forgive your spouse if you want to be forgiven too!

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Solution #6: Realign Your Priorities. As you reflect on your current priorities (your family, career, children, etc.), consider Luke 10:38-42, where we find Jesus visiting with his friends. Here he explains to “Martha” (an efficient, hard-working host) that her sister “Mary” has chosen the best thing by simply sitting at His feet. Like Martha, Mary could have busied herself and impressed her guests, but she knew that her life would benefit most from listening to God’s voice. From Christ’s example, we learn that every relationship must fall in line with certain priorities. Your first commitment should involve fellowship with God (just “being” with Him) … Your second commitment? … Honoring your spouse (see Ephesians 5 and I Timothy 3) … Thirdly, you must disciple your children (see Psalm 127:3 and I Timothy 3) … And finally, your relationship with God should be evidenced as you serve His Kingdom through good works. Believe it or not, all of these priorities impact the success of your married life. Be assured! If you and your spouse follow these 6 keys to success, your marriage will get better. And even if you’re single, you can apply these principles to all of your relationships. You will always be happier and more fulfilled when you follow God’s guidelines. Don’t forget! Marriage is a team project. Your team consists of the Lord, you, and your spouse. With that winning combination, you will not become a statistic – and your marriage will be a joy. †

Tim Burgan Director of Communications, Cornerstone TeleVision Network (Life-Changing TeleVision!) 1 Signal Hill Drive Wall, PA 15148 www.ctvn.org CTVN’s 24-Hour Prayer Line: 1.888.665.4483

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Together We Rise to the Occasion Two Christian not-for-profits work together to make financial security easy and affordable for families

Financial peace of mind and security are critical issues for families today. Too many families lack the appropriate financial safety net needed to deal with unexpected life events such as the loss of a job, an illness that impacts a bread winner’s ability to work, or worse. While the consequences of an unexpected financial setback can be tragic, the real tragedy is the anxiety and insecurity that fear about money creates. Money fears create anxiousness, stress and disagreements that harm relationships, families and entire communities. Most of all, money fears can distract Christians from living the purposeful, generous lives they’re meant to live. Did you know that 77 percent of middle income American families live paycheck to paycheck?1 This means most families are depending solely on their jobs to provide financial security for themselves and their loved ones. But what happens if they lose those paychecks or aren’t able to work? Lots of things can happen that none of us expect, and the statistics on the unpreparedness of our families is pretty frightening. Forty percent of American adults have no life insurance.2 And more than half of all American workers have no disability coverage.3 So where can hard-working Christian families in Pittsburgh turn to find the peace of mind and security they need to help live less stressful lives? For many families, the biggest hurdle in securing life and disability insurance is in the process of researching and buying it, which can feel overwhelming, complicated and expensive. To address these concerns, brightpeak financial™ is offering a different approach. Brightpeak, a new division of Thrivent Financial, a not-for-profit membership organization of Christians founded more than a century ago, is dedicated to assisting Christian couples and families in building the financial strength they need so that they can return to living life with purpose and generosity.

$2,000/month disability income insurance (payable for up to two years) until the age of 67. “Family Christian knows good financial health allows families to live purpose-driven lives,” said Cliff Bartow, President and CEO of Family Christian, the world’s largest Christian specialty retailer with 276 stores in 38 states, including five stores in the Pittsburgh area. “However, many of our customers find managing finances and preparing for their family’s future to be complicated, overwhelming and expensive. That’s why we’re partnering with brightpeak financial to strengthen young Christian families and individuals in Pittsburgh with the RiseTM insurance starter kits.” “We’re trying to make buying insurance for Family Christian customers nearly as easy as buying a box of cereal,” said Pam Moret, president and CEO of brightpeak financial. “Our RiseTM insurance starter kits are easy to understand, affordable, and put the customer in complete control of the entire buying process.” RiseTM is now available at Family Christian stores in Pittsburgh, sold alongside Bibles and other faith-based items like books, music or gifts offered by the not-for-profit retailer. “Money fears are keeping many hard-working Christian families in Pittsburgh and throughout the country from focusing on what really matters – their faith and their families. By helping just one family gain the confidence they need by not living in fear that their loved ones are protected, we can build a community of people who will have the optimism and hope to lead purpose-driven lives.”

Visit a Pittsburgh area Family Christian store or brightpeakfinancial.com/rise to learn more.

In striving to find a solution that meets the reality of middle-income Pittsburgh Christian families, brightpeak has partnered with Family Christian® stores in Pittsburgh. The two Christian not-forprofit organizations are offering affordable term life and disability insurance packages in three different sizes to help meet the needs of Christian adults, couples and families. Rise™, insurance to lift your life, is an insurance starter kit by brightpeak financial that offers a range of affordable coverage to fit the needs of individuals at different stages of their lives – when they’re single, married, or caring for a family. The three starter kits retail for $19, $29 and $39, which reflect the monthly premium for each insurance product. For example, the $39 starter kit offers both $200,000 term life insurance coverage over a 20-year term, and 1 Career Builder.com Study, 2010 2 Trends in Life Insurance Ownership, LIMRA, 2010 3 Disability Coverage Declines, The Hartford, 2011

brightpeak financial is a division of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans4, a not-for-profit membership organization of Christians. 4 Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, based in Appleton, WI 54919, is the issuer and underwriter for brightpeak financial products which are only available in CO, GA, IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, NE, NV, OH, PA, TN, WA & WI.

What Really Matters? By Pastor Chris Jerin

I would like to ask everyone a question:

What are the things that people aim for in life? 18 724.942.0940 to advertise | FAITH Pittsburgh South

Some might say, “To own your own home. To be financially independent. To be healthy and strong. To have a close-knit family. To be happy. To travel. To get an education.” How would you rate these in importance? But here’s another question, “How important are these things to God?” There’s nothing necessarily wrong with any of these as long as you realize that they’re not the main thing.

Mark 16:15-16 ~ 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

Anyone who has surrendered his/her life to Christ has received a totally new set of priorities. What is God’s priority? What does His Word say? The message that John the Baptist preached in preparation for the coming of Jesus was the message of reconciliation. The first message Jesus preached was the message of reconciliation. The last command Jesus gave before He ascended into heaven was that we are to preach the message of reconciliation. We call this the Great Commission, and we who are born-again believers in Christ have all been commissioned to preach the gospel. What matters most? Reaching lost people is what matters most. How valuable is a soul? Enough for Jesus to die for. Does that tell you the value of one soul? My wife Noreen and I only have one child. Our child is now an adult. Over the years Christy has cost Noreen and me a lot of money. I joke around with Christy, and I might say something like, “Imagine the money your mother and I could have saved if you didn’t go to college…and if we didn’t have you on our car insurance…” And on and on. Children cost parents money, right? But, I can’t think of any dollar value that would compensate for her loss. If someone said to me, “I’m sorry, but you have to sacrifice your only child’s life for a worthy cause,” I can’t think of anything in this world I would sacrifice my daughter for. Now, if Noreen and I love our daughter that much, how much does God the Father love His Son? Yet He sacrificed Him for us. What value then has He placed on our souls that He was prepared to sacrifice His Son for us? If winning lost souls is the main thing that’s on God’s heart, how is it possible that we as a people, who have put our trust in the death and resurrection of Christ, continue to live with an indifference to the lost souls all around us and never or rarely share the gospel? 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 ~ 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Here’s the challenge for you today: Are you willing right now to dedicate your life to the thing that is most on God’s heart… and to keep the main thing the main thing? † Pastor Chris Jerin, Senior Pastor of Jefferson Hills Bible Church

Miracles Happen Every day... Share your greatest miracle with us. Send your story to

editor@faithpittsburgh.com or mail to 603 East McMurray Rd. McMurray PA 15317 Attention: Faith Pittsburgh

711 Old Clairton Road, Jefferson Hills, PA 15025 412-653-6930 • www.jeffersonhillsbiblechurch.org

FAITH Pittsburgh South | Fall 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 19

Hands holding

It’s the best job I have ever had, and every day God teaches me something new through it. By Alan Ciechanowski

I am the development director at Hillcrest Christian Academy in Bethel Park, where my duties often stray far from “development work.” I don’t mind though, because it is often through these extra tasks that God works on me the most. Afternoon Bus Duty is one of my favorite times of the day. In the morning, many of the children are tired, grumpy, and wishing that the bus had somehow miraculously transported them to Disney World or even Kennywood. Anywhere but to school. In the afternoon though, with the day behind them, the kids are happy, running to their bus, glad to be on their way home. We have a policy about kindergarteners when we are putting them on the bus, especially in the first weeks of the year: we take them by

the hand and walk them to the bus. We do this for a couple of reasons: to make sure they get on the right bus, and to make sure they feel and stay safe as they make it to their bus, because there are still other buses coming into the lot. There are three little ones in particular, Naomi and Hannah from the Upper St. Clair bus and Emma from the South Fayette bus, who joyously grab my hands—sometimes even racing to see who gets one first—for our walk to the buses. For a child, having a hand to hold, whether it is the hand of a parent, a teacher, or any adult, is a big deal. In the power of that connection there is safety, security, peace, and trust. They know that as long as they are holding your hand, they are going to be OK. For an adult, offering a hand

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to hold gives a greater sense of purpose, for you are not just offering a hand, but something much more. You are making a covenant with those children that you will protect them and keep them safe; that as long as they are following your lead, they need not have any fear. But children often hold hands with each other, and as adults, we will hold hands with our spouses or friends. In this too is a connection — a connection that says very similar things about safety and security, but also adds another layer, one of deep friendship or lasting love. When people meet for the first time, they offer a hand. When someone needs help, we lend them a hand; when someone does a really good job, we give them a hand. When we praise God, often we raise our hands.

When things are falling apart around you—when illness, death, hardships, financial concerns, or job worries swirl around you—don’t you wish that you could just hold the hand of God, and in that holding, know that everything is going to be OK? I know I do. Well, take heart, because indeed we have the hand of God. In Psalm 73, we read: “I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. (Psalm 73:23-24). In Psalm 139:9-10, we are further assured of God’s very real presence: “If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” Isn’t it a comforting thought to know that you are never far from the hand of God? No matter where we are in life, and no matter how far we feel we have fallen, God is there, and his hand is reaching down to us. One of my favorite passages from the Bible was impressed upon me early in my Christian life, and it is a passage I often go to when I feel the pressures of life: I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. (Isaiah 41:9-13) Do you ever feel fearful or dismayed? The hand of God is there. Do you feel the world closing in and opposing you and all you stand for? The hand of God is there. Do you feel a war raging between your sinful nature and the new creation that you truly are? The hand of God is there. It is always there for the taking. A little further along in Isaiah we read the following: This is what God the LORD says — the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind,

to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. (Isaiah 42:5-7) The hand of God: the hand that created the heavens and the earth; it gives you each breath you take. This very same hand, that in Revelation holds seven stars, holds you up and sustains you in your despair, in your fear and in your joy. This hand upholds you, and it does so much more—it makes you a light for the world, helps you to open the eyes of the blind, to free captives from prison. And it is this hand that calls you to hold out your hand, and your heart, to children getting on a bus, to friends in need, to loved ones who need to know the comfort of being loved. I hope the next time you wash your hands, or apply lotion, or get a manicure, you remember the grace and peace that God gives as he extends his hand, and the grace and peace we can offer to others—children and adults alike. †

Alan Ciechanowski

Development Director Hillcrest Christian Academy 412.854.4040 • www.hillcrestca.org

A Superior Academic Program, A Winning Athletic Tradition, A Character-Building, God-Honoring Approach to Education.

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Teaching Minds and Training Hearts since 1982. 3 year-old Pre-K through 12th grade 2500 Bethel Church Road • Bethel Park PA •15102 412-854-4040 • www.hillcrestca.org FAITH Pittsburgh South | Fall 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 21

BEHOLD: The Power of Cheese By Herb Shaffer

I was content to live and let live. Really, I was. I am not a violent person. Sheila, my wife, howeverâ&#x20AC;Ś

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t all happened some years ago. I first heard the noise while I was enjoying some afternoon Sabbath rest. It was a scurrying kind of sound. I looked out of our secondstory window toward the rain gutter thinking it was a bird. Nothin’. Every Sunday afternoon the same thing. It sounded like it was just outside of our window. Never anything in sight; only the noise. As fall fell, the noise seemed to disappear… most of the time. Once in a while it would show up again. But, hey, live and let live. I can coexist with a little noise. I’ve lived in a small house with two teenagers and two elementary kids! In October Sheila was in the attic straightening our stuff and looked into a dollhouse stored up there. She noticed that something had been sleeping in Papa Bear’s bed. Wait, no, that’s a different story. She really did notice that something had eaten the ends off of a package of plastic hotdogs. (Don’t ask me why we have plastic hotdogs in our attic.) There were also shreds of tissues scattered about. Ah, the plot thickened. In November Sheila went into the attic to grab the Thanksgiving decorations. She pulled out her cornhusk dolls fashioned to look like pilgrims. She’s had them for years, but something was very different. I’m not an observant guy, but even I noticed the change. Something had eaten their faces. (Boy, did we have fun with that.) They were in mint condition except... faceless. Just two more faceless pilgrims in the crowd of life. After Thanksgiving Sheila was putting decorations away and found that ears of dried Indian corn stored in the attic had been completely stripped and the kernels taken. Whatever was “up there” had not only eaten the faces off of the pitiful pilgrims but had also stolen the color from her decorative door hanging and left her the cobs behind. I was amused but SHEILA WAS NOT HAPPY. And everybody knows, “When momma ain’t happy, nobody’s happy.” She had a solution. Being a peace-loving kind of person, she didn’t want to do anything vicious so she bought a pest-preventing gadget. The idea is to plug it into an electrical outlet to emit a high-pitched sound wave and thus chase away any varmints with no harm to the creatures. We no longer heard the noise and thought our visitors “up there” had vacated the premises. In December Sheila once again ascended the stairs into the attic. After sending all the other Christmas stuff down, she carried her box of angel ornaments to the living room. She heard rattling. Her angels have not, do not and never will rattle. Most are made of soft, lightweight materials. She thought that a glass angel must have broken.

Unpacking the angels, wonder of wonders, there were kernels of Indian corn nicely squirreled away and tissues neatly gathered for a nest. Whatever was “up there” had no plans of leaving anytime soon. I was amused. Very amused. Amber was amused. Chadd was amused. But SHEILA WAS NOT HAPPY. Nor was she amused. And everyone knows, “When momma ain’t amused, ain’t nobody amused for long.” Those animals could have grown old together, reaching a ripe old age, sitting in very small rocking chairs in the dollhouse, afghans lying across their laps, sipping cocoa and roasting plastic hotdogs in the fireplace except that they made a fatal mistake… They made Sheila mad. I have lived long enough to discover that you can push a person only so far, and then it’s over. It’s done. Decisive action is on its way and she is not going to stop until this thing is done and she is victorious. And those mammals had pushed her too far. She left the house and when she returned, in her hands were two very crude weapons of mass destruction – mousetraps. She asked me to “load them.” I am not a violent person, but whatever was “up there” had created a situation and my life was not going to ever be the same until I took care of them. So using two small pinches of colby longhorn cheese, I set the traps and placed one on each side of the attic entrance. The next afternoon I was sitting at the desk in my office when I got a call. I had been there all day, many things on my mind. “We have success!” I heard my otherwise gentle wife scream on the other end of the line. Like a good husband my mind raced, trying desperately to figure out what I was obviously supposed to know and that I was probably in trouble if I couldn’t figure it out quickly. Nothing came to mind. “What in the world are you talking about?” I innocently asked. “We have success ‘up there.’ Both traps,” she nearly shouted with delight. Now, you need to understand the depth of meaning in that statement. Sheila hates rodents and she hates dead animals. Never, ever, have I heard joy in this woman’s voice over either a rodent or a dead animal. I looked at the phone as if an alien had possessed her. “Oh. Well, did you take them out of the traps?” “No way. That’s your job!” my gentle wife replied. When I got home that evening I went “up there.” She was right. Two small gray mice had met their maker in our devices of death. They should have known not to make momma mad.

That was the end of our noise. It wasn’t really the trap that got them. It was the cheese. One of the mice smelled the colby, scurried over and took a nibble. The appeal was profound after working so hard on dried corn. With the tasty treat, though, came the trap and the end of life. I can imagine the second mouse watch the first get caught, shed a mousy tear for his brother and then look at the other trap. “I never did think he was all that smart,” he whispered to himself approaching the other pinch of cheese. “He couldn’t get it, but I’ll be able to grab the cheese before the trap springs. It won’t happen to me. I am able to get the cheese without the pain.” He tried and quickly followed mouse number 1 to his eternal destiny. The power of cheese. Pretty silly mice, don’t you think? Risking it all for a pinch of longhorn. We’d never do that, would we? Sure we do. The desire for something moves us to ignore danger. We know what we want may be wrong but we justify our actions and think we can get it without pain. But we can’t and we pay the price. There is something in each of our lives that tempts us to risk all to get it. We even lie to ourselves as we watch others bring sorrow into their lives, telling ourselves that other “mice” might not be able to get the cheese without pain, but we can. We scoff at high-profile people who chase the cheese but everybody has cheese in his life. Everybody. What is the cheese in your life? That which tempts you powerfully, promising satisfying reward but delivering destruction and sorrow? We must recognize it, guard against it and RUN away from it. Otherwise we will not survive. The power of cheese is real and it is strong. We dare not mess with it, but claim the promises and power of God to say no. Then RUN! “But remember this—the wrong desires that come into your life aren’t anything new and different. Many others have faced exactly the same problems before you. And no temptation is irresistible. You can trust God to keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it, for he has promised this and will do what he says. He will show you how to escape temptation’s power so that you can bear up patiently against it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 (TLB) †

Herb Shaffer,

Senior Pastor, New Song Community Church 4767 Library Road Bethel Park, PA, 15102 • 412.283.0888 www.newsongpittsburgh.org

FAITH Pittsburgh South | Fall 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 23

Who said that?

FAITH Media

New Testament Quiz

1.) “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” King Herod King Agrippa Saul Pontius Pilate

5.) “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Peter Jesus Satan John the Baptist

9.) “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water” Simon Peter James Matthew Timothy

2.) “Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.” Joseph Mark Zacharias Peter

6.) “Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Simon Peter a publican a Sadducee a rich ruler

10.) “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” Peter King Herod Jesus Paul

3.) “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire....” Matthew John the Baptist James Peter

7.) “Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.” one of the thieves that was crucified with Jesus Martha Lazarus a Samaritan

4.) “If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” a Pharisee Satan a Samaritan a Sadducee

8.) “Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.” the good Samaritan the Samaritan woman at the well Mary Magdalene Andrew

Book review

Source – religionresourcesonline.org

See page 48 for answers

Review By: Robert Driskell

Dr. R. Albert Mohler is president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. I have read several of his books and would recommend them to any Christian wanting to bolster his or her apologetic knowledge. Dr. Mohler does a wonderful job of explaining the difference between the ‘modern’ era and the “postmodern” era. He very clearly describes how the church must interact with the postmodern culture if we are to make a difference. He goes to great lengths (rightly so, in my opinion) to stress that we must not change, or water down, the biblical message in order to connect with our culture. Christians must be pure conduits of the Bible’s message, especially the Gospel. We are not helping anyone

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by presenting them with a less-than-true version of the Gospel message. Dr. Mohler tackles subjects such as the existence of hell, the Christian vision of beauty, the Emerging Church movement, Open Theism, the demise of church discipline, the importance of being evangelistic, and the urgency of biblical, expository preaching. I highly recommend this book to every Christian concerned with the declining moral climate of our nation and world. Dr. Mohler challenges Christians to resist the pull of the secular culture in which we live and to live out the holiness that is ours through our relationship with Jesus.

movie Review Taken By Grace

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Starring: Angus Macfadyen, Haylie Duff and Kevin Downes Director: Brett Divine Rated: NR Dove approved 12yrs + Runtime: 105 minutes Release Date: Aug. 20, 2013 Studio: Pure Flix Entertainment The movie begins with Lucas Blackstone, (Angus Macfadyen, Braveheart) having just been released from prison, breaking into a house and stealing a revolver and bottle of whiskey while ignoring the many valuables there. A short time later Lucas comes upon the campsite of Shawn and Carrie Everett, (Bradley Dorsey and Haylie Duff) a young couple trying to work out the problems in their marriage. Lucas kidnaps the couple and forces them to drive him to a neighboring town. Throughout the movie, Taken By Grace keeps you involved and wanting to know what happens next. With some very surprising twists you will not be disappointed. Angus Macfayden steals the show, he is excellent throughout the movie, and he makes the pain his character feels a palpable thing. As the story unfolds and we learn of the troubles that Shawn and Carrie are facing in their marriage as well as the whole story and reason behind Lucas’s journey, a clear and powerful message of forgiveness and grace emerges. By the end of the film we learn that sometimes the most difficult person to forgive is ourselves, but to truly begin the healing process that is what must be done. Taken By Grace is definitely a worthwhile film to watch with a strong message that is presented well by the writers and director.

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FAITH Pittsburgh South | Fall 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 25

Heaven the road to

Follow Jesus Today

Everyone has sinned and has fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

If you are ready to follow Jesus take the first step now and pray this prayer.

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. (Acts 16:31)

Lord I know and confess that I am a sinner, Lord please forgive me for my past sins and keep me from future sins. I believe Jesus is God and lived a sinless life, died for my sins so that I wouldn’t have to, and was raised from the dead that I can have new and eternal life. Lord please come into my life now and become my personal savior. From this day until my last day I give you control Lord. Make me a new person born again this day, guide my life to fulfill your will and bring glory to your name. In Jesus Christ’s name I ask this. Amen.

Confess your sins. If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. (1 John 1:9) Everyone needs to be saved, because sin causes separation from God and eternal death. The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23) You can’t save yourself, but God desires to save you! This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (I Timothy 2:3,4) For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9) By faith believe Jesus and accept Him. Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household. (Acts 16:31) 26 724.942.0940 to advertise | FAITH Pittsburgh South

If you said this prayer sincerely desiring a relationship with Jesus Christ and have accepted Jesus as your savior, you have taken the first step in an amazing journey with the Lord. There is much more to do; first and foremost is to find a church family to be part of that will educate and inspire you in your walk with the Lord. Please write to Faith Pittsburgh and let us know about your choice and if there is anything we can do to help you.

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The probate process is generally initiated by filing a petition or application for probate in the county in which the deceased person was living at the time of his or her death. You will also need to file the death certificate and the original will (if there is one) with the court. Once the estate has been formally opened and established, it is typically the responsibility of the executor/ administrator to undertake certain procedural steps as follows: • Publish a notice of the opening of estate in a local newspaper or other publication as required; • Mail notices of the estate to any and all known creditors; • Mail notices of the estate to any and all known beneficiaries and heirs; • File proof as required that all notices have been published and mailed; • Post a bond (if required), which protects the estate from any losses which you may cause during your administration of the estate. The amount of the bond generally depends on the size of the estate; • Prove the Will’s validity by providing statements from one or more witnesses to the Will; and • File other documents such as status reports, inventories, etc. as required by the court.

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As the executor/administrator, you’ll be responsible for keeping the estate property and assets safe during the probate process. You’ll need to prepare a comprehensive list of both the deceased person’s assets and liabilities and, if necessary, get certain assets appraised. You’ll also typically need to: • Get an employer identification number (EIN) for the estate from the IRS; • Notify the state health or welfare department of the death as required by state law; • Open an estate bank account; • Arrange for the preparation of income, inheritance and estate tax returns; • Prepare and file an inventory and appraisal of estate assets; • Mail notices to creditors and pay estate debts in the order and priority required by state law; • If the court requires it, file a list of creditors’ claims that you have approved and/or denied; • If required, file a federal estate tax return within nine months after death; and • If required, file a state inheritance/estate tax return within nine months after death.

Closing the Estate

When the creditors claim period has passed, you’ve paid debts and filed all necessary tax returns, and any disputes have been settled and resolved, you’ll be ready to distribute all remaining property to the heirs and beneficiaries. FAITH Pittsburgh South | Fall 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 27

three these

WORDS by Sarah Catherine Howard

was riding the elevator to the sixth floor. Concern had not even crossed my selfish, 16-year-old mind. I had no clue what walking off that elevator would do to the next year of my life. As I stepped onto the floor, I instantly felt tension. Continuing on to room 604, I now reflect with a clear memory. The room was situated on the right of the hall. When you walked through the door, to the right was a very tiny restroom. In the center of the room was the bed. Right of the bed was a sink, a mirror and some cabinets. To the left, a chair and a window seat area. The television hung from the ceiling. Next to the bed was a little nightstand. On this nightstand were some “get well soon” flowers. I walked over to the bed and plopped down on the end, thankful to finally rest my feet after a long day of standing. My two little sisters sat next to me. My mom was reclining, with her hair pulled up in her normal ponytail, and a nightgown on while donning those little hospital socks. I always noticed when she wore them … I don’t know why. She looked at me and asked, “How did the homecoming parade go?” “It went well and it was pretty fun,” I replied. As I continued to pour out the details, I noticed my mother’s eyes filling with tears. I immediately stopped my story and nervously asked, “What’s wrong, Mom?” Up to this point she had dealt with major back pain issues and had her gall bladder removed a couple weeks earlier. What could have been so wrong now? She turned to my dad asking, “Mike, can you take Abigail to the waiting room?” He carried my smallest sister out of the room and took her to watch

28 724.942.0940 to advertise | FAITH Pittsburgh South

some cartoons. Left in the room were my mother, my little sister Elizabeth, our friend Tammy, with her daughter Olivia, and myself. Silence abounded and my mom started getting a little choked up. “Well girls, we got some bad news today.” She began to cry.

“They found a tumor, and

I have cancer.” In that moment … with these three words … time froze for me. There were too many thoughts on my mind to even think of speaking back. My only response was a scream. Crying would not even describe my reaction. I was sobbing, wailing out in heartbreak. A flood of emotions took over me. I was shocked, confused, upset, angry, hurt, torn to pieces, but mostly I felt hopeless. It felt as if someone had robbed me of my hope and was running away with it; running so fast I could not catch up! I truly did not know how to handle this or even what my future would hold. How long would I have my mom in my life? What about graduation, college, even marriage someday? I felt angry, longing to take this demon of cancer away from my mom, so she would not have to endure the anguishing journey ahead. I did not understand how all of this could be happening, especially to MY mom. The thoughts going through my head were insane. And then she spoke! “This is what I want you to know. I WILL NOT ask why. You refuse to ask why, too. Instead you ask ‘Why NOT me?’ God is in control, and he knows what he’s doing.” As time went on these words helped me discover who my mother truly was: a woman of great faith. As this gruesome journey forged ahead, she continued to bring others to God, witnessing to everyone she met about “her” Lord Jesus. This was HER cross to bear. Throughout the next year, she helped me learn to appreciate every little blessing God has given me. Her journey has brought me closer in my faith. I did not know how my family would get through everything. We did know one thing as a family though: no matter what, God is in control. If it is God’s will, then so be it. As my mother began her first treatment of chemo, it truly was hard to watch. I would, however, spend as much time with her as I could. I wanted to skip my homecoming dance and stay with her, but of course, she would not hear of it. I just loved being around her. Even with her first round of chemo, she was still my awesome, super mom. We would read devotionals, the Bible, talk about different topics, watch television together, and pray. Any time she had visitors, she would tell them how it’s God’s will, and she would beat her cancer and give the glory to God. She was a woman of undeniable faith, and no cancer could take that away from her. It can’t take my faith away either! †

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(Editor’s Note: God called Amy Howard (wife of Mike Howard, Word FM) home to Him on July 11, 2013 … 9 days after her 25th wedding anniversary, and one day after her 50th birthday. She HAD finally defeated cancer in the end! Sarah has now turned 17 and is eagerly awaiting the start of college next year majoring in Pre-med/Oncology.)

FAITH Pittsburgh South | Fall 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 29

BIBLE STUDY

Faith Pittsburgh

BIBLE STUDY

Welcome to Faith Pittsburgh Bible Study. Every issue we take a verse, break it down, look at what the verse says, talk about the meaning and discuss ways to apply it in our daily lives.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (ESV)

Meaning – This verse when taken in conjunction with John 1:1 provides incontrovertible proof of the eternal Godhead (divinity) of Jesus Christ, spoken of in verse 14 as the Word and then looking back at verse 1 we see: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God - John 1:1 (ESV) From these verses we know that Jesus was there in the beginning with God, he was God. We also know from these verses that he became flesh and dwelt among us as the perfect embodiment of the Godhead. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary explains why Jesus is called the Word as follows. “The plainest reason why the Son of God is called the Word seems to be that as our words explain our minds to others, so was the Son of God 30 724.942.0940 to advertise | FAITH Pittsburgh South

sent in order to reveal his Father’s mind to the world.” I think this is a very good and accurate explanation for why Jesus was called the Word in these verses and as such I wanted to share it with you. Application – Unlike many verses we discuss here there is not a clear action to take based upon this verse: the most important thing we can take away from this is the knowledge that Jesus Christ was there from the very beginning of creation and that Jesus became flesh and walked among man sharing God’s grace and truth. This verse also can be a starting point for an amazing journey back through the Old Testament to the time of creation looking for the myriad of explicit and implicit references to Jesus, knowing now that he has always been there. †

Thessalonians

rid. When you are done, the unused letters in the grid will spell out a hemout fromleft to right, top line to bottomline. Words can go and diagonally in all eight directions. P

Faith Word Search

Thessalonians

www.WordSearchMaker.com

alive

Judea

archangel

judgement

benediction

kingdom

father

lawlessness

glory

ministry

grace

Paul

greeting

peace

holiness

pray

idleness

thanks

Jesus

We want to hear from you! Let us know what you think, share your personal testimonies, suggest additional distribution points, or send us your inspirational story.

Send to: editor@faithpittsburgh.com

FAI H

f e w. - M aT T h e w 9 : 3 7 T h e h a rv e sT i s p l e n T i f u l , b u T T h e w o r k e r s a r e

T h e h a rv e sT i s p l e n Tiful

FAI H Pi

Pi sburgh South

, buT The w orkers ar e f e w. - M aT Thew 9:37

sburgh North

the

faith

Matters of the Heart

Following and the

page 12

Purpose Que st page 16

Raising Up Young Leaders

Following Jesus on the Job

page 30

page 22

See page 48 for answers

Built

Matters of the Heart

Word of God

page 30

To Everything a Season

on the

page 34

page 7

FAITH Pittsburgh South | Fall 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 31

Nothing less than a

By Pamela Palongue

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“Our son Logan was born in 1997,” explains Lisa Knupp from Penn Hills. “He was a healthy baby boy, weighing 10 pounds. But as the months passed, I noticed something wasn’t quite right. His eyes were crossing at times and he couldn’t sit up on his own. Then I remembered that right after Logan was born, a gentleman from our church approached me and said that God was going to use me, and that the next three years would be difficult.” At that time, no one thought there was anything wrong with Logan. But the words of the man came back to Lisa as her child displayed more signs of physical problems. She took Logan to see her pediatrician friend, who reassured her that her baby, now six months old, was just fine; no need to worry. Still, Lisa felt something was wrong. Lisa, a teacher, realized she would need to take a leave of absence, knowing her son would soon be needing her full time. By September, Logan began sleeping a great deal, but the pediatrician still felt there was no cause for alarm. However, to appease Lisa, she made an appointment with an ophthalmologist to check Logan’s crossed eyes. The ophthalmologist also confirmed that Logan seemed perfectly healthy, but at Lisa’s insistence, he scheduled an MRI. The day of the MRI, Lisa and her husband, Alan, waited anxiously in the examining room. The doctor entered with a stern face. Logan had a cancerous brain tumor located at the base of the skull. Alan collapsed on the floor sobbing and Lisa was beyond shock, staring into space. The doctor scheduled Logan’s surgery for the next morning.

Chemotherapy was started and Logan’s next MRI was scheduled. That day, before the MRI appointment, a grandparent of one of Lisa’s students called. The woman did not know Logan was sick, but related to Lisa that she had a vision of her son’s spine, and at the bottom of the spine was an axe. Then she said, “God’s work is finished.” Not knowing what to make of the strange message, Lisa and Alan went to the hospital for the MRI. After Logan’s scan, the technician came out and said, “OK, you can go home now.” The couple looked at each other a bit confused and said, “But our son has a cancerous tumor on his spine.” The technician said, “There’s nothing on your son’s spine. His scan is clean. What were you looking for?” Soon the doctors came in and confirmed that the tumor was gone. Today, Logan is a healthy, 16-year-old young man. He works at his job as a team leader at McDonald’s, participates in sports and is an excellent student. He has no lasting effects from his ordeal and his eyes, which were permanently crossed due to severed muscle and nerve damage, are now perfectly normal. A book detailing the Knupps’ experience will be released in January, called The Audacity of Prayer by Don Nordin. It will be available on Amazon.com. Alan and Lisa Knupp frequently speak to area organizations relating their story, have appeared on national television shows, and have been interviewed by several national publications. †

“You’re going to see a miracle.” When the doctor left the room, the door opened and Lisa saw a figure from which light emanated. The figure said plainly, “You’re going to see a miracle.” Then just as quickly, the door shut and the figure was gone. In her fragile state, Lisa assumed it must have been the doctor, but when she opened the door and looked into the hallway, no one was there. After asking at the desk if someone had walked past, the nurses said no one had been seen in the hallway. “I felt strangely calm and at peace. I was never afraid, not for one second,” says Lisa. The next day, Logan’s surgery took five hours as the doctors dug deeply into the brain stem, an area that controls autonomic functions such as breathing and heart rate. During the course of the surgery, it was necessary to sever several nerves and muscles that controlled Logan’s eyes in order to remove the tumor. This left Logan’s eyes permanently crossed with none of the iris visible. The next day, a scan of Logan’s spine revealed his spinal column was covered with a cancerous tumor. The doctors predicted that Logan, now seven months old, had a 10 percent chance of reaching his first birthday.

The Knupp family is from Penn Hills Lisa Knupp, Alia Knupp, Tyler Knupp, Alan Knupp, Logan Knupp. Pamela Palongue, Regional Editor IN Community Magazines

FAITH Pittsburgh South | Fall 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 33

Today’s Scripture

1 John 3:1 (ESV)

1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

What’s it mean to me:

A parent knows there is no love like that which we have for our children. God’s unconditional and boundless love for each and every one of us is even greater than that of a parent. Looking at the rest of the verse we gain some insight into the reason that the world doesn’t accept or understand us as Christians: their absence of awareness of the sacrifice Jesus Christ made on the cross that we might have eternal life. Many also lack the realization that God is loving, faithful and forgiving.

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Step into the PAST The Kelso Museum of Near Eastern Archaeology (formerly the James L. Kelso Bible Lands Museum) receives more than 3,500 visitors each year who step into the past—right here in Pittsburgh! On the campus of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (616 N. Highland Ave. in Highland Park), the museum is rooted in the seminary’s program of archaeological field work in the Near East dating back to 1924. The only museum of its kind at a Protestant seminary, the Kelso Museum supports the third oldest field archaeology program in the nation. The museum’s collection is comprised of 7,500 artifacts (including vessels on permanent loan from the Smithsonian), mostly from the five field projects conducted by Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. The artifacts are primarily from seminary-sponsored excavations in Israel, the West Bank, and Jordan undertaken during the early-to-mid 20th century. With the exception of a small number of modern-day folk materials acquired by archaeologists in the 20th century, the collection dates from prehistoric to early Islamic times, with strong holdings in the Early and Middle Bronze ages and the Iron I and II periods (the time of the Hebrew kings of the Old Testament). Exhibits explore continuity and change in many aspects of daily life: settlement patterns, agriculture, technologies and crafts, trade and writing systems and practices. Current exhibits include “Towns and Tombs: The Dead Sea Plain in the Early Bronze Age,” “Every Day in the Land Between, 2000 BCE – 1000 CE,” “Worlds Made Visible,” and “A Photographic Memory: Ninety Years of Archaeology at PTS.” Today, museum director Ron Tappy directs the excavations at Tel Zayit (Arabic “Zeitah”), in

the foothills southwest of Jerusalem. During the 2005 season, Dr. Tappy and his team discovered a Hebrew alphabet incised in a boulder embedded in an ancient wall—the earliest such alphabet ever recovered in situ and subsequently dated to the 10th century BCE, the time of the Old Testament’s King Solomon. This find, called an “abecedary,” was featured in the “Nova” documentary “The Bible’s Buried Secrets.” The discovery is also highlighted in the Kelso Museum’s “Worlds Made Visible” exhibit. In addition to the exhibits, the museum brings prominent scholars to Pittsburgh Theological Seminary to present lectures on archaeological and related topics. Recent lecture titles include “Who’s Buried in Absalom’s Tomb?” “The Wonderful Things of Punt: Excavations at a Pharaonic Harbor on the Red Sea,” and “Uncorking The Past: The Biomolecular Archaeology of Wines, Beers, and Extreme Beverages.” On May 1, 2014, Philip and Gayle Neuman of Ensemble de Organographia will present an evening of ancient Sumerian, Canaanite, Egyptian, and Greek music with instruments including double reed pipes, kithara, sistrum, and Greek and Egyptian trumpets. The lectures are free and open to the public. Visitors, research scholars, and students of all ages are welcome to browse the Kelso Museum exhibits, arrange a tour, or arrange to consult the associated archives maintained by curator

Dr. Karen Bowden Cooper. Admission and parking are free, and the museum is accessible to guests with disabilities. Take your community, school, or church group, Scout troop, family, and friends! Hours are Monday – Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (September – May) and Wednesday – Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (June – August).

Want to see more before visiting? The museum was recently featured on WQED’s Pittsburgh 360° (as the Bible Lands Museum). The weekly program provides a dynamic, interactive look at the people and places, issues and stories that shape the fabric of Pittsburgh and its surrounding communities. You can watch the episode online at www.pts.edu/ Museum. And to learn more about The Zeitah Excavations, visit www.zeitah.net. Call 412.924.1394 or visit www.pts.edu/ Museum to learn more or to arrange visit.

FAITH Pittsburgh South | Fall 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 35

Coming Full Circle On December 19, 2012, the board of directors at CornerStone Network voted unanimously to select Donald Black as the new president of the 34-year-old ministry. by Michael Granovitz

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I have been very fortunate to be afforded the opportunity to spend some time with Don Black, and to be able to give all of our readers a glimpse at what the future holds for CornerStone TV as well as an introduction to its new president. FP: Please share with us your background. DB: Since 1984, when I began working at CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network), I have been involved in Christian broadcast ministry. I worked at CBN while finishing my graduate degree at Regent University in Virginia Beach. After leaving CBN I went to the Inspiration Network, working with David Cerullo as vice president of sales and development. I was then recruited by Dr. Charles Stanley’s In Touch ministry in Atlanta, Georgia. I worked with Charles for eight years; we worked all around the world using television and internet to make disciples in what we liked to call a Great Commission Ministry. We tried to help people realize and develop their personal gifts so that their lives could have an eternal impact. That was my last assignment before coming here, so I’ve had the privilege of being in Christian ministry for almost 30 years. FP: I read in another interview that by returning to the Pittsburgh area, you felt that you had come full circle. Why is that? DB: I was born in Washington, Pennsylvania, but we moved around a lot because my father was involved in the coal industry; he was a UMWA member. We spent a good deal of time in Pennsylvania, in fact in Ebensburg is where I received Jesus as my Savior, watching Billy Graham on television. I was an eight-year-old young man watching TV and Billy Graham came on (back in those days you didn’t have remote controls for the television). We had three stations and had to get up to change the channel and the antenna, so when he came on I didn’t want to change the channel. I was watching by myself and he was preaching about accepting Jesus as your Savior, and he challenged the viewers to pray with him and I prayed the sinners prayer with him, even though I grew up in a Catholic home (my mother was a devout Catholic). He said, “I want you to do three things: go tell someone what you did, I want you to be baptized and then I want you to find a home church.” I remember clearly walking into the kitchen, looking at my mom and telling her I want to be baptized. When she told me that I had already been christened as a baby, I said, “No I want to be baptized like the man on TV said.”

To my mom’s credit, after I had pestered her over a period of time she took me to a Baptist church and I got baptized. And that all happened in Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, so I came to know the Lord there under those unusual circumstances and he has brought me back to carry on in ministry. In addition to that, my wife Teri was born and raised in Butler so it is a homecoming for both of us. So in a spiritual and physical way, it all started here. FP: For those who aren’t familiar with the network, please tell us about CornerStone Network. DB: CornerStone Network was founded 35 years ago this coming April by Russ and Norma Bixler. Norma, during a visit to CBN, was given the vision to start a Christian television station back in Pittsburgh. The call to her was clear, and after many months and amazing revelations Russ came to share the conviction. God spoke to Norma and she listened, although it took 10 years of struggle from the concept to the birth of the CTVN. From the very beginning CTVN has broadcast Christian shows, and has been used to bring great revivals to this area. Since its inception CTVN has really grown, broadcasting across the United States reaching 6 million homes. There is a lot of original programming including programs from 45 different national ministries that through the internet can be seen around the world. CTVN is a very dynamic ministry and one of the aspects that we are proudest of is our prayer ministry, which includes a 24/7 line that received 80,000 calls last year. People call for many different reasons seeking someone to pray for them. So you have television, prayer and the third part of the equation that makes up CTVN is outreach; we take 10% of all money that comes in and use it in our outreach ministry. We support 15 different outreach programs around the world; we start right here in Pittsburgh and work out from there. All of these programs are gospel centered and focused on helping people. FP: What is the mission of CTVN? DB: The mission has not changed in 35 years: to share the gospel of Jesus with as many people as possible as quickly and effectively as possible and to support the local church. We are not a church—our job is to support the church; the church is ground zero for God’s kingdom. FP: What is your vision for CTVN going forward?

DB: We are looking to create more high-quality original programming, which must be made as good as possible to have maximum impact and reflect upon our God. We are also looking to increase our distribution from 6 million to 10-20 million. To increase local programs and our connections within the Christian community in Pittsburgh. FP: Can you give us a preview of what you have in store for us? DB: We have a new flagship program, “Real Life,” which debuted September 9 at 9 p.m. “Real Life” is a show that teaches, inspires and helps people grow in their faith with music, testimonies and special features and segments. An example of one of the special segments is called Sister to Sister and features four or five Christian women, who share a belief in Jesus but have different doctrinal perspectives, discussing relevant topics based upon their personal viewpoints. We have movies, music and we are working on a Christian reality show. CTVN has new kids programming, special events in the area that are designed to draw people together, and we are committed to growing our prayer line. It is truly an exciting time to be part of this ministry and seeing people’s hearts and lives transformed. FP: You have a very successful background. Is there one achievement that stands out from the rest? DB: When I look back and see the successes, I also see the challenges that went along with them: I can say without any doubt that God has been at work every step of the way, and the success has been His blessing to the various ministries. I know that the best part is yet to come. FP: What would your prayer request be if you were asking others to pray for you? DB: We put together a prayer team here made up of 22 people who pray for the ministry, the city and the leadership to make wise choices. I also would ask for prayer that I might know the best way to please God as a servant, husband, father, brother, son and minister. It was a pleasure spending time with Don and I sincerely hope that the future will bring many occasions to work alongside him. For many Christians in the Pittsburgh area, CTVN has been a pillar within the community and I have no doubt under the leadership of Don Black that will continue for many years to come. I know that all of us are very busy and never seem to have time to do all that we would like, but I ask that you make it a priority to take advantage of the blessing that is CornerStone Network. †

FAITH Pittsburgh South | Fall 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 37

“You always marry the wrong person” Marriage is terribly beautiful and difficult. We need each other to walk faithfully

By Rev. Jake Clawson

y little sister got married about a year ago at this time. I was a groomsman. Her pastor led the service but I was asked to say a prayer of blessing during the ceremony. I was happy to do that, but I think that some of the folks in attendance were a bit puzzled by my prayer. I didn’t ask the Lord for the newlyweds to be fulfilled in each other’s loving gaze. I didn’t ask for a lifetime of marital bliss and ogling stares.

I didn’t ask Jesus to make them the best of friends so that they wouldn’t need anyone else in their lives. What I did ask was for the courage and support to keep making the decision to love each other, to be faithful to the vows they were about to take. Stanley Hauerwas, a theological ethicist from Duke, has a saying that his students have deemed “Hauerwas’s Law.” It’s simple: “You always marry the wrong person.” (You

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shouldn’t be offended; it just sounds like you should. Also, if you are engaged to be married, please keep reading.) That is really just his startling way of saying, “You don’t know what marriage vows are going to ask of you and how they are going to change you until you’re already in the mess of it...and then it’s too late!” Anyone who’s been married any length of time knows that even though they thought they knew what they were doing, they didn’t.

Couples getting married also might think that they are inviting all these people—best friends, regular friends, acquaintances, not-so-close-family-friends-that-you-invited-because-yourgreat-aunt-would-be-offended-if-you-didn’t, as well as family members—to come to the ceremony to celebrate with them, but that’s not what they are there for. The celebration happens at the reception. Instead, they’ve invited people to watch them get married so that those guests can witness the vows they’re taking and keep them accountable to those vows because they don’t know what they’re doing. This is true whether the couple is young or old, or has been dating for two weeks or 10 years. Scripture refers to the church (much to the chagrin of the Christian macho man) as the “bride of Christ.” Like brides and grooms, sooner or later we find out that we had no idea what we were getting into when we decided to follow Jesus or how we would be changed along the way. This is why we talk about Christian virtue. Striving with a community to live virtuously is what we need to keep on going. There are two things that virtue helps us do. First, it helps us chart a path forward. I know if I take a look at myself, there are plenty of places for improvement in my character. I’d venture a guess that the same is true for you. We are all works in progress. So what might God be calling you to today? That’s not always the easiest thing to figure out. It might be helpful to take a look at the “Fruits of the Spirit” in Galatians 5 and pick one “fruit” to ask God to grow in your life and to practice per week. Before you know it, you will be walking purposefully and steadily along the path of becoming a person whose life is marked by the hope and love and joy of Jesus. Second, it enables us to walk that path together. Just like folks gather at a wedding to promise to hold newlyweds accountable to their vows, we gather Sunday after Wednesday night and fellowship meal after mission trip to encourage one another to keep choosing Jesus. We need each other. We can’t do this on our own. We need to know that we are in this with other people who can model for us how to live with character when life hits the fan. We need people who will pray for us and support us when we screw up because they’ve been there too. To the extent that we keep encouraging one another and demonstrating for each other that the possibility of living differently in the world actually exists, we will enable each other to flex and grow courage and love and self-control like atrophied muscles. Day by day and by grace of God, we’ll begin to put those virtues to work, putting one foot in front of the other as we learn how to walk faithfully. So get yourself to church and commit to investing in the people there. It’s not about the building or the programs or any of that other stuff, it’s about people living the good news of Jesus together and being the kingdom of hope and love that He couldn’t keep quiet about. Support one another in that. Keep meeting together, eating together, praying together, and living life together because, quite simply, we need each other. †

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Rev. Jake Clawson - Jefferson United Presbyterian Church 716 Gill Hall Rd. Jefferson Hills, PA 15025 412.653.4797 • www.jeffersonupc.com FAITH Pittsburgh South | Fall 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 39

KIDS CORNER

Finding

Happiness a childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story by Peter Stone

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inger the cat was trotting soundlessly through the backyard’s long grass when she heard a faint crying. Pointing her ears down, she searched around until she spotted a small harvester ant sitting on a small rock. The ant was sobbing hopelessly.

“What’s the matter, little ant, why are you crying?” asked Ginger. The little black ant with a red head looked up at the cat towering above her, and moaned, “I can’t do anything right, my whole life is a mess!” Ginger squatted down on her haunches. “Oh, really? Then you really must tell me all about it, and perhaps I can help you.” “Well,” began the ant, “the other day I tried to spin a beautiful web, but nothing happened!” “That’s because you are not a spider,” answered the cat. “Only spiders can spin webs. Why else is your life is a mess?” “After that, I jumped off a tall flower because I wanted to fly through the air like a butterfly.” “And how did that work?” queried Ginger.

The little ant dragged a hooked claw across the rock. “Well, the wind blew me halfway across the yard, but I could not fly. Finally I crashed head first into that tree over there.” “I think, little ant, that to fly, you really need to have wings. And I’m sorry to tell you, but that’s something you just don’t have. Is there any more?” “Yes, there is. After that I decided that to be happy in life, I wanted to paint pretty snail trails all over this rock,” answered the ant after a moment. The cat looked at the rock. “I can’t see any snail trails.” The ant looked down sheepishly, “Well, um, that’s because instead of laying a pretty snail trail, all I laid was a scent trail. It took me the rest of the day to tell my sisters that there was nothing exciting to see and to get off the rock.” That cat crossed her front paws and lay her head on them. “I know what your problem is little ant.” turn to next page ›

FAITH Pittsburgh South | Fall 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 41

KIDS CORNER

“You do? Great! Quickly, tell me!” demanded the harvester ant. “You are trying to be something you are not,” said the cat, “and when you do that, your life does not work. You will always be frustrated and unhappy. There is a secret to being happy; do you want to know what it is?” “Quick, tell me! I’m so unhappy all the time.” “To be happy, you have to be what God made you to be. And He made you an ant,” declared Ginger. “So, stop trying to be a spider, a butterfly, or a snail. And to be even happier, you have to do the things that God has given you to do. Since He made you an ant, you should only do ant things. And when you do, you will be able to do them better than a spider, butterfly, or snail.” “And then I’ll be happy?” asked the ant.

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“Yes,” nodded Ginger, “no spider can dig underground tunnels like ants. That must make you very satisfied. No butterfly can make a scent trail for its sisters to follow. That means ants have a great family that can work together. And no snail can carry something ten times heavier than itself. Wow, what a wonderful life you ants can have when you live your lives God’s way!” The ant looked up, no longer crying, “I never thought of it like that! I’m not going to live my life my own way anymore; I’m going to live it God’s way. I’m going to run home back to my nest and my sisters, and I’m going to do ant things better than all the spiders, butterflies and snails!” Peter Stone, teaches Sunday school and plays the piano in church.

The End

KIDS CORNER

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

Creation 1

Matt 22:37 ESV

10 3

Creation Creation

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4 woman was created from man's _______ 5 he was the first man 7 the story of creation is in what book of the Bible the devil became appeared as what animal what animal 9 the devil 10 she was the first woman DOWN

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from 4 woman was created 6 man's _______ 5 he was the first man 8 7 the story of creation is in what book of the Bible 9 the devil became what animal 10 she was the first woman

1 God saw what he had done and it was _______ 2 Adam and Eve lived in the _______ of Eden 3 we are created in God's ________ 6 God said let there be ________ 8 Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of ______ 9 God created the world in _________ days

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1 God saw w it was ___ 2 Adam and _______ o 3 we are cre ________ 6 God said l 8 Adam and Garden of 9 God creat ________

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FAITH Pittsburgh South | Fall 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 43

We are the Church By Pastor Floyd Hughes

s many individuals and families get back into the swing of school happenings, many congregations are also hoping and praying that people will get back into the habit of going to church. However, people don’t go to church...we are the Church. Many of us have probably grown up using the phrase “go to church” without even thinking about it. It’s not wrong to say as we have become accustomed to doing. However, when we use that terminology we actually take away from the fullness of what the Church was created to be. Although the concept of the Church is evidenced throughout the Old Testament, we do not see it defined and come to fruition until the New Testament. In chapter 16 of the book of Matthew, Jesus told his followers that He would build this thing called the Church, on a revelation of God to Peter: that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Two chapters later, Jesus told his followers that this thing He would build called the Church was in existence. In Matthew 18 Jesus described the Church as a place where believers could go at that time for resolution and restoration. The word that Jesus used and that is used throughout the New Testament to describe the church is a word that literally means people called out from one place, where they were, into another “public” place. Although over the centuries we have gotten used to going to church, we are supposed to be a public manifestation of God’s presence on the earth; people are supposed to see us “being” the church. In our schools, in our homes, in our work places, at the butcher shop, the bakery, and even in Walmart, people should see something in us that reflects the glory of God. If all we do is gather behind closed

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The book of Acts also records that on that day the church was unified. There were no separations due to preference of song, preaching style, government structure, or even carpet color.

doors on Sunday mornings, you can call us many things, but not the Church. In the book of Acts, God took the Church to the next step. It became the “spirit filled” manifestation of God’s presence on the earth. It’s funny, because once God’s Holy Spirit showed up, the community the Church was meeting in took notice. People saw, heard, and witnessed the goingson of the Church. Although some ridiculed the actions of the Church that day, many found something they could identify with in their own personal longing for God. If the church stays a private entity, meeting behind closed doors for a select few, it will be difficult for those seeking to know and experience God to find Him in the Church. The book of Acts also records that on that day the church was unified. There were no separations due to preference of song, preaching style, government structure, or even carpet color. I have heard one pastor say that if all of the Christ followers in a given city were to gather in one place and all scream the name of their denomination at the same time, there would be chaos and confusion. However, if they all were to gather and at the same time scream the one name by which they and all people can be saved, the name of Jesus, it would be the most significant and most powerful display of the presence of God that many in any city have ever seen. The church was created and equipped to be a place of unity, not division and separation. There will not be any denominational affiliations in heaven. Anyone unhappy with the way God is worshipped, the music choice, or color of the streets of gold will have to make do. So instead of inviting people just to go to celebration on Sunday morning, we can and should also be inviting people into our life, to become a part of this life-giving, spiritfilled manifestation of God’s presence on the earth that meets every day where two or more are gathered in Jesus’ name. Whether that is at home, at school, at a concert, or at a Steelers or Pirates game, it’s the place where we, as Christ followers, reflect the presence and glory of God and invite others to experience His love and joy. Let’s look for ways to “do life” together outside of the Sunday morning celebration and invite others to become a part of the most powerful thing in existence on the planet, the entity that Jesus said the gates of hell would not prevail against, the Church. †

Pastor Floyd Hughes

Pastor/Neighbor, CrossRoads Community Church of Jefferson Hills 1028 Scotia Hollow Road N, Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania 412.384.9278 crossroadsofjeffersonhills.com pastor@crossroadsofjeffersonhills.com

FAITH Pittsburgh South | Fall 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 45

Faith Based News

Got Faith? On August 1, tens of thousands of fans crowded into PNC Park to cheer on their hometown Pirates. It was the fifth game of a five-game series against division rivals—the Saint Louis Cardinals. The Pirates had won the first four games and with the resurgence of Pirates baseball, they were going for the series sweep. This was no ordinary game, and as it would turn out, this would be no ordinary night. For the first time in the history of PNC Park, the Pirates were playing host to Faith Night—a post-game event that included several of the players and coaches sharing how their faith in Jesus Christ has impacted their life and approach to the sport they love. After the final out was recorded, fans gathered along the first base line to hear Pirates AllStar center-fielder Andrew McCutchen, field questions from eight young Bucco fans. The questions ranged from the song that McCutchen had selected to play when he steps into the batter’s box—which is “Church Clap” from the Christian artist KB—to how often does he read the Bible? With McCutchen’s parents in the audience, he talked openly about the spiritual influence and impact they have had on him since a child. “They instilled the light in me,” McCutchen said of his parents, and each morning he begins his day with a daily devotional forwarded to him from his mother. Following Andrew, Pirates Chaplain Brad Henderson spoke with Pirates pitcher Mark Melancon and former Pirates player and current coach, Jay Bell. Melancon shared how his faith helps him fare with a game that is surrounded with adversity. “If you don’t have Jesus Christ in your life I really don’t know how you do it,” Melancon said. He continued, “there are so many times throughout the season that you’re struggling and that faith helps pull you through.” “Lord, I can’t do this anymore, I’m really having a tough time and I need you to show me what I need to know,” were words spoken by Jay Bell after a game in 1996. That moment marked the point in Bell’s career where he began to enjoy the game more. Incidentally, the message that Bell said he needed to know—focus on yourself less and your teammates more. The evening concluded with Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle taking the field. With his Bible in hand, Hurdle spoke with humor and humility while pacing up and down

the first base sideline. He told the crowd of nearly 3,500 that he has a morning scripture and an evening scripture that he reads every day. His morning scripture comes from 2 Chronicles 16:9, “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” The 56-year-old Hurdle shared that he trusted in Jesus Christ when he was 17 years old. In describing that decision Hurdle said, “that was the best thing that I ever did and what I didn’t realize then is that was a one-way commitment, and Jesus made that commitment. He hasn’t let go of me since that day.” He admitted that he is a flawed human being who described his personal Christian journey not as a walk, but rather an obstacle course. “I ask God to make me the best manager I can be for the Pittsburgh Pirates,” Hurdle stated. And for Hurdle, the best manager he can be is “being accountable to the responsibility of what Christ has done for me.” This was no ordinary evening: the Pirates were arguably handed the worst loss of the season after the Cardinals claimed a 13-0 victory. And yet, in the despair of defeat, the good news of the Gospel—that Jesus has done for us that which we never could do for ourselves—was victoriously proclaimed and poetically summarized through the verse Hurdle reads every evening: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9.

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Faith Based News

Church Sanctuary Lights Up with Christmas Joy During the 6th Annual Christmas Laser Spectacular

Presented by Lightwave International and Canonsburg United Presbyterian Church

It’s no ordinary event. Imagine entering what appears to be a typical church sanctuary. You find a seat and soon afterwards the room goes dim. All of a sudden, the sanctuary is transformed, flooded with brilliant lasers, music and the sound of people shouting with excitement. Over five years, thousands of people have been captivated by this awe inspiring, child-like sense of wonder all in support of several community organizations and ministries. George Dodworth, Canonsburg U.P. Church member and president of Lightwave International, has presented extraordinary laser demonstrations all over the world. His lighting effects have been featured in many celebrity concert tours including Jay-Z, Tom Petty, Madonna, Pink Floyd as well as in many television shows and movies. Most recently, Lightwave lasers were featured in Tom Cruise’s 2013 film, “Oblivion”. Though Dodworth travels the world over, his heart and passion remains in helping folks in his community. Dodworth originated the idea of presenting a laser show at the church as a way to hearten the spirit of Christmas as well as to encourage people to embrace the “season of giving” by helping those less fortunate. “We pack more equipment, millions of dollars of lasers for most shows, into the church sanctuary,” said Dodworth. “I think we really undersell the event; the average person reading

about the show will just expect a small church performance and probably dismiss it -- but it’s far from anything they have seen before.” This will be Dodworth’s 6th year of sponsoring the Christmas Laser Spectacular at Canonsburg U.P. Church. All funds donated at the shows go directly to helping people in the community. In the past years, funds were given to Meals on Wheels, Washington City Mission, Avis Arbor Women’s Shelter, Canonsburg-Houston Food Pantry, Family Promise, and Washington County Habitat for Humanity just to name a few. If your family and friends are looking for a completely unique way to celebrate the Christmas holiday, this show is for you. In addition to the enjoyment you will experience, your donation will help area families in need which is, after all, what the “season of giving” is all about. Though this year’s dates have not yet been confirmed, you are asked to check the Canonsburg U.P. Church website (www.canonsburgup.org) for the latest news about the show.

Stephanie Woodin, Communication Coordinator Canonsburg United Presbyterian Church 112 West Pike Street Canonsburg, PA 15317 (724) 745-0800 swoodin@canonsburgup.org www.canonsburgup.org

The Parable of the PC by Al Boyce In those days there were three computers, endowed equally by their makers with processing power, memory and addressable storage. But Satan corrupted each operating system with the sly installation of spyware, browser hijackers and security holes until there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth. The Maker, in His mercy, sent down His Holy Spirit to the despairing computers. The Holy Spirit appeared to each in the form of System Update to close the security holes and shore up the despairing software. It asked the question of each PC: Do you want to run System Update? and offering a checkbox saying “Always trust” the Maker. The first PC, fearing yet another infection, quickly closed the update window. Within hours, the spyware already on it called out to legions of viruses and malware until the system shut down completely. The second PC accepted the update, but was too frightened to check the “always trust” box. It sighed with relief as the Holy Spirit cleaned its systems and saved it from the worst of the demons. And it walked away with a false sense of security that it would be protected from future onslaughts. Within the month, spyware and malware crept back into the second PC and, before it could cry out to the Maker, it, too, crashed. The third PC gratefully accepted the update and, in a leap of faith, checked the “always trust” box. Like the second PC, it received the merciful update from its Maker and began to feel much better. And then, as days and weeks went by, the Maker sent the Holy Spirit unbidden to shore up the PC’s systems — even when the PC was unaware it was being attacked. Before long, the third PC was becoming famous among all its brethren for having the fewest problems, for working the fastest and for never seeming to worry when others crashed around it. To those who asked, the third PC had only this advice: “Always trust the Maker.” Al Boyce is a former writer and reporter for The Associated Press. He lives in Raleigh, NC, where he now writes for God. Article Source:www.faithwriters.com

FAITH Pittsburgh South | Fall 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 47

FAITH Word Search Solution

Different Kind of

Prayer Author unknown

Heavenly Father, help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and was rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children. Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make change correctly is a worried 19-yearold college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester. Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!), is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares. Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together. Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest of these is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not just to those who are close to us but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judgment and quick to forgive, with patience, compassion and love.

AMEN

W M

C T

FAITH Media Quiz Answers 1 King Agrippa / Acts 26:28 2 Zacharias / Luke 1:8 3 John the Baptist / Matthew 3:11 4 Satan / Matthew 4:3 5 Jesus / Matthew 4:19 6 Rich ruler / Luke 18:18 7 One of the thieves crucified with Jesus / Luke 23:40 8 The Samaritan woman at the well / John 4:15 9 Simon Peter / Matthew 14:28 10 Jesus / Matthew 23:37

Kids Corner

Puzzle Answer Solution:

Creation

G O O I A D A M A G E S N A K E I E X

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Faith Pittsburgh CALENDAR

October 16 - 20

October 19

Community Outreach: National Drug Take Back Initiative

Fall Festival at Grace Community Church from 2:00-4:00 p.m

Oct 16, 4:30-6:30 p.m. • Oct 19, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. • Oct 20, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. The Bible Chapel, 300 Gallery Drive, McMurray, PA 15317 724.941.8990 ext. 151

56 Prestley Road Bridgeville, PA 15017

The Bible Chapel Security and Medical teams are joining forces with The Peters Township Police Department once again for the National Drug Take Back Initiative. The Peters Township Police will take collections of outdated medications of any kind without any questions during Wednesday night dinner on October 16 and in the main lobby before and after services on Saturday and Sunday, October 19-20.

412.221.9000

Contact Terry Berringer at tberringer@biblechapel.org for more information.

October 19

November 14

Catholic Women’s Conference To Focus On ‘Alive! In Prayer’

Pregnancy Resource Center Annual Celebration Banquet

The Diocese of Pittsburgh will host its second Catholic Women’s Conference on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Wyndham Grand Hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh. The theme of the conference is “Alive! In Prayer” and registration is required. For information, call 412.456.3129 or visit the conference website at www.womenalivepgh.org.

November 27

Thanksgiving Eve Service Giving thanks is an inherent part of worship. The Thanksgiving Eve worship service enables us to be especially deliberate and purposeful in expressing our thanks to our Heavenly Father. 7:30 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church Westminster Presbyterian Church 2040 Washington Road Pittsburgh, PA 15241 412.835.6630

Heinz Field, East Club 100 Art Rooney Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 Parking in Gold Lot 1 for $10 Doors open at 6:15 p.m. A sit-down dinner will begin promptly at 7:00 p.m. with program immediately following. Call 412.833.7445

November 28 Thanksgiving Day Festive Service 10:00am at Ruthfred Lutheran Church 3401 S. Park Rd. Bethel Park, PA. 15102 412.835.7140

December 6&8 Christmas Cantata 7:00 p.m - 9:00 p.m The Bible Chapel 300 Gallery Drive McMurray, PA 15317 724.941.8990 ext. 151

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603 East McMurray Road McMurray, PA 15317

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