Today's Christian Living July 2023

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BILLY WAYNE ARRINGTON From Tragedy to Triumph

Human Trafficking: Rescue, Redemption, Recovery July 2023 $4.95 US / $5.95 Canada

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On the Cover: Billy Wayne Arrington, www.catchthe.vision

Photo provided by Vision Productions

JULY 2023

VOL. 61 NUMBER 4

Features 5 Driven by Eternal Purpose

by Michelle Adserias

Billy Wayne Arrington uses his gifts and talents to tell the world about Jesus.

10 Into Africa A missionary, a painting and a mystery finally solved.

12

Rescue, Redemption, Recovery

by Brenda Hansen

Crisis Aid International brings hope and healing to victims of human trafficking.

16 Hope Endures

by Alyssa Charpentier

Hear a Gen Z believer’s testimony to the joy and hope found in Christ – for all generations.

20

5 Departments

The Power of Yet

22 Pre-Marriage Advice From Gen Z, to Gen Z: An Interview with Nick and Chelsea Hurst One young couple’s insights into dating and marriage in the social media age.

26 Christian Fiction Resource Guide Curl up with a great book and lose yourself in the story.

32 Spiritual Growth Resource Guide These resources can improve your understanding of God and the Christian walk.

The Fine Print

18

Annual Writing Contest

35 Laugh Lines

by Jessica Burchfield

Find out where this teacher finds the strength to return to her high school classroom, year after year.

4

40

20

Quick Takes

43 Kids of the Kingdom 44

Quips & Quotes

Columns 9

Living in Wisdom Justice and Mercy

28

Dave Says Estate planning, life insurance, debt resolution and more.

30 Turning Point When I Grow Up 36 Ask Dr. Walt What You Should Know about Artificial Sweeteners.

38 Persecution Report What’s Going on in Israel?

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45 Devotional Living Water 46

Grace Notes The Best Gift

22 TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

3

THE FINE PRINT

This Ever-Changing World

S

pring’s rebirth has come and gone. Every deciduous tree wears a new green robe. Flowers are in full bloom. Birds are hatching broods. Well-rested creatures yawned and stretched off their long winter slumbers and now frolic across the land. All that was dead and gray is full of color and life. The days rush on from season to season.

I’m beginning to understand how my grandma felt. She was born in 1896. She spent her formative years on the South Dakota prairie, living in a soddie until her father could afford to build a wood frame house.

She watched the transition from horse and buggy to automobiles, from candles and kerosene to electricity, and from outhouses to indoor plumbing. She witnessed the introduction of radios, televisions and computers. I can’t even imagine her awe when she watched Neil Armstrong walk on the moon.

Though I’ve never lived without modern conveniences, the electronic age has me scrambling to keep up. I’m still baffled by fax machines and everyday life now demands I use far more sophisticated technology.

The world keeps changing.

Sometimes I feel like it’s spinning out of control!

In this issue, we’ll get some thoughts from Gen Z Christians, a high school teacher, an evangelist and others who have been forever transformed by God’s power.

Living for Christ in these ever-changing times is challenging! Not just for us, but for the people in our lives who are lost, and increasingly confused. As His ambassadors, we have a unique calling to reach them with the good news of our God, who never changes. I find comfort in these words from Albert B. Simpson’s old hymn: Yesterday, today, forever, Jesus is the same; All may change, but Jesus never, glory to His name!

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

(James 1:17) In Christ,

Editor Michelle Adserias michellea@jpmediallc.com Contributing Editors Walt Larimore, M.D. Dave Ramsey Jerry Rose Shirley Rose William Morris Sales Account Executive Jill Maggio jillm@jpmediallc.com 800-397-8161 ext. 5 Graphic Designer Sara Wait Bulk Circulation Nancy Plaski 800-397-8161 ext. 2 Founder Kenneth N. Taylor Letters to the Editor: Write Today’s Christian Living, PO Box 282, Iola, WI 54945. Or e-mail: editor@todayschristianliving.org Individual Subscriptions: Visit www.todayschristianliving.org/subscribe or call 800-223-3161.

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TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

No. 4

President/Publisher Diana Jones dianaj@jpmediallc.com

Today’s Christian Living

Michelle Adserias, Editor

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Vol. 61

JULY 2023

n e v i Dr by E

H

By Michelle Adserias

e stood outside the car, pistol pointed at his son’s head through the driver’s side window. Billy Wayne had hurried his family into the car when his father, strung out on a combination of painkillers and alcohol, tried to kill his own family.

“If you don’t open this door, I’m gonna blow your brains out.

You got ten seconds.”

A “peace that passes all understanding” washed over Billy.

God reassured him, “No matter what happens, you know, you’re mine.”

Billy looked his father in his eyes. “You can pull the trigger. I know where I’m going.” Then he braced himself for the bullet.

The gun never went off. In the end, God delivered the whole family.

Billy Wayne’s dad was an abusive drunk and his mother looked for love in all the wrong places. Though his home life was a mess, there was a light in the darkness - a small, country church he attended with his grandma, who was a godly woman. It was there, out of fear he’d spend eternity in hell, Billy Wayne ran down the aisle at seven years old, prayed for God’s forgiveness and was baptized.

But five years later, at a youth conference, he understood He needed a Savior – not just an escape from hell. He had a brief internal argument with God about how he’d “done the religious thing” but the Spirit made it clear Billy Wayne never truly repented of his sin, that he didn’t really know God. “Any time God’s talkin’ to you, if you’re trying to convince God you’re okay, you’re not okay.” He began following God that day.

Billy Wayne Arrington’s Story

l a n te r

e s o p r u P

He prayed God would change his parents, but they continued disappointing him, leaving him angry and bitter.

By the time he was sixteen, his parents were divorced. His mom worked during the day and carried on her promiscuous lifestyle at night. Billy Wayne took care of his younger brothers – seeing them off to school, cooking supper, washing clothes, and trying to shield them from the hurt he experienced.

One night, Billy Wayne got honest when he prayed. “I hate them. I hate them. I hate them [his parents].” But this time, rather than asking God to change his parents, he told God, “This is not your heart. You’re gonna have to give me the heart of Christ and change me.” That was the pivotal moment. God slowly replaced his hatred with compassion. He began to see his parents as humans who needed Jesus rather than parents who failed their children.

As his heart was changing, he questioned, “God, why did you put me in this situation?”

God’s answer was clear. “Because I trusted you. You are the one I’ve chosen to show them Jesus.”

What a wake-up call! Billy Wayne asked his parents’ forgiveness for not being a good son. He started sending cards and notes. He began treating his parents with respect. “We can blame everybody else, but sometimes we’re the reason people don’t want to know Jesus.”

After sixteen years of diligent prayer, God prompted Billy Wayne to travel home and see his mom. He looked her in the eyes and told her, “If it takes my life for you to know Jesus, I’m ready to die. ‘For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.’”

TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

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God meets teens in their brokenness at IA Camps.

al n r e E t e s o p Pu r

“We can blame everybody else, but sometimes we’re the reason people don’t want to know Jesus.”

Billy Wayne’s words wore on his mother’s heart. Sixteen years after he began praying for her, she surrendered her life to Christ. Billy took what little money he had, bought his mom a Bible with her name inscribed on the cover, and went home to celebrate her new life in Christ. She went on to marry a wonderful Christian man.

They all began praying for his dad and stepmom. Twentyseven years later, his dad attended Billy Wayne’s Christmas concert in his hometown, When, at the end of the performance, the audience was invited to the stage for prayer, Billy Wayne’s father stood in front of him. In what he called a “duh” moment, he asked, “What have you come for?”

“You’ve prayed long enough, son. I need Jesus” Billy Wayne prayed with his father, and later baptized him. God transformed his lifelong adversary into an ally for the cause of Christ. He brought sweet healing to Billy Wayne’s most hurtful, volatile relationships.

“Transparency is so important,” Billy Wayne said. God used his honesty and openness to reach his parents, just as God uses his transparency and openness to reach others through his ministries.

Performer

Billy Wayne’s love for the stage began when he was just four years old. As he stood at the front of his grandmother’s church, playing an angel in the Christmas pageant, he thought “this is amazing!” He was in a few elementary school plays and continued acting through high school, where he was also encouraged to sing.

At Berea College in Kentucky, Billy Wayne joined a travelling choral group, the New Life Singers. It was then he discov6

TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

JULY 2023

ered he wasn’t content to just sing. The choir would finish and “God would be all up in my business and I’d have to share [the gospel].” God was shaping Billy Wayne’s future.

Shortly after college, he had to make a choice. Billy Wayne did a theatre apprenticeship with a professional director. She was impressed by his talents and sent a tape of his performance to her friend. Dustin Hoffman was also impressed and arranged for Billy Wayne to meet an agent in New York City.

It was a tempting offer. Unsure what to do, Billy Wayne sought advice from his mentor, a former college professor (who, by the way, he led to Christ). “You have what it takes to make it big, but you know what you have to do.” Then his mentor told him to follow where Christ was leading.

So, instead of heading to New York City, Billy Wayne went to Pigeon Forge to perform in “The Great Passion Play.” His decision to follow God’s lead opened innumerable doors. At

AIM CAMPS

AIM

CAMPS (Artists in Ministry Camps) are open to thespians and artists of all ages. Each week-long camp includes workshops for actors, singers, dancers, writers, photographers, set artists, sound specialists – anyone interested in pursuing creative arts. At the end of the week, the participants put on a production.

Many come with no understanding of spiritual things, but no one leaves without understanding who God is and how they can know Him. Whatever their personal beliefs, they agree to live by a Bible-based code of conduct while working with Lamplighter Theatre. Those who violate their contract are asked to leave. Love welcomes them in but unrepented sin may usher them out.

There are two AIM camps each summer; one in Kingsport, TN and one near Pittsburgh, PA. For more information about AIM camps, visit Billy Wayne’s website at www.catchthe.vision.

Using theatre to help people see their need for God.

twenty-five years old, Billy Wayne became the assistant director of the largest live performance in the country (at the time).

People began inviting Billy Wayne to sing at events. One woman, a fan who wanted him to record his music, paid all the expenses for him to go to Nashville and make an album.

Then, in 1989, he began writing his own music.

Songwriter

One weekend, Billy Wayne was singing at revival meetings a pastor/friend was holding. He thought he was alone, so he was singing in the shower, loudly. The song was “Tell Them,” an original piece inspired by his brother’s recent suicide attempt and the urgency to tell others about Christ.

He was not alone. His friend overheard. “It’s a powerful song. You should sing it in church tomorrow. I won’t tell anyone you wrote it before you sing.” He was true to his word.

IA

CAMPS (I’m Accepted Camps) are week-long camps that serve at-risk junior and senior high students. In addition to Bible teaching and small group times, camp attendees enjoy games and cultural outings during their stay in the Smoky Mountains.

Camp is a life-changing time for many who attend.

The congregation was visibly moved by the song’s lyrics, so the pastor told everyone it was Billy Wayne’s song – after he sang.

This songwriter’s lyrics are deeply personal and honest.

What’s the secret to writing impactful words? According to Billy Wayne, “You have to stay in touch with people and the Lord. If it worships and praises God or has a story to tell, it’s going to come out.” Because he writes for a wide range of audiences, from children to the elderly, his songs vary greatly.

“I have become all things to all people so that I may by all means save some.” (1 Corinthians 9:22) He often sets scripture to music, as well. A woman once told Billy Wayne, “I love those words.” His response? “Well, thank you. I plagiarized them straight from the Bible.”

Over the past twenty-five years, Billy Wayne has recorded about thirty albums.

IA CAMPS Most of the students come to camp with few personal items.

Local churches and individuals often donate hygiene items, snacks and other necessities. A group once made blankets for all the campers, since many come without bedding.

But there’s also a core cost for making these free camps available. It

costs about $250 per camper, a total expense of $40,000 each year.

IA Camps fall under the umbrella of H.A.L.O. (Hope and Love Outreach), Billy Wayne’s Ministry to at-risk and underprivileged children. If you’re interested in making a donation to help send a kid to camp or support this ministry in another way, please visit www.catchthe.vision, to learn more.

TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

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Playwright

Billy Wayne’s ministry, Vision Productions, was initially headquartered at a rental facility. The first building they purchased was an old honky-tonk in downtown Kingsport, Tennessee, where they relocated their offices. Next, the old theatre went up for sale. Billy Wayne bought it as a retirement project.

God had other plans. “God says, ‘Will you?’ and I say, ‘Sure.’”

The money to restore the theatre, and put on productions, began pouring in. Lamplighter Theatre was born. Finally, they added dinner theatre to their offerings when the attached Emporium Dining Hall opened.

There’s a new production every month and each one, whether it’s set in the 1920’s or the 2020’s, includes an opportunity for people to respond to the gospel. People come from all over the nation to see the award-winning plays and musicals.

Are the Lamplighter Theatre performances worth the trip to Kingsport? Absolutely! Billy Wayne’s play, “Son of Sorrows” recently won the “Christian World Arts Festival; an international competition sponsored by the Museum of the Bible each year.

Evangelist

The common thread connecting Billy Wayne’s varied ministries is evangelism. It is always his deepest desire to tell others about the hope they can find in Christ. As the culture changes, he adapts his approach to teaching – but the gospel message never changes. Deep down, Billy Wayne contends, people still

want to hear the truth. They may deride God and the Bible, but when crisis strikes, they run to Jesus for hope and help.

“The church has become weak and ineffectual in America because it has put on a dirty gown.” Billy Wayne explains that, in an attempt to be appealing, we’ve watered down the gospel. We need to radically love the people who come through our church doors, but have zero tolerance for sin (including our own). “We don’t need any more neck ties and panty hose Christians.” Billy Wayne believes we need more Christians willing to get dirty reaching the down-trodden. Our attitude toward others should be, “It [your sin] is not okay, but Jesus still loves you.”

Billy Wayne has a special burden for at-risk youth. To that end, this man who never married, has adopted several children over the years. Every summer, his ministry puts on IA (I’m Accepted) Camps for junior and senior high school students, theatre camps for elementary through high school students, and AIM (Artists in Ministry) camps for artists of all ages.

Though Billy Wayne quit traveling and teaching internationally in 2004, he continues bringing God’s good news through music, theatre, and camps. God transformed a life most would label “tragic” into a life the Lord has labeled “triumphant” — devoted to God’s glory and eternal kingdom.  *BOOKING: To book Billy Wayne for a speaking/singing engagement, please contact: Email: booking@billywayne.net, or call (423) 956-4715.

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TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

JULY 2023

LIVING IN WISDOM

Jerry Rose is an internationally known Christian broadcaster and is former president/ CEO of the Total Living Network. He currently serves as TLN’s chairman of the board and hosts the Emmy awardwinning program Significant Living. Jerry is an ordained minister and the author of five books, including Deep Faith for Dark Valleys and Significant Living, coauthored with his wife, Shirley. He is the past president of the National Religious Broadcasters and currently serves on its board of directors. Jerry is an avid golfer, equestrian, photographer, and grandfather of 20.

Shirley Rose has been in ministry with her husband, Jerry, for more than 30 years.

Her career in Christian television focused on hosting several programs, including the Emmy Award-winning women’s program Aspiring Women. She has authored five books, including The Eve Factor, A Wise Woman Once Said…, and Significant Living, and has contributed to numerous anthologies and periodicals. She is actively pursuing her calling to help other women through writing, speaking, and hosting women’s groups in her home. Her favorite pastimes are country line dancing, travel, and spending time with her 20 grandchildren.

By Jerry and Shirley Rose

Justice and Mercy A few years ago, against the wise counsel of my wife, I invested a sizable amount of our money in a startup business. A close Christian friend (who I’ll call Jack) had a great idea for a product, but Shirley didn’t fully trust Jack and had serious misgivings. Later we were devastated to learn that our entire investment had been lost.

Most disturbing, my “friend” had spent most of the money on an excessive lifestyle rather than developing the business. Though Shirley and I survived the setback, it impacted our finances significantly. Other investors suffered a greater loss, some losing their life’s savings and struggling to save their homes. The betrayal by a man I trusted was a bitter pill to swallow. Shirley’s instincts and counsel had been spot on.

Jack was repentant, but the embezzlement was substantial, and he could never make good on the losses. Some of the investors were calling for a long prison sentence and were determined to make it happen. Forgiveness didn’t even make an appearance on their landscape. And according to the law, he certainly deserved prison time, but that was up to the courts. My responsibility was to react as a Christian.

You may be thinking but what about justice and consequences? It is true that while God is rich in mercy, He is also a God of justice. There is a disturbing trend today of tolerance for crime and social injustice. We watch as hundreds of felons are released onto the streets for no good reason.

Thieves are excused because they “had a need.”

Showing mercy does not erase consequences for wrongdoing. Jack’s sin still affects his life many years later.

But the question is, “What response would God want from me?” Jesus set the example when he left the perfection of heaven and entered an ugly, imperfect world to suffer for a humanity that was totally undeserving. It was the ultimate demonstration of love and mercy.

According to Oxford Languages mercy is defined as “compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.” Shirley and I could have withheld forgiveness and joined the others determined to see Jack in prison…or we could decide to leave retribution in God’s hands and forgive.

Frankly, it was not an easy decision. The wound of betrayal was deep, and the financial loss was substantial. It was especially difficult for Shirley because, from the beginning, she had her doubts.

She struggled with forgiveness for a long time, but finally realized she had to let go of the hurt and demonstrate mercy.

You may be struggling with bitterness and resentment over an offense committed against you or your loved ones. You feel that person doesn’t deserve forgiveness. Well… neither do we. God’s grace is unmerited. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

Thoughts on Mercy It is an act of compassion. It really has little to do with how deserving the person is. The essence of mercy is withholding punishment from someone who does deserve it. Christ is our example.

It is a command. Luke 6:36 and many other scriptures tell us to be merciful as our heavenly Father is merciful.

It is reciprocal. James 2:13 says, “There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.”

It frees us from bitterness and can bring reconciliation. When I met with Jack after his arrest, he was a broken man and desperately needed my forgiveness. I determined to let go of the hurt and anger and put it into God’s hands. But it wasn’t over.

A few weeks later a minister who invested and lost more than we did, called to say Jack was in jail. He wanted me to go with him to take care of his car and belongings. I immediately flew into town to help. God gave me an opportunity to complete the work of mercy.

Looking back, it was exactly what I needed. Jack didn’t serve a long jail sentence and though some have never forgiven him, I believe his heart was changed. Showing mercy can equal healing for both parties.

As Christians we must become conduits of mercy. It’s not easy, but it draws us closer to Jesus and brings his pleasure and peace in abundance.  TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

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Into Africa

D

By Michelle Adserias

ad led us to our regular spot, third pew from the back on the right-hand side of the aisle, while an organ prelude spilled through the amber-stained windows, cracked with the hopes of a cooling breeze. It was hot inside. I accordion-pleated my bulletin into a fan to ward off the stuffy air. Even polite and proper Fern Sparks tilted up her pillbox and dabbed her forehead with a dainty hankie.

A low hum filled the sanctuary until Pastor stepped into the pulpit. He welcomed everyone to Faith Baptist Church, prayed, and then led us in hymn #396.

“Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves…” I used to think we were “Bringing in the sheets…” An image of my mother taking billowing sheets off the clothesline and dropping them into the laundry basket would pop into my head. Last year, as I puzzled over why we were singing about wash day at church, my older sister leaned over and said in a superior tone, “It’s sheaves, not sheets.”

“What are sheaves?” I whispered back.

Before she could answer, Mom leered at us from the other end of the pew. We settled the matter on the ride home. I’d never seen sheaves of wheat. The farmers near us grew corn and potatoes. Mom assured me bringing souls to Jesus was like harvesting corn and potatoes, too. They just don’t get stacked into sheaves.

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TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

When the final organ chord faded, Pastor introduced Miss Denys, missionary nurse. She wore a colorful batik dress with ornate embroidery around the neckline. Miss Denys was home on furlough, whatever that was. I wanted to ask my sister, but I didn’t want to get us into trouble.

Miss Denys worked at a clinic in a remote Cameroonian village. People walked for miles, and sometimes waited for hours, for medical care –and to hear about Jesus. While she talked about her work and told stories about her life, slides flashed across the big, white screen. I was spellbound. Closing prayer came much too soon.

After service, everyone milled around a table in the church foyer. There were Cameroonian carvings, pieces of jewelry and coins to look at. Miss Denys let us play the drums and gourd shakers. Then, while we had punch and cookies in the fellowship hall, she answered questions.

I was too shy to ask questions, but I hung on every word. She loved her work. She loved her new home. And she loved the people. It was exciting. But I knew it could be dangerous, too.

The Untold Story

Uncle Cleo was a missionary. He died of malaria in the Congo before I was born. I had many questions about the man, but no one in the family ever talk-

JULY 2023

ed about him, and I was afraid to ask.

I didn’t want to upset Dad by bringing up his closest brother.

Instead, I snuck into my parents’ bedroom, from time to time, and stared at a painting Uncle Cleo had given them.

There was a man paddling a dugout canoe down a broad river. A palm-thatched hut sat near the river bank under a tall tropical canopy. Vines trailed down to the ground along a dirt path where a woman carried a bundle on her head.

I believed that picture could answer all my unasked questions, if only I could bring it to life. I could walk alongside the people and listen to their stories about Uncle Cleo. Or the man could paddle me to his grave. Or just smelling the heavy air, hearing the birdsongs echoing through the forest, and feeling the cool afternoon rain on my hot skin, would tell me why he loved this place enough to die for it. But the painting had nothing to say.

Nothing placated my inexplicable draw to the uncle I never knew. The only thing that helped was the one month, each summer, our cousins (his children) stayed with us. When they visited, we made our annual pilgrimage to Storybook Gardens and the Tommy Bartlett Water Show in the Dells. Mom, like a red-headed merganser momma, led her troop of five little red-headed mergansers, and one brunette one, through

© [Lissabet] / Adobe Stock

The painting from Uncle Cleo that still hangs on my parent’s bedroom wall.

town. We looked as much like siblings as our fathers had.

Then the visits stopped. They grew up and got married. I went off to college.

I don’t believe in coincidences. Life’s twists and turns aren’t random enough to be incidental. Nor am I a huge fan of fate.

It’s too impersonal. And I reject destiny’s fatalism. But I do believe in providence, in God’s invisible hand gently guiding us through life’s unexpected moments.

So, when Catherine walked into my life, bringing her new-found friends with her, I was not entirely surprised they were from places like Nigeria and Cameroon, Kenya and Burundi. At first, I was too shy to ask questions, but I hung on every word. Nathaniel talked about the antics of his father’s bickering wives.

Charles, always the comedian, explained (and demonstrated) the do’s and don’ts of fufu consumption. Hannah taught me to make coconut rice and okra stew.

The African students welcomed me into their circle and shared their unique cultures with me. Some of us forged deep friendships we still enjoy today. I began to understand why Miss Denys lived her life for these souls, and why Uncle Cleo died for them. God began stirring my own passion and burden for Africa’s people.

The Unspoken Resolution

The summer before my senior year, God paved the way for me to join a short-term missions team going to Nigeria for eight weeks. We served the local communities during the week - putting a roof on a church, drilling a well - and served in church on Sunday mornings.

On Saturdays, we went sightseeing.

One providential day, I found myself in a familiar place. I was traveling down the Kwa Ibo River in a dugout canoe. There were thatched, mud huts tucked under the palm canopy. A young mother carried a basket on her head, and a baby on her back, down a narrow dirt path. The calls of unfamiliar birds echoed through the rain forest.

I was in Uncle Cleo’s painting. God brought it to life! There were no more questions. 

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Rescue, Recovery, Redemption Crisis Aid International’s Response to Human Suffering and Sex Trafficking

Photos provided by and used with permission from Crisis Aid International.

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By Brenda J. Hansen

hat’s a child’s life worth these days? According to the Cambodian woman who sold her 6- and 8-yearold daughters to a local brothel, they’re worth about $300. She knew full well what would become of them when she turned them over to sex peddlers, but she did it anyway.

While it’s difficult for many Americans to wrap their heads around that atrocity, it’s even harder for them to wrestle with the reality the same thing is happening in the United States today.

Current State of Affairs

One of the most recent, and most disturbing, cases was the August, 2022, “Operation Cross Country,” where more than 200 trafficking victims and missing people were rescued by FBI and other law enforcement agents nation-wide. Shockingly, 121 of them were children.

According to court documents, one prostitution ring ensnared at least eight 16- and 17-year-olds and rented them out five to ten times on a typical night. The going rate was around $30 for fifteen minutes of sex.

The U.S. Justice Department reports that cases like these make human trafficking a $32-billion-dollar-a-year business.

It’s a far more lucrative venture than drugs or gun-running because their “merchandise” can be sold over and over again.

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According to the International Labor Organization, 21 million people are currently enslaved in human trafficking. Few have ever heard the good news; God loves them so much He’s willing to redeem them with Jesus’ precious blood.

It is into this heartbreak that Pat Bradley entered to rescue those Cambodian girls. It wasn’t his first time addressing human trafficking. He was involved the year before when Crisis Aid rescued a young girl from the red-light district of a large East African city.

He hadn’t planned on dealing with human trafficking. In fact, he hadn’t really planned on founding the organization known as Crisis Aid International, either. After all, he describes himself as “just a normal guy” — a formerly divorced, recovering alcoholic who worked at an ad agency.

But in September of 2000, as part of a delegation for International Christian Concern (an organization serving persecuted Christians around the world), Bradley witnessed the results of the South Sudan genocide firsthand.

On their last day in that country, they came across a group of refugees fleeing the civil war, stranded in the middle of nowhere. They had lost absolutely everything — family members, homes, food, clothing — and were huddled under a barren tree in the 120-degree heat.

Pat Bradley knew at that moment “doing nothing” was not an option.

The men had nothing to give them and no means to transport them. Bradley knew at that moment “doing nothing” was not an option.

His helplessness turned into action when he returned to the United States to raise money for starving people in “nogo zones” where starvation, disease, and danger are a part of everyday life. He soon returned to provide two-pound bags of rice to Sudanese people in need.

A humble beginning turned into life-saving efforts for people in crisis. In 2002, Crisis Aid was officially incorporated.

zations in the United States that were taking in young American girls rescued from sex trafficking, which equaled only 49 beds across the whole nation.”

While there is a difference between human trafficking overseas and here in the United States, Bradley is quick to point out “the damage it does to the heart and the soul is the same. The shame is the same, and the inability to get out is the same.”

Rescue

In 2006, Bradley was in East Africa checking on their food programs. While speaking to the leader of a ministry devoted to serving street children, he felt the Lord nudging him to ask about prostitution. The man took Bradley to the red-light district so he could see the unspeakable conditions the girls live in firsthand.

“While we were walking,” relates Bradley, “we came across a group of girls and started talking to them. Suddenly I felt drawn like a laser beam to another girl walking past us. God laid this young girl so strong on my heart, and I knew He had something special for her. We told her how much God loved her … and she accepted the Lord right then and there. … I asked her if she wanted to leave the life, and she said yes. She packed all her stuff in a grocery bag and went with us. That was the start, and we never looked back.”

The girl slept at Crisis Aid’s offices for the first few nights because they had nowhere else to put her. Obviously, they needed a safe place for those they rescued. That was the start of Crisis Aid’s Refuge Homes.

However, Bradley learned early on that merely rescuing exploited children wasn’t enough. These girls needed hope. They needed to know there was a future beyond escaping the situations they were in. And they needed to know they were worth a lot more to the God who created them than to the predators who were buying and selling them.

“This led us to establish a daytime program called Mercy Chapel that allows any girl from the red-light district to learn a trade,” said Bradley.

To date, there are 520 East Africa Refuge Homes with 1,489 Mercy Chapel graduates. Their goal is to rescue 15,000 girls.

Recovery

Meanwhile, the FBI began cracking down on sex trafficking in the United States. They knew of Bradley’s work overseas and hoped he could help victims here.

“Up until this point, when the FBI was able to rescue minors, their only option was to put them into protective custody, which was basically equivalent to juvenile detention,” explained Bradley. “At that time, there were only three organi-

MONARCH4FREEDOM LENDS A HELPING HAND TO CRISIS AID INTERNATIONAL Sadly, many people do nothing when confronted with stories like these because they are overwhelmed by the magnitude of the crisis. They don’t know where to start.

One place to begin is with Monarch4Freedom — a fundraising partner of Crisis Aid International.

It costs about $23,000 to maintain each Refuge Home room for one year (in the United States). Monarch, a ministry supported by 26 churches of varied denominations, solicits donations of old jewelry, craft beads, crystals, and similar items, repurposing them to create gift and jewelry pieces. They are sold at jewelry parties or online at: www.etsy.com/shop/ Monarch4Freedom.

All proceeds go directly to Crisis Aid International to support the U.S. Refuge Homes. Monarch has raised over $1,000,000 for Refuge Homes since 2011.

To learn more visit: https://monarchjewelry.org.

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Cindy Malott, Director of Advocacy Services in St. Louis, concurs. She zeroes in on how early these kids are victimized by people who should be protecting them. “The average age that a child victim of sex trafficking is referred into our services is 14 years old,” said Malott. “Unfortunately, almost 90% of the children we serve, who have been trafficked, were sexually abused before the trafficking began. The average age these children identify as when the original abuse began is age seven.”

Malott adds: “There is growing awareness of human trafficking. However, there still tends to be this belief that sex trafficking, particularly child sex trafficking, is something that only happens to immigrant populations or in other communities, when that is not accurate.” The bigger problem appears to be the internet.

Sargent Adam Kavanaugh, Commander of the Special Investigations Unit at the St. Louis Police Department, describes an all-too-familiar scenario. “[Traffickers] look for that little bit of weakness on their [victims’] Internet posts, whatever they’re lacking in their lives — be it parents or friends or whatever — and they become the backfill in their lives. They exploit that … and in the rural areas, they say, ‘Well, come up to the big city and we’ll show you a good time’ and, unfortunately, within 24 hours they’re being trafficked.”

“There is no understating the intense impact the Internet has on children who have open and easy access to violent, degrading and racist pornography,” emphasizes Malott. “From an early age, children are being groomed to believe that this is an acceptable way to be treated and treat others (particularly women).”

Thankfully, Crisis Aid has developed and is implementing the Children’s Anti-Exploitation Partnership (CAP) — an innovative program that provides professional mentoring focused on reaching children who have been trafficked, targeted online, or started engaging in high-risk sexual communications online. The goal is to prevent child sexual exploitation, abuse, trafficking, and re-victimization.

While the CAP program provides safe shelter, food, clothing, and medical needs, Refuge Homes also works with local churches and community organizations to provide mental wellness and spiritual care. CAP has ministered to over 3,000 trafficking victims since the program started in 2019.

Rescue, recovery, redemption… God wants that for everyone.

Redemption

Remember the Cambodian woman who sold her two daughters? Bradley met her face to face. She was living with her Christian mother. At first, Bradley confesses, he felt nothing but anger and disgust at the thought of meeting her. But as he chatted with the grandmother, watching the mother grow more and more agitated, Bradley felt the Holy Spirit’s conviction. In God’s eyes we are all equally stained with blackness and evil, until cleansed by Jesus.

Bradley began weeping uncontrollably. Soon the grandmother was crying, as well. Suddenly, the mother was crying, too. They lead the children’s mother to Christ that day.

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“When we got back to the girls’ home, the two little sisters came running up to us and jumped into my arms,” recalls Bradley. “They had been praying for their mom ever since they came into the home, and God had heard their prayers. He removed the hatred from their hearts, and from mine as well.”

It is truly amazing what can happen when even a few people follow Crisis Aid’s motto and “Refuse to do nothing!” You can join them by visiting: www.crisisaid.org.  Brenda Hansen is a freelance writer and inspirational speaker. She is the published author of numerous articles and stories including The Fire Within — an inspirational romantic mystery novel, and 8 Keys to Chaos: The Mistakes We Make When We Try to Get Organized. She is currently writing a book on her experiences as the former executive director of a Christian pregnancy resource center. Brenda resides in Clintonville, Wisconsin, with her husband Dan, who is also a freelance writer.

You can contact her at brendahansen@frontiernet.net.

BORN FOR RESCUE: FINDING PURPOSE

BY REFUSING TO DO NOTHING The book Born For Rescue, by Pat Bradley, chronicles harrowing stories of tragedy and restoration across multiple continents. From sex slaves liberated in the red-light districts of East Africa to secret meetings with the FBI. From warlords bearing AK-47s to waylaid survivors of natural disasters. From innovative methods to combat global hunger to courageous young women breaking free from trafficking and abuse. Born to Rescue teaches how anyone can make a difference in the world today.

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Hope Encouragement from a Gen Z Believer

© [Alejandro] / Adobe Stock

Endures

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By Alyssa Charpentier

e are approaching the first full quarter of the 21st century. The old way of life is in its twilight stage with the dawn of the new. Among transformative technological advancements, an entire generation arose as smartphones evolved beyond mere communication devices and convenience culture gradually consumed the “archaic.”

This cohort is known as Generation Z, my birth group.

In my two brief decades observing this world, I have witnessed the rejection of Blockbuster, bookstores, and brick-andmortar establishments in favor of the digital realm—the intangible and comfortable. I have been privy to a period in human history that has permanently altered our society. I was born at the precipice of one era’s end and another’s beginning, a swift shift from comforting and customary to sleek, shiny, and “modern.” Little me was still downing juice boxes and counting on my fingers when the internet began upending the things my parents and grandparents loved.

Generation Z is, in a way, the final flesh born into simpler times. The societal shift following the Information Age’s peak has influenced attitudes toward what humanity deemed most precious: God, family, virtue, and interpersonal connections.

With years of modernity behind us, the transition to what new 16

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youth values is observable—and we do not embody youthfulness as our predecessors did.

I have seen a lot growing up with my generation. With the influx of sophisticated technology came sophisticated consequences in our childhood. It eroded our innocence in visible, frightening ways. Generation Z now emphasizes experiencing life as quickly and aggressively as possible. The results are trite and transactional relationships, abandonment or “deconstruction” of tradition, and socialization reduced to a series of taps and clicks online.

To seasoned adults, Generation Z perhaps looks bleak. In fairness, our current trajectory warrants concern. But I come bearing beautiful news; the joy of the Lord keeps spirits young.

He is a God of wisdom and experience who calls us all to purity, child-like faith, and daily renewal - regardless of age.

At twenty years old, I know my peers’ expectations of me.

I’m supposed to do “fun stuff.” I’m supposed to get out, rack up some regrettable experiences, serial date, rebel, and keep my mouth closed if I don’t like it. It’s challenging objecting to friends and strangers in an age where feelings don’t care for the facts and backlash is almost guaranteed.

But I’ve just one word, and it’s the Word.

Jesus.

Self-portrait courtesy of Alyssa Charpentier.

The Lamb, my gentle Savior, has gifted me something far fancier than any hollow offerings from the world: joy.

The Journey to Joy

I accepted Christ in my early childhood, but it wasn’t until enlisting in the U.S. Navy and attending boot camp that I began to rely on Him and seek His will. There, I received my first glimpses of Generation Z in its adult state, and it was there I realized my deep desire to be different from what we have deemed acceptable.

I’ve developed my “foreigner” status while traversing this strange, hostile landscape called Earth in the two years since shipping off to Great Lakes, Illinois. The Lord’s hands have molded my heart into an increasingly satisfying shape since then. This shape does not reflect my generation, whose virtues are under such fierce attack. But I have been working every day to utilize this separation for the advancement of the Kingdom.

In a cohort of youth who reject purity and scoff at innocence, I maintain a fresh perspective. The Lord and His joy keep me young inside.

I don’t shiver at a shadowy world, even as its darkness deepens. I don’t fear loveliness and lace. I am comfortable swishing over shattered sidewalks in my favorite dresses, basking in my femininity. I smile with my teeth now, when I used to hide behind pursed lips. And I like to file my taxes with a sweet scoop of cotton candy ice cream at my side.

It wasn’t always easy being myself. Surrendering to the joy of the Lord and letting that define me, rather than generational expectations, required several years of walking in His purpose.

In my first few years of adulthood, I have experienced strong objections to, and mockery of, my choices and disposition.

I count it all joy, though; a youthful heart is a gift not to be squandered. Increasingly, I believe it is a necessary perspective in today’s cynical culture.

My generation tells me to be ashamed of purity and any ounce of child-like wonder. With God’s grace, I’ve come to

cherish and protect these things as vital elements of His joy and refining process. They embolden me where they once embarrassed me. I don’t bend, and I know I won’t be broken. The Lord’s precious joy has given me a spine of steel, a smile full of stars, and a soft, well-nourished heart of flesh.

A Hope-Filled Future

As time marches on, I grow firmer in my convictions and softer to the Lord’s direction. I’m no paragon, but I strive for daily sanctification through prayer and self-reflection. The results have been blessings of patience, purer desires and motives, and joyful peace that surpasses understanding.

This guidance, and the resultant love for purity has permeated everything from my outward appearance to my heart, where God looks. I let my hair float long on the wind as an exclamation of my free spirit and zeal for the Lord. Makeup is now a special-occasion-only item instead of an adopted persona. I opt for more modest attire. I try to flavor my words with gentle truths to clothe every aspect of myself with grace.

The vices and “must-haves” Generation Z has come to depend on are not my foundation. More and more, my foundation is the Rock of Ages. Every generation has its evils—all people, young and old, are guilty before their holy God—but innocent youth is endangered and compromised more today than ever before. Remaining hopeful, dream-filled, and purposeful past adolescence is not the rule for many in my generation but I, and a growing number of others, have chosen to be exceptions.

The Lord’s joy lives in me. I asked Him to keep my idealism alive as a tentative eighteen-year-old first stepping out in sincere faith, and He has only strengthened it since then.

Even on challenging days, I find myself pulsing with purpose, and my heartbeat quickens at the slightest sensation: a pithy poem, lilting melody, or a sherbet sunrise melting with colors of orange, raspberry, and pineapple gold. There’s a sparkle in my eyes that was once subdued. Now, the look I wanted in them has come.

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Daughter Dusk is the first installment in Alyssa’s Myrk Maiden Trilogy. Photo courtesy of Alyssa Charpentier.

No one is beyond God’s invigorating joy, whether they are twenty or seasoned centenarians. Protesting bones and aching joints may limit our motion, but they cannot restrict the movement of the Spirit. We grow old. Our bodies disappoint us. The people around us may scorn our youthful enthusiasm, but we serve a God who makes old things new and tired things fresh.

Our God requires that we have child-like faith to “see” Him when our eyes cannot.

I look at the world sometimes and lament its state. I see my generation, a group of people so beloved by their Creator, re-

jecting Him and pursuing lesser passions to satisfy a void in themselves they don’t even understand. But when I think of who I am in Christ Jesus and remember that He has called me to represent His love, gentleness, and joy to the world, that gladness bubbles anew in me.

How can I be downcast? How can I ever truly feel old, cynical, and worn out? My generation does not define me. I am defined by how the God of every good, perfect, and pleasing thing in existence thinks of me. What He thinks toward us all—constant thoughts of love and peace—should put a smile on every believer’s face.

Reclaim your joy in the Lord today. Praise Him. Pray to Him and ask Him to bestow the blessing of a fresh, youthful perspective upon you, regardless of what the current earthly inhabitants are doing or how much sin stains the world. You have to grow up, but you don’t have to grow old. Your stains have been erased; you are a new and marvelous creation in God’s sight. If that isn’t cause for joy, nothing is!  “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) Alyssa Charpentier is the award-winning author of Daughter Dusk, book #1 in the Myrk Maiden Trilogy. She is passionate about creating intelligent and powerful literature, inspiring societal change, and telling authentic stories of light and darkness.

Annual Writing Contest

“Great Things He Hath Done”

Tell us a story (1200-1500 words) about something our great God has done. It can be a first-hand story from your own experience, or a demonstration of God’s greatness displayed that you witnessed.

Please include a short author’s biography and 2-3 photos that complement the story.

1st Prize:

2nd Prize:

$300 and we publish your article

You Still Have Time!

$200 and we publish your article

3rd Prize:

$100 and we publish your article

Submissions must be received by August 15, 2023.

Winners will be announced in the January 2024 issue.

Email submissions to editor@todayschristianliving with Contest Submission in subject line.

Or send by mail to: Today’s Christian Living, ATTN: Editor, P.O. Box 5000, Iola, WI 54945.

All submissions must be previously unpublished and your own work. If you enter, you are granting us permission to publish your story if you win.

All winning submissions become the property of Today’s Christian Living and may be edited to fit the style of the publication.

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The Good News

A

man was accused of murder and brought before a judge. The man admitted his guilt, the jury found him guilty, and the judge pronounced his sentence with deep sorrow: the death penalty.

The guilty man was his own son.

Despite the judge’s deep love for him, he could not dismiss the charges or avert the penalty. He must uphold the law or be a corrupt, unjust judge.

He was caught in a heart-wrenching dilemma. Then he thought of a solution.

The judge stepped down, removed his robe, and exchanged places with his son.

He was executed in his son’s place.

That’s what Jesus, in His grace and mercy, did for us when he died on the cross. He was not guilty but paid the penalty for our guilt; he was sinless but paid the price for our sin.

God’s forgiveness is available to anyone who will own, ask forgiveness for, and turn away from their sin (repent) and put their hope, faith, and trust in Christ alone. Only His blood, shed on the cross, can wash away the guilt of our sin so we can forever enjoy God’s forgiveness and fellowship.

The question is, will you accept God’s free gift? It’s only a sincere prayer away. If you’d like to find new life in Christ, tell God you are sorry for your past wrongs and want Him to be your Lord and Savior. He’ll send the Holy Spirit to live in you, guide you, and change you from the inside out.

“It is by grace you have been saved through faith — and this is not through yourselves, it is the gift of God — not of works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

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The Power of “Yet”

By Jessica Burchfield

“I can’t do it all over again. I can’t handle the mental and physical toll of being a high school teacher. I’m not strong enough, smart enough, brave enough.”

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aybe it’s just me, but these thoughts constantly swirl in my head, coloring my sweet, summer days with a dark cloud of apprehension. I know God has called me to be an educator, but some days I just don’t feel adequate.

I’m fearful I won’t measure up, I won’t make lasting connections, that my classroom culture isn’t enough to stem the tide of depression and anxiety in the next generation.

Being a teacher in a post-Covid world has been challenging, to say the least. In the last few years, we have dealt with a global pandemic, shifting educational standards, a rise in school violence, and increasing professional responsibilities, all while maintaining a standard of excellence in the classroom.

As I stand at the precipice of a brand-new school year, I am more than a little overwhelmed.

Truthfully, I’m terrified.

Am I the only one that feels this way? Am I alone in my quest to find the magic formula that will make me the teacher my students need?

The Power of Perseverance

Over the course of my Christian walk, I have heard many messages on encouragement. Sunday School taught me God is the source of light and life; through Him I find rest, comfort, and renewed mercies every day. As a child, I memorized verses like Joshua 1:9 that remind me of God’s continued presence: “This is my command - be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (NLT) 20

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If Joshua, David, and Moses can do it, why can’t I? They were just normal people called by God to do incredible things. I’m just a normal teacher, trying to make a difference, where is my courage?

I know God is in control and He is bigger than my fear. I know His presence can be felt in every circumstance, difficult or not, that I face every day. I know He has called me to be on the front lines of education, in the hormonal trenches of high school. I know all of this.

But then come the parent emails, the staff meetings, the parent teacher conferences, the professional development, the troublesome students, the social media trends, and I just don’t know if I can do it another year.

Then I remember…

“Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength!” (Habakkuk 3:17-19, NLT) Habakkuk wasn’t a teacher, but this verse speaks to my anxious educator’s heart in an incredibly personal way.

The book of Habakkuk is a short, three-chapter journey of one man’s struggle to see Divine providence in the lives of His people. With the hand of God seemingly absent from the plight of the nation of Israel, Habakkuk stands alone among prophets as he questions God and His sovereignty.

I have been there. Actually, I’m living there right now.

This past school year hit me like a ton of bricks. Teachers are some of the hardest working people I know and I am honored to be counted as one. We burn the candle at both ends, maintaining work and home balance, while finding time to protect our mental health.

Last year, I didn’t do very well at one of these things, let alone all three. I took on too much, trying to be everything for everyone, and my health began to suffer. I felt like I was drowning; yet, here I am, getting ready for another year.

It all comes down to the power of yet.

The Power of Yet

It was a late April evening, the opening night of Alice’s Adventures at Wonderland High, a brand-new pop musical, lovingly written for my students. I had worked tirelessly for months crafting the script while my friend and coworker wrote songs that perfectly told the story of teenage angst and the craziness of high school. More than a light and fluffy jaunt through Wonderland, our musical dealt with self-confidence, body issues, mental health, and depression, all within Lewis Carroll’s trippy, colorful world.

We poured our souls into this musical and our students were just as invested. I was thrilled, nervous, stressed, and incredibly proud not only to be the playwright, but also the director of this talented cast of young adults.

I was also wearing a heart monitor.

To the outside world, I was living the dream; teaching incredible students, directing a hit musical, working hand in hand with teenagers to tell their stories in an authentic way, and championing mental health within our education communities. But truth be told, I was literally falling apart at the seams, not heeding my own advice. My heart rate was skyrocketing. I couldn’t sleep. I was constantly angry. And I found myself arguing with my loved ones over silly things. I was out of balance and my health was fluctuating in response to my stress levels.

It was that great burn out we all know and love.

Thankfully, the school year ended and I had a short window of time to recover and rejuvenate. I spent time working on my physical health. I attended church events and had dinners with friends. I started feeling like myself again. Summer. The glorious respite for educators.

In the midst of my mental and physical recovery, I began to ask, ‘Why do I do this to myself? Is it really worth it?’

The answer was surprising. “... yet will I rejoice in the Lord.”

Just as Habakkuk said, despite it all, my joy needs to be rooted and grounded in the Lord. He placed a calling upon my life to educate young minds. My struggles should never outweigh my calling.

This revelation changed my perspective.

By no means am I likening myself to the great heroes of the faith; rather, I recognize that focusing on my problems, albeit minimal to most, can overwhelm me. It can deplete the joy I find when walking with God. My cup was empty and I failed to acknowledge my weakness, thinking that I could do it all on my own.

Alone, I was without strength, drowning in the churning sea of responsibilities. But when I fell on my knees before God, laying my cares at the feet that walked on water, I found joy that surpasses understanding, peace that overwhelms my fear, and love that consumes any remnant of anxiety.

I will never forget this awful time, yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!’”

(Lamentations 3:20-24, NLT) Even though everything fell apart last year, yet I still rejoice.

I was broken, burned out, and discouraged, yet I held on to the hope God was creating a new work in me for my good and His glory. I am going into this new school year with a sense of purpose. I’m taking time to steep myself in the word of God, to pray, and to refresh my soul. I know I am exactly where God wants me to be.

As we embark upon the adventures God calls us to, let’s choose to take joy in the Lord, to truly allow Him to cover our daily routine with His grace and mercy. Let’s be confident that He will use us to bless those in our lives. Let’s truly love our community, responding with kindness and modeling our Savior’s compassion on us.

Let’s embrace the power of yet.

“I can do it all over again. I can handle the mental and physical toll of being a high school teacher. I am strong enough; I am smart enough; I am brave enough. I am a teacher.”  Jessica Burchfield is a high school teacher, photographer, and writer from Florida. After earning her Masters of Ministry, she spent two years teaching English in China, followed by 20+ years in education, from communications to curriculum development and back to the classroom. She resides with her husband, Rob, and can be contacted at: jelainek@gmail.com.

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Pre-Marriage Advice for Gen Z, Nick Q&A with and Chelsea Hurst From Gen Z

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Q. How and when did you meet? Was there an immediate attraction or did it develop over time?

A. Nick and I met on Twitter after I (Chelsea) liked a bunch of his tweets. Sounds very Gen Z of us (ha-ha), but then we ended up meeting in person at Passion City Conference for Young Adults. We knew in the middle of a worship song we would marry each other. The Holy Spirit spoke to us both at the same time. I broke down in tears, not sure how to take in that information. The attraction was there from the start and continued to grow, too. And the Lord gave us peace as we dated each other over time.

Q. What was your greatest struggle when you were dating?

A. We dated long distance for a year, and in that period, we really had to work through fears from past relationships (like trust issues from being mistreated) as well as being very upfront in how we felt. We couldn’t leave room for negative assumptions (for instance, when we didn’t communicate consistently because we were busy) as it would take a toll on our relationship.

Q. Were there any challenges you had to overcome before you were ready to marry? How did you work through them?

A. There were definitely challenges. We were very young, just 21 years old, so our parents were concerned about us linking our lives together. We had a lot of conversations with them about responsibility and trust. We also had to be firm in creating some boundaries as husband and wife. Our focus was cleaving to one another in this process. Over time our families came around to us being young and married. We have really beautiful relationships with both sides.

Q. If someone were to ask you what the “secret” to a happy marriage is, what would you tell them?

A. I think we would share that staying malleable is key. It can be so easy for us to harden our hearts towards one another as we go through tough times. There is a temptation to turn frustration towards each other. We’ve learned to recognize that each other, and even sin, is not our problem. It is rulers and authorities in high places trying to come between us.

So, we fight our battles spiritually, leaning on our Father and crying out to Him in our moments of weakness. God’s kindness and love is uniquely expressed through each of us so differently. On a normal week, we could “strive” to please one another, but having space with our Father is what gives us exuberant love for one another.

Q. Has marriage been what you expected it to be?

Have there been any surprises?

A. Neither of us brought heavy expectations into marriage, but I will say a huge surprise is how love continues to grow deeper. Kind of like those massive trees you see with beautiful canopies; they have been growing deeper into the ground for fifty years or more. Each year, more roots form! Marriage is like those trees. You see more fruits of what God has done in your union as more time goes by and more effort goes in. I like to think when we are older, our relationship will be like a shady canopy to other couples, friends, and family, because we stayed deeply-rooted and weathered the storms.

Q. Your book, Marriage Minded, offers advice to young couples, specifically young couples interacting in this age of social media. What compelled you to write this book?

A. We felt there was a lack of “preparing for marriage” books out there. There are a lot of “do this and that” for engagement and preparing a wedding, but not much about building a trusting foundation or merging two totally different families. There are also unique issues that arise with social media and more distractions.

Some people our age can’t sit across from the person they love and intentionally listen. There is a depth of humility that comes when we admit the world is pushing us to live selfishly when we know, as believers, a life of freedom is one surrendered to God’s purposes for our lives, in marriage and singleness.

Q. Some people might say you’re too young to address the subject of marriage. How would you respond?

A. The really beautiful thing is we honestly don’t have a ton of “marriage advice” as we are not seasoned in our marriage. Our sweet spot is speaking to those preparing for marriage. When we were dating, we had so many questions, many books never seemed to answer - the harder questions like: What do you do when the person you’re planning to marry (or see a future with) comes out about secret sin? What if you don’t understand TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

23

their family dynamic? How do we handle financial conversations when money has been a tough subject in the past? We were so happy to deep dive into the questions we know other couples want answered.

Q. Your book focused on preparing for marriage, but you are now parents, too. How did adding a little one to your family impact your relationship with each other?

A. We love being parents so much. Our son brings so much energy and vibrancy to our marriage and home. Each child has a totally different presence, and I don’t think we heard that much from parents before. Kids, whether blood related or not – bring with them a uniqueness that contributes to your family. Our family wouldn’t be the same without Hudson, but we also wouldn’t know the “agape” love the Lord talks about, a love that sacrifices for those we love, like Jesus did. Becoming parents made us recognize this love on another level.

Q. What changes have you made to keep your relationship healthy now that it’s not just the two of you?

A. I’m going to highlight a tiny and specific thing we do every night that has helped our intimacy and time together in the evenings! Before we go to bed, we leave our phones in the kitchen so we can talk in the bedroom with few distractions.

We also don’t have a tv in our room. These are practical things that have helped us.

But we’ve also found freedom in embracing our differences.

We focus on supporting one another’s passions. For example, Nick loves world history and podcasts where he can learn about various subjects. I love integrating our friends into date nights every once in a while, and journaling. Very different interests.

But I’ll ask Nick to write me letters since I love writing and expressing myself that way. I’ll watch a war documentary or go to a real estate meeting with Nick, since those interest him. In the beginning of relationships, it’s easy to want to do many different things with each other but as time goes on it may require a little more effort.

Q. Chelsea, you recently decided to end your long-time presence on YouTube. Tell us about that decision.

A. Sure! I really felt the Lord leading me for around a year to stop striving. I felt my identity, for a long time, was in what I did for a living and what I was doing on YouTube. My friend had a dream the same week I asked the Lord to highlight whether I should stay or leave YouTube. She had no idea I was praying about this, but the Holy Spirit did! In the dream the Lord highlighted that once I removed YouTube, it would stop consuming my mind and thoughts. Then I would experience a 24

TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

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joyful and exciting time with God that has nothing to do with what I am “doing for Him.” I’m sure, as time goes on, this decision will have fruit but right now the obedience process comes with a bit of grief. I’m leaving something behind that was so integrated into my life!

I’m excited though. I believe I’ll experience new things with God and my family/friends.

Q. Is there anything else you’d like to say to our readers?

A. This scripture has been striking me in the heart lately; Psalm 63. It’s such a beautiful Psalm speaking about desiring the Lord with everything you are. I’ll leave you with it!  You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.

I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.

Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.

I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.

I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.

Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.

Those who want to kill me will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth.

They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals.

But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God will glory in him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced.

Nick Hurst sensed a call to ministry in 2012. Since then, he has been a speaker for Clayton King Ministries as well as the head evangelist for The HowToLife Movement since 2020. He is passionate about sharing the gospel, serving the local church, and seeing lost people raised to a new life in Christ.

Chelsea Hurst is a writer and online communicator and has a large and engaged following on Instagram. She has previously published two books for young women. She lives with her husband, Nick, and their son, Hudson, in Greenville, South Carolina.

Women in the Bible

Women in the Bible

Words can be found in any direction (including diagonals) and can overlap each other. Use the word bank below.

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Word Bank 1. gomer 5. ruth 9. mary 13. jezebel 17. zipporah

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(photo credit: Dictionary.com) 4. lydia 8. martha 12. esther 16. sapphira 20. elizabeth

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Christian Fiction Resource Guide T

he library we frequented, when I was little, was housed in a grand home someone had donated to our small city. I remember climbing the creaky wooden stairs to the children’s department, eager to see what new books had arrived.

The best thing about that library was a deep, cushioned window seat that overlooked the elm-lined street below.

I’d grab a book that looked intriguing, crawl up into the little alcove, and lose myself in the pages. The idyllic setting helped instill a lifelong love affair with books.

Storytelling has always held a revered place in Christian teaching. Nathan used the story of a wealthy man who stole a poor man’s only lamb to help David see he’d sinned when he stole Bathsheba from Uriah. Most of us are familiar with the Prodigal Son, a story Jesus used to demonstrate God’s unconditional love for His children. These are just two of the many parables and stories in God’s inspired word, the Bible, that bring biblical teaching alive.

Stories, like the ones you’ll find in these Christian novels, have the power to teach, encourage and engage us. They usher us into new adventures, fascinating histories and bone-chilling suspense. In their pages, we may see glimpses of ourselves through the characters or the circumstances they are facing.

And isn’t it nice to know the content will be God-honoring? No doubt there are countless intriguing secular fiction books out there. But sometimes you have to wade through offensive language or explicit scenes to get to the plot and its resolution.

Here are some new options for your rainy day and latenight reading.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

(Philippians 4:8)

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TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

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Fields of Bounty

Remember Me

By Lauraine Snelling [Bethany House]

By Tracie Peterson [Bethany House]

Lilac Nielsen balances a new courtship and her dream of the publication of her artwork in a New York newspaper. But when a family crisis back in Ohio shakes the Nielsen sisters, can they continue the new life they’ve begun in Nebraska? You’ll find this book at: Baker Book House or wherever books are sold.

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The Heart’s Choice

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By Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse [Bethany House]

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As a court reporter during a murder trial, Rebecca Whitman is convinced the defendant is innocent, but no one except the handsome new Carnegie librarian will listen to her. In a race against time, will they find the evidence they need—and open their hearts to love—before it’s too late? You’ll find this book at: Baker Book House or wherever books are sold.

Juniper Collins and her sisters seek the Blackfoot Piegan woman who saved their father’s life. Riley Turner, a trapper seeking peace and solitude, feels compelled to help them and joins their quest. When it becomes clear they’re now under pursuit, the questions mount as danger closes in. You’ll find this book at: Baker Book House or wherever books are sold.

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27

DAVE SAYS

By Dave Ramsey

A different kind of creditor? Are Debit Cards Safe for Online Purchases?

Dear Dave,

Dave Ramsey is a seven-time #1 national best-selling author, personal finance expert, and host of The Ramsey Show, heard by more than 18 million listeners each week.

He has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Today Show, Fox News, CNN, Fox Business, and many more.

Since 1992, Dave has helped people regain control of their money, build wealth, and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO for Ramsey Solutions.

28

My wife and I have plans to enter the mission field as soon as we have paid off our debt and get a full emergency fund in place. We only have about $12,000 in credit card debt left, and we don’t own a home, but my father does not want this debt to stand in our way.

He has offered to pay off the credit cards, and make it a loan where we would pay him back over time. It is a tempting offer, but we both feel strange about accepting it. What do you think we should do?

—Brandon Dear Brandon, Your dad sounds like a generous, good-hearted man. But considering the goal you and your wife have, I want you to think for a minute about the spiritual implications of a situation like this.

Proverbs 22:7 says the borrower is slave to the lender. Now, the Bible doesn’t say debt is a sin, but it definitely discourages debt, and it teaches us to live our lives differently than the rest of the world.

That’s the case when it comes to handling money, too.

If you do this, you’d be turning your dad into your creditor in a very real sense. That’s going to make family dinners taste different, because you’ll be eating with your lender instead of just good old dad. Money has a way of changing the family dynamic, and it’s almost never for the good. Suddenly, you’re getting raised eyebrows if you buy something for yourself, because even the nicest, most generous folks have opinions.

If it were me, I’d say thanks, but no thanks.

There’s no way I’d be in financial debt to my dad.

Now, if he were to offer to make paying off your debt a gift—one that was given with no strings attached to help you two get into the mission field quicker—I’d be okay with that and I’d be deeply grateful and honored.

But I would never tell you to go into debt to a parent. Your dad is probably thinking it’s better for you to be in debt to him rather than some uncaring bank or credit card company. But I just wouldn’t want to do anything that might jeopardize your relationship.

— Dave

TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

JULY 2023

Dear Dave, I use a debit card for all my regular, dayto-day purchases. However, I use a credit card for plane tickets, big ticket items, or when I shop online because someone told me it’s easier to dispute purchases when they’re made with a credit card. Are you putting your checking account at risk by using a debit card for these types of purchases?

—Wendy Dear Wendy, I don’t know who this “someone” is, but they’re a lousy financial advisor. The firm of Someone, They Said, and I Heard? That’s a financial planning company you don’t want to work with.

A debit card has the exact same protections for fraud that a credit card has. It does come out of your checking account, but the bank has to put it back once you dispute the charge and prove your dispute. It may take a day or two, but they’ll get it done.

I’ve used a debit card for decades, and I haven’t owned a credit card since way back in my dumbwith-money days. I’ve never had any problems using a debit card, and I’m not going to make the mistake of playing around with debt ever again.

I hope you won’t either!

— Dave

Which is best?

Dear Dave, How do you know if a will or a trust is best for you?

—Monica Dear Monica, This is a great question, especially since August is National Make-a-Will Month. The first thing you should do is take a serious look at your needs, your wishes and your overall life and financial circumstances.

If you’re like the average person with a couple of kids, a home and some savings, a will is all you

have 401(k) plans with our employers. Currently, we are looking at life insurance. We do not plan on having children, so what length term policies would you suggest for a couple in our situation?

© [Gorodenkoff ] / Adobe Stock

—Ashlie

need. There’s no reason to bring lawyers into the mix, unless there’s something complicated about your situation. In cases like this, you can even set one up online that’s perfectly legal in just a few minutes.

If you’re older, your kids are grown and your estate is worth $1 million or more, a trust is the way to go. By doing this, you can avoid probate in a way that wills don’t allow. Now, if you have a large estate and dependents, having both a will and a trust is a good idea. And you don’t have to worry about the two bumping into each other. They’re separate legal instruments, and there’s generally no conflict between them. If there is a legitimate, legal conflict between them, the trust usually overrides the will.

Simply put, everyone needs a will. But not everyone needs a trust. Trusts can be more than you need, but they can also be a great tool if you have a larger estate. So, if you’re in the vast majority of folks who don’t need a trust, just get yourself a will.

You’ll spend a lot less money and feel so much better knowing your stuff will go to the right people—and that your family will be taken care of!

— Dave

How many years?

Dear Dave, My husband and I are debt-free. We are in our mid20s, we also have a full emergency fund and we each

Dear Ashlie, I’d recommend you both find good 15- or 20-year, level term policies, with coverage amounts of 10 to 12 times your individual incomes. If you two have a change of heart, and decide you want kids later, I’d recommend converting those to 30year term policies, still at 10 to 12 times your incomes. Why? You’d want the insurance to be there to protect everyone in the family until the kids are out on their own.

Between now and then, and in the years after, your continued saving and wealth building will lead you to a place where you guys are self-insured. And that’s a great place to be!

— Dave

Change Tactics Dear Dave, I recently had a judgment filed against me for an unpaid, old hospital bill. Is it possible to negotiate things with the lawyer? Originally, the charges were $2,700 but now they have increased to $3,500, and I am not sure why the amount has risen. I have made several phone calls asking him for a detailed statement of the account, but all I have received is a payment booklet. What is your advice?

—Ronnie Dear Ronnie, Are you sure you’ve been speaking directly to the lawyer? I’m guessing the reason you haven’t gotten a real answer to your question is because you’ve actually been talking to some lowlevel staffer or paralegal. If you have been talking to the lawyer, there’s a pretty good chance he’s running a small debt collections or debt lawsuit machine. If this is the case, he probably gets a piece of whatever he collects. That means he’s out to collect as much as possible, as quickly as he can.

You might consider changing tactics, and see if you can talk to the hospital administrator. Propose giving them $2,000, or whatever reasonable amount you can afford, on the agreement that the hospital accept it as payment in full. Hospitals and doctor’s offices are often some of the easiest folks to work with when it comes to paying off debt, but people have to be proactive and make an honest, good faith effort to make it happen.

There’s a moral, as well as legal, responsibility involved when it comes to paying off bills or debt, Ronnie. You should always pay what you owe if at all possible.

— Dave  TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

29

TURNING POINT

By Gerald R. Ivan

When I Grow Up

Gerald R. Ivan, also known as “Grandpa Jerry,” has over thirty years of experience reading to children.

Encouraging, hopeful, fun, along with loving toward his children, are some of the ways to describe this gentleman.

Writing from his heart, and for the hearts of children has been his lifelong passion. “If you read for children today, they will want you to read again tomorrow.

Watch them grow!”

God has blessed this world with children. Love them every day.

If you have a turning point in your life you would like to share, email your story to editor@ todayschristianliving.org.

All submissions must be under 800 words. If we print your story, we will pay you $75. We reserve the right to edit for length and content.

All submissions become the property of Today’s Christian Living.

30

E

very child is asked the question, “What do I finally arrived at the intersection of “happy” and you want to be when you grow up?” “love.” I could understand what children were As a child, I was asked that question too. hoping for. They wanted trust, they wanted hope, Most children would say they wanted to be a doc- they wanted encouragement, but most of all they tor, a teacher, or a football star. But my answer wanted love. was different. When I was asked that question, my Twenty-four years later, with hard work and answer was “I want to be happy, and I want to be dreams for the future, my road to “happy” hit a loved!” stop. It crashed when my wife, whom I loved with I had an abusive father. Growing up in the all my heart, looked at me in the strangest way 1950’s I was not able to understand the brutality of and said, “I don’t love you, and I never really did. child abuse. It seemed to me that was how fathers I want out!” would “teach their child a lesson.” After each beatWith fears, pain, tears, and a broken heart, I ing, when left by myself, I could see the evidence somehow muddled through an ugly divorce. My of abuse. I would see the bruises and feel the sores young adult children, who were also devastated, on my little body. I looked relocated to separate, distant and cried with deep hurt places - some to college, and “ Not able to speak , some to places unknown. It and loneliness.

On occasion I saw my seemed like my family had friends being disciplined disappeared.

I felt words of by their fathers in loving Not sure what direction to ways and began to undergo, or how I could get back comfort in my stand that abusing and on the road to “happy”, I beating a child was wrong. moved to a small apartment. mind and my It took decades for my The pain of loneliness set life to become happy. As deep into my heart. heart. ” a child of abuse, most of On a cold November day, my hopes and dreams for I remember lying on the “happy” were diminished with constant threats of floor as my salty tears dripped from my eyes to my hurt and daily doses of discouragement. Added to mouth. I quietly cried and asked God to help me that were the physical beatings that left physical as find a way forward. well as emotional scars.

Catching a glimpse of the cold cloudy sky out of But during the middle of my high school years a window, I began to feel a sense of warmth. Not a wonderful teacher, who saw my struggles in his able to speak, I felt words of comfort in my mind math class, began to shower me with encourage- and my heart. Although I did not hear audible ment, and somehow “happy” seemed to be get- words, I knew that God was speaking to me. His ting closer. warm words of comfort were: “You are not alone, I During that same time of my life, I worked at a am here with you, and this is only temporary. You local grocery store. I met a wonderful man, who will find the road to ‘happy’ again.” God said to happened to be the store manager, and he also my heart: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” shared reassurance and the trust I so desperately (Hebrews 13:5) needed.

The warm and peaceful feeling inside me beMy deepest understanding of “happy” surfaced came my bridge to the knowledge of God’s love when I began to write. I wrote about trust, hope, and hope. I knew then that I was back on the road encouragement, and love. I was able to let the to “happy.” I also found the road to love. dreams inside me walk out of my pen and onto “I found what I wanted to be when I grew up!”  the page.

Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, Traveling down the road of life, I was married The fruit of the womb is a reward. (Psalm 127:3) and blessed with four beautiful children. I thought

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Spiritual G r ow t h

RESOURCE GUIDE

K

ids grow in spurts. I remember the year our son ended second grade wearing size 7-8 clothing. Over the summer months, he shot up and his feet grew. He needed a whole new back-to-school wardrobe in the fall, in the size 12-14 range.

I don’t know what your experience has been, but that’s what my spiritual growth has looked like through the years. When I’m walking in obedience to God, seeking Him diligently, I increase in spiritual stature. God helps me understand things that once confused me, overcome temptations that once undid me, and serve in ways that once intimidated me. I mature by leaps and bounds!

Then there are those times… well, maybe you have them, too. I allow sin, or apathy, or life’s trials, to sidetrack me. I neglect my God time. I do what I want to do, whether God likes it or not. Church seems rather hum-drum. Knowing that I need to be there keeps me from playing hooky, but I’m only there physically. I’m off in my own little world intellectually. Those seasons are spiritual quagmires – stinky, stagnant, scum-covered swamps. No growth there!

I’m so thankful my Heavenly Father understands I’m just dust. I tend to be fickle and unfaithful, drawn away by all sorts of distractions. No wonder I grow in fits and starts. I’m not suggesting it’s okay to neglect my Lord. It’s not.

But He is faithful even when I’m not, and often reminds me:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

(Lamentations 3:22-23) Here are some resources designed to help you on your lifelong spiritual growth journey. They offer teaching, truths and encouragement to keep you moving consistently forward, even when there are bumps and potholes along the road. Our ultimate goal is to be conformed to the image of Christ so we can bring God glory in all we say and do.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

(Romans 12:1-2)

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Special Advertising Section

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And I Will Bless Them: Releasing

Transformation through the Spoken Blessing

By Katy McCown [David C Cook]

By Roy Godwin [David C Cook]

This interactive Bible study—with video included— tackles the loneliness many of us feel in Christian community and challenges us to find wholeness in the broken body of Christ. You can find it at: https://www.estherpress.com/books/she-belongs/

And I Will Bless Them gives you the practical tools and biblical inspiration you need to fulfill your longing to share God’s presence in your home, workplace and community. You can find it at: https://davidccook.org/books/and-i-will-bless-them/

New Book from Josh McDowell!

Created to Dream

By Josh McDowell [Josh McDowell Ministry]

Josh McDowell provides answers to tough questions about the life, ministry, and divinity of Jesus. Handy and readable format, he offers quick insights about Christ to refute skeptics, encourage curious seekers, and alleviate nagging doubts in the minds of brand new or lifelong Christians.

Buy Now! store.josh.org

By Rick Warren [Zondervan]

God has a dream for your life – and in this concise yet powerful volume, beloved pastor and trusted teacher Rick Warren explains the six phases of faith God uses to fulfill the dream He gives you. This one book can lead to big changes in your life. You can find it at Createdtodreambook.com

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33

Special Advertising Section

Like a River

Seeing God as a Perfect Father

By Granger Smith [Thomas Nelson]

By Louie Giglio [Thomas Nelson]

Like a River is a triumphant story of new life birthed out of tragedy. Granger Smith will teach readers how to face their failures, confront their pain, and connect with God — the true source of life. Like a River is available on August 1, 2023.

You can find it at: https://www.grangersmith.com/

You are chosen, loved, prized, wanted, and believed in by a perfect Father. In Seeing God as a Perfect Father, Louie Giglio invites us to experience God in a lifechanging way: as a perfect Father who wants you to live under the waterfall of His blessing. You can find it at: perfectfatherbook.com

The Evangelical Study Bible

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Available at evangelicalstudybible.com

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TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

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[Zondervan]

Created to meet the spiritual needs of high school and college students, THe NIV Telos Bible is designed to be contextually relevant and to challenge young adults to take a meaningful look at the Bible. It encourages this diverse generation to know and follow Jesus. You can find it at: www.amazon.com/teenbibles

LAUGH LINES

A

fter being away on business, Tim thought it would be nice to bring his wife a little gift. “How about some perfume?” he asked the cosmetics clerk.

She showed him a bottle costing $50.

“That’s a bit much,” said Tim, so she returned with a smaller bottle for $30.

“That’s still quite a bit,” Tim complained.

Growing annoyed, the clerk brought out a tiny $15 bottle.

“What I mean,” said Tim, “is I’d like to see something really cheap.”

The clerk handed him a mirror.

—From Mikey’s Funnies (www.mikeysfunnies.com)

A

t a naval barracks the enlisted men were being given their shots prior to going overseas. One lad, having received his whole series of injections, asked for a glass of water.

“What’s the matter?” asked the hospital corpsman. “Do you feel light-headed?”

“No, just checking to see if I’m still watertight.”

—From Mikey’s Funnies (www.mikeysfunnies.com)

“Are you sure we’re not coming up on a waterfall?”

An honest recollection of growing up as a Missionary

“THIRD CULTURE KID”

“You really should try catching one, Herb. It would do wonders for all that hostility!”

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35

ASK DR. WALT

Walt Larimore, MD, has been called one of America’s best-known family physicians and has been named in the “Guide to America’s Top Family Doctors,”“The Best Doctors in America,” “Who’s Who in Medicine and Healthcare,” and “Who’s Who in America.”

He’s a former vice president and physician in residence at Focus on the Family, and the American Life League named him a “Rock-Solid Pro-Life” awardee. He’s also an award-winning medical journalist and the bestselling author of over 40 books. He and his wife of 49 years, Barb, have two adult children and reside in Colorado Springs. You can find his daily blog at www.DrWalt.com and follow him on Facebook at “DrWalt.com.” Have questions for Dr. Walt?

Email them to editor@ todayschristianliving.org.

This column is for informational purposes only, does not constitute health or medical advice, and is not intended to substitute for the diagnosis or recommendation(s) of your healthcare professional(s).

36

A Guide to Non-Sugar Sweeteners Question: What are the healthiest alternatives to sugar?

Answer: The CDC says, “Americans are eat-

ing and drinking too many added sugars, which can contribute to many chronic health problems.”

CALL OUT Too much sugar may cause: • Cancer (i.e., colon and pancreas) • Chronic inflammation • Cognitive problems, dementia, and Alzheimer’s • Heart disease and heart attacks • High blood pressure • Kidney and liver disease • Muscle and nerve damage • Overeating, overweight, and obesity • Retina damage • Skin aging and wrinkling • Stroke • Tooth cavities and decay • Weight gain (Sources: American Heart Association, Harvard University)

Sugar substitutes, also called non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) may help you reduce your intake of sugar. Most are promoted as a healthy alternative to sugar and to lower your weight. But are these claims true? And, even more importantly, are NSS safe?

In May 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that NSS should not be used to achieve weight control or to reduce the risk of chronic diseases (e.g, cardiovascular disease, cancer, etc.) because of clinical studies that people using them have no long-term weight loss.

Furthermore, according to the WHO, observational studies link the use of NSS to several increased health risks.

TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

JULY 2023

By Walt Larimore, MD

CALL OUT Non-sugar Sweeteners are associated with risks of: • New-onset obesity (+76%), • Type 2 diabetes (+23% to 34%), • Cardiovascular disease (+32%), Premature mortality (+12%), and • Preterm labor (+25%).

(Source: World Health Organization)

The WHO guideline warns that high-intensity NSS such as acesulfame K, aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, stevia, and monk fruit are a special concern. But they exclude sugar alcohols and other low-calorie sugars (such as xylitol, sorbitol, allulose, inulin, tagatose, etc.), as well as alternative sugars (such as coconut, date, and other syrups).

ConsumerLab.com (CL) adds, “In addition, the products that contain [NSS] often contain significant amounts of other [NSS] that labels don’t clearly make evident.” The WHO adds that NSS used for personal care products like toothpaste, skin cream, and medications are exempted from this guidance as are those with pre-existing diabetes (tinyurl.com/5ysfyttf).

High Intensity NSS

Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K), has been linked with increased cancer risk and tinnitus (ringing in the ears). It can have a bitter taste.

Aspartame (NutraSweetTM, Equal® – in blue packets in restaurants) is a high-intensity sweeter that is in many popular beverages and soft drinks that has been approved by the FDA since 1981. Although the NCI advises, “There is no evidence that aspartame causes cancer or other serious health problems,” recent studies from France suggest it may be linked with an elevated risk of cancer and heart-related adverse events. CL advises it is, “Linked with increased cancer risk and tinnitus.”

CSPI opines, “Try to avoid aspartame, which tops our list of risky artificial sweeteners.”

Monk fruit (Monk Fruit in the Raw®, PureLo®) is a newer no-calorie sweetener and very few studies have evaluated its safety. It is often combined with low-calorie sweeteners such as erythritol and extracts vary widely in sweetness.

Neotame (NewtameTM) is a no-calorie artificial sweetener. It is considered safe by CSPI. Saccharin (Sweet’N Low®, Sugar Twin®, Necta Sweet® – in pink packets in restaurants) was

Question: Are sugar substitutes safe for children?

Answer: “Based on the available evidence, which is rela-

Wooden spoons of white cane sugar and stevia leaf.

linked to bladder cancer decades ago. Although the NCI advises there is no evidence that saccharin causes cancer, “due to the availability of alternate, better-tasting sweeteners,” CSPI recommends avoiding it.

Stevia (Pure Via®, Truvia® – in green packets in restaurants) may satisfy hunger, but may cause mild side effects, and might adversely affect the kidneys. It is not heat stable and many stevia products contain bulking ingredients (which also have a sweet taste), so be sure to read labels carefully. Store stevia away from direct sunlight and heat, as these may affect the taste.

Sucralose (Splenda® – in yellow packets in restaurants) is a no-calorie heat-stable NSS that has been approved by the FDA since 1998. It may increase blood sugar levels if 6 or more packets are used a day. Although CSPI advises, “Avoid sucralose, which may pose a small risk of cancer,” CL points to a 2022 study of over 100,000 adults in France that were followed for nearly about 9 years that reported sucralose was not linked with increased risk of any type of cancer. However, the study did show a possible link to heart-related adverse events. It’s reassuring that more than 110 other studies have examined the safety of sucralose, and according to the NCI, “There is no evidence that sucralose causes cancer or other serious health problems.”

Low-Calorie Sweeteners (Sugar Alcohols)

CL writes, “Allulose, erythritol, glycine, inulin, Kabocha extract, lucuma, polydextrose, sorbitol, tagatose, thaumatin (talin), and xylitol are slightly less sweet than table sugar but provide far fewer calories and avoid adverse dental effects.” CSPI advises, “Allulose … appears to be a safer sweetener.” The FDA considers erythritol, sorbitol, and xylitol to be GRAS, although CL points out, “Erythritol and possibly xylitol may be linked with heart-related adverse events.”

Alternative Sugars

CL advises, “There’s no convincing evidence agave syrup, coconut sugar, date syrup, glycerol, honey, maple syrup, trehalose, or yacon syrup, which contain small amounts of vitamins and nutrients, are a healthier alternative since they still contain a significant amount of sugar.” Raw sugar (in the brown packets in restaurants) undergoes minimal processing and retains some molasses, but it is still over 95% pure sugar, and it has no particular health benefits.

tively limited,” CSPI advises, “Children [should] avoid no- or low-calorie sweeteners.” The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that the long-term safety of no-calorie sweeteners has not been assessed in children. The American Heart Association says it is prudent to advise against prolonged consumption of low-calorie sweetened beverages by children. Finally, due to a risk of botulism, infants should never be given honey.

If you are a diabetic, have cardiovascular disease, have phenylketonuria (PKU), or are a woman who is breast feeding, pregnant, or planning to get pregnant, check with your physician about which, if any, sugar substitutes you should consider.

Mayo Clinic points out, “Research is looking at long-term use of sugar substitutes and the gut – focusing on how the gut and brain communicate. Researchers are checking to see if sugar substitutes affect cravings for sweets, the way people feel hunger and how the body manages blood sugar.”

The Bottom Line

For the average American, diet sodas and other artificially sweetened beverages (including coffee, tea, energy, or sports drinks) are the single biggest source of artificial sweeteners.

Mayo Clinic advises, “In general, it is safest to take in small amounts of sugar substitutes. And it’s best to use sugar substitutes for a short time, or just occasionally. So, try to cut back if you use them a few times a day.”

The WHO advises that you “consider other ways to reduce free sugars intake, such as consuming food with naturally occurring sugars, like fruit, or unsweetened food and beverages.

NSS are not essential dietary factors and have no nutritional value. People should reduce the sweetness of the diet altogether, starting early in life, to improve their health.”

CALL OUT If you drink artificially sweetened beverages daily, consider switching to: • Plain tap or bottled water • Flavored water (i.e., watermelon, blackberry, and mango) • Water with a slice of fruit, cucumber, sprig of mint, or herbs • Sparkling water • Carbonated water (i.e., Polar Seltzer®, LaCroix®) • Unsweetened, flavored water (i.e., JUST® or Hint®) A Harvard researcher advises, “For people who have a hard time giving up sweet drinks, using an artificially sweetened beverage can be like a nicotine patch is to smoking: Better than the real thing but best considered as a bridge to water, tea, or coffee.”

Sources: CSPI, Mayo Clinic TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

37

PERSECUTION REPORT

By Will Morris

Growing Hostility Toward Christians in Israel

Will Morris is the Middle East Correspondent for Morning Star News and one of its founding writers. He is an award-winning journalist and photographer whose byline has appeared in numerous domestic and international publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post and even Stars and Stripes.

Mr. Morris has spent roughly a decade covering the Persecuted Church and conducting research about freedom of religion - mostly in the Muslim-majority countries in which he lived. He also covers national security and environmental issues.

Will Morris holds a degree in International Studies from the Ohio State University where his coursework focused on the Middle East and Development.

He is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, where he served in the infantry.

You can contact Mr. Morris at veritas@ witnessmedia.org

*not real name 38

E

mboldened by changes in national politics some wrapped in Israeli flags, shoved and threw and the indifference, or even complacency, of chairs at restaurant patrons. According to witnesses, government officials — groups of extremist police arrived at the scene an hour after they were ultra-Orthodox Jews and “anti-missionary” mili- called and ordered the mob to disperse, but made tants (among others) have dramatically stepped up no arrests. their attacks against Christians in Israel.

Two days after that attack, on January 28, a group Sporadic attacks against Christians living and of Orthodox extremists stopped a car full of Arworshiping in Jerusalem have happened on and off menian teens. They sprayed the teens with pepper for years. Up until now they have been seen mostly spray and told them to get out of Israel. After the as a nuisance. But Christian leaders in Jerusalem attack, more extremists tried to climb to the top of now report that attacks in and around the Old City the Armenian Patriarchate and remove flags from have increased in number and in scope. What used the building. to be a minor issue, has now become a major problem and many Christians are concerned for their safety.

The number of significant attacks against Christians increased dramatically just after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s newly formed government was sworn in on December 29, 2022. In order to put together a government under the Israeli system, Netanyahu forged alliances with political parties led by members known for their extreme religious and political stances. Almost overnight, Israeli fringe groups responsible for attacks felt like they had finally arrived with Orthodox Christian woman lighting candles in the Church of the a blank check to victimize whoever Holy Sepulcher in the Old City of Jerusalem. they choose; and it didn’t take long for (Photos provided by and used with permission from Will Morris.) someone to strike a blow.

On February 2, a man went into the Church of the On January 1, two males vandalized roughly Flagellation in the Old City and tore down and dam30 graves at a Christian cemetery on Mount Zion. aged a statue of Jesus. When detained by some at the Surveillance footage shows the two teens pushing church, the man claimed he committed the attack crosses off graves and smashing them in broad day- because the Second Commandment forbids making light. Authorities later arrested two Israeli males, and worshiping idols. At least one eyewitness identiages 18 and 14, in connection with the crime. fied the man as an Israeli settler. He was later identiA week-and-a-half later, someone spray-painted fied as an “American Tourist” by Israeli officials.

“Death to Christians,” among other things, in large On March 19, two men entered the Tomb of the Hebrew letters on the walls of St. James Monastery Virgin Mary in Jerusalem and one of the men, in the Old City. It is one of many times the monas- armed with an iron bar, assaulted a Greek Orthotery has been vandalized. dox priest conducting the Sunday morning liturgy.

Then, on January 26, a group of about two dozen The priest suffered injuries to the head and was Israelis described in the media as “settlers” and “rad- taken to a hospital, treated and released. A 27-yearicals” attacked an Armenian restaurant in the Chris- old man was later arrested in connection with the tian quarter of Jerusalem. Members of the mob, assault, according to Israeli Police.

TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

JULY 2023

"Christ Pantocrator” in one of the domes of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the Old City of Jerusalem.

There is some type of harassment almost daily now. It is commonplace for Haredim to intimidate Christians by threatening them with pepper spray. Ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students routinely spit and yell threats, insults and profanity at priests, nuns and pilgrims. It is commonplace for worship services and religious processions in the Old City to be disrupted by some type of demonstrator bearing a blunt weapon and a list of grievances.

Sadly, many incidents go unreported because there is little incentive to do so. Response times of police in the Old City, a place where the security presence is ubiquitous, can be dismal – for unknown reasons. In the attack at the Tomb of the Virgin Mary, according to witnesses, it took more than half an hour for police to arrive at the scene. It is only a six-minute walk there from Lion’s Gate, a nearby security outpost. Even if an offender is caught, Christian leaders say they are rarely punished.

The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem, in their annual Easter message, described the changing situation in the Holy Land and asked for help in securing “safety, access, and religious freedom” for Christians in Israel.

“As we have all seen in recent months, escalating violence has engulfed the Holy Land. Local Christians in particular have increasingly suffered adversities similar to the ones about which St. Peter wrote,” the Christian leaders said. “For over the past year, some of our churches, funeral processions, and places of public gathering have become targets of attack; some of our holy sites and cemeteries have been desecrated; and some of our ancient liturgies, such as the Palm Sunday Procession and the Holy Fire Ceremony, have been closed off to thousands of worshipers.”

Despite this, the Netanyahu government continues to play down the situation with the claim there is “only one place” in the Middle East where Christians are “safe.” Although his statement is technically true, it is also purposefully misleading. Clearly the intensity of the persecution of Christians in Israel does not come remotely close to the level of persecution Christians suffer in neighboring countries. In Israel, churches are vandalized; in Iraq they are fire bombed. In Israel, Christians are assaulted; in Egypt they are run over with armored personnel carriers. To say Christians are all “safe” in Israel is a lie. They are just much worse off in other places.

While extremist groups harass Christians in the Old City, the persecution of Messianic Jews across Israel continues unabated at the hands of “anti-missionary” groups and their allies.

In January, two politicians proposed a law meant to strike the heart of the Messianic movement, an amendment to Israel’s penal code that would have made it illegal to preach the Gospel in Israel. Fortunately, after a massive outcry from evangelicals around the world, Netanyahu issued a brief statement on Twitter that his administration would not support the proposal and it came to a screeching halt.

Generally speaking, most Israelis see Messianic Jews as some sort of odd curiosity. But those in Israel’s far right see them as traitors. Close relationships between ultra-Orthodox members of the Jewish community and the ministries of the Interior, Religion and Education have led to a litany of bureaucratic decisions against Messianics that have to be fought in court.

Messianics are currently in court to prevent the closure of at least one elementary school, numerous places of worship and at least one charity that gives free or subsidized dental treatment to those who can’t afford it. This is in addition to the constant legal battles Messianics have to fight over issues dealing with their citizenship or with immigrating to Israel (known as Aliyah).

In February, as if to emphasize their newfound power, Rabbi Shmuel Lifshitz, the leader of Yad L’achaim, the biggest “antimissionary” group in the country, met with the Israeli Minister of Religious Services and ultra-Orthodox Shas Party member, Michael Michieli, at his office in Jerusalem. Michieli falsely stated Israeli law forbids religious solicitation and then extolled the virtues and work of Yad L’achaim. He closed the meeting by publicly telling members of the group, “My door is open to you at any time.” 

PRAYER POINTS: PRAY that God will strengthen the faith of all those being persecuted.

PRAY that God will open hearts and minds of all Israelis to Jesus as the Messiah promised to the Jewish people.

Let the discussion be about Jesus, not about those in history who have called themselves “Christian,” but have only shown the Jewish people two millennia of hate, abuse and even mass murder.

PRAY that the Ministry of the Interior will change its stance forbidding the immigration of Jewish people whose sole infraction is that they believe that Jesus is the Messiah. Help them see that belief in Jesus is not the sole characteristic that either identifies or eliminates someone as a Jew. TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

39

QUICK TAKES

Fight for Your Pastor

The Heart of Pilgrimage

By Peter Orr [Crossway] Do you pray for your pastors? Do you encourage them? Do you have realistic expectations for them? The office of pastor is simultaneously a rewarding and draining position. Pastors today have immense pressure on their shoulders and they need the support of their congregations.

Peter Orr wrote Fight for Your Pastor as an exhortation for church members to stand behind their pastors through the difficulties of ministry. Orr specifies how congregations can intentionally care for church leaders, including prayer, encouragement, generosity, and forgiveness.

Featuring stories from current pastors about their struggles, this book is perfect for church members eager to understand the weight of their pastors’ positions and support leaders in their important ministry.

For thoughtful Christians who want to know more about caring for their pastors, this book includes current insight from pastors about their ministry experiences. Plus, it gives practical examples of how to love and care for pastors, including specific prayers for church leaders and the best ways to encourage them.

By Leland Ryken [Crossway] Christians throughout the ages have written devotionals as a way to bend their souls toward God and teach about Him, communicating rich truths and encouraging readers to grow in grace and godliness. In this collection of fifty devotionals and creeds by figures such as Augustine, John Calvin, and Nathaniel Hawthorne, literary expert Leland Ryken introduces readers to insightful selections of their classic writings. Each entry contains a devotional passage from a historical figure, analysis by Ryken, and a concluding Bible passage that sums up the devotional passage and its analysis. Literary-inclined readers and first-time devotional readers alike will relish this one-ofa-kind anthology carefully compiled to help them encounter God in fresh ways.

Leland Ryken is a literary expert with over 50 years of teaching experience. His devotional, with a ribbon marker to keep your place, includes fifty classic writings, devotionals and creeds from figures such as Augustine, John Calvin, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Jonathan Edwards, Jane Austin, J.I. Packer and George McDonald.

Why Do I Do What I Don’t Want to Do?

Fantastic Pocket Bible Trivia The Big Bible Book of Games

By Jonathan “JP” Pokluda [BakerBooks] We live in an upside-down culture. We wink at our vices while restricting our virtues to our online personas, where they won’t interfere with our real lives.

And we wonder why we feel empty, exhausted, and directionless. But why do we do things that we know are harmful for us?

Jonathan “JP” Pokluda wants you to know there’s a better, more fulfilling way to live, and it doesn’t involve looking inside yourself for the answers. That’s not where you’ll find them.

With wit and wisdom, he expands on the age-old virtues we’re told to pursue in Scripture: humility, forgiveness, generosity, diligence, self-control, authenticity, rest, and optimism. Far from being restrictive, these God-given goals for living free us to love and live as we were meant to.

Practicing virtues comes through slow and sure transformation, by the power of God. Whether you’re 18 or 80, it’s never too late to redefine what’s important to you and reclaim a life of virtue.

40

TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

JULY 2023

By Timothy E. Parker [Revell] Created by a Guinness World Records Puzzle Master, Fantastic Pocket Bible Trivia contains not only hundreds of challenging questions drawn from the Bible but also; Scripture fill-in-theblank challenges, “Did You Know” facts, Bible crosswords and Bible word searches.

Designed to teach, challenge, enlighten, and entertain, this compendium of trivia guarantees hours of fun for all ages.

Ready to test your knowledge of Scripture and learn more of God’s Word? Then you’re ready for The Big Bible Book of Games!

From Guinness World Records Puzzle Master Timothy E. Parker, this brand-new collection of puzzles, trivia, and brain teasers is sure to provide hours of entertainment. The hundreds of games include: - word searches - true or false - fill-in-the-blank - sudoku - word scrambles - and more - mazes - anagrams There’s no better way to combine fun, relaxation, and education than with games.

So Many Lions, So Few Daniels

So God Made a Mother

Ray Comfort [BakerBooks] Christians today live as exiles in a hostile culture where never-ending conflicts and ferocious adversaries are commonplace. The future is uncertain and frightening – yet followers of Jesus must live fearlessly for Christ and speak compassionate truth to those still in darkness.

Drawing inspiration from the biblical story of Daniel, bestselling author and evangelist, Ray Comfort, shows you how to live fearlessly for Christ in the midst of adversity and opposition, boldly sharing the love of God with a world in desperate need of it.

“Through faith in Jesus, we have been delivered from him who walks about as a roaring lion, and from the ultimate devouring lion, death itself. That’s our glorious victory.

Meanwhile, until the trumpet sounds, we must continue to fight the good fight of faith, a fight in which we need more warriors,” writes Comfort.

Leslie Means [Tyndale] When God made a mother, He had you in mind.

Are you a mother? Do you have a mother? Do you know a mother? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, So God Made a Mother is for you.

Join Leslie Means, founder of the popular website Her View From Home, as she weaves together a powerful, emotional collection of essays from women of all ages and stages. These real-life, straightto-the-heart stories will make you laugh, cry, and nod along.

No two mothers are alike. No two experiences in motherhood mirror each other. But something powerful happens when our stories come together: they speak love, worth, value, and beauty. They take the undefinable experience of motherhood and give it shape and substance and strength.

They speak to us all.

So God Made a Mother promises to show you the incomparable heart of a mother . . . a mother just like you.

Reset

Gather & Give

Debra Fileta [Harvest House Publishers] You may feel like old habits die hard— but when your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are in-sync, lasting change becomes attainable. Licensed counselor and faith-forward author Debra Fileta is here to help you break free, trading unhealthy cyclical behaviors for life-giving new patterns.

In this book, Debra walks with you through 31 powerful and sustainable practices. Each exercise is grounded in psychology, rooted in God’s Word, and designed to transform your behavior with changes that last. Reset will help you recognize the “why” behind your emotions and actions, allowing you to identify where you need healing and rewire your brain’s default settings. Then you can make simple adjustments to your mindset and habits, reflect on your personal growth goals and begin taking small steps towards achieving them.

No matter how many times you’ve failed before, God’s power and a renewed perspective can help you make this time different. So, get ready to Reset and begin this journey of thriving from the inside out!

Amy Hannon [W Publishing Group] Now more than ever, the world is hungry to gather and thirsty for connection.

Many of us wish to share a meal, share our faith, and share our lives with others. We want to open our home to friends and neighbors for the sake of meaningful community, but we’re overwhelmed with hospitality hang-ups. How do I extend an invitation? What will they think of my house or the food?

Our welcome has been influenced by the messages of the world that tell us hospitality is about our ability to be, host, live, and cook a certain way.

In Gather & Give, Amy Hannon inspires you to embrace the simple hospitality of the Bible that values connection more than perfection and people more than presentation.

Amy shares scriptural principles and practical ideas to make everyday hospitality a natural, joy-filled part of your life.

Find freedom in uncomplicated, biblical hospitality. Share God’s love and hope while finding joy in following the Lord’s hospitality command.

TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

41

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significantliving.org Significant Living 11

KIDS OF THE KINGDOM

“Can’t I just email you a link to my blog, Miss Harris?”

A

father thought it was about time to lecture his son, who was somewhat scatter-brained and frivolous.

“Jim,” he said, “you’re getting to be a man now and you ought to take life more seriously. Just think, if I died all of a sudden, where would you be?”

“I’d be right here, dad,” said Jim. “The better question is, where would YOU be?

—From Mikey’s Funnies www.mikeysfunnies.com

W

hile my third-grade class was completing a writing exercise, one of the students asked me how to spell “piranha.”

I told him I was unsure. To my delight, he went to the dictionary to solve his problem.

That’s when I overheard another pupil say to him, “Why bother to look it up? She doesn’t know how to spell it anyway.”

—From Mikey’s Funnies www.mikeysfunnies.com If you have a joke or funny story you’d like to share, email editor@ todayschristianliving.org. If we print your joke, we’ll pay you $25.

Editor’s Pick for Kids

God’s Signpost

By Sam Alberry (author) and Christine Grove (illustrator) [BH Kids]

What is marriage? Is it sharing a home? Is it being in love? Is it a promise? Author Sam Allberry shows us that marriage is much more than these things. Join siblings Lila and Ethan as they celebrate their grandparents’ wedding anniversary and discover that marriage is a special sign that points to God’s unique love for us—the kind of love that keeps on going, no matter what. This is his first in a series of two picture books.

TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

43

QUIPS & QUOTES

Let this encourage those of you who belong to Christ: the storm may be tempestuous, but it is only temporary. The clouds that are temporarily rolling over your head will pass, and then you will have fair weather, an eternal sunshine of glory.

Can you not watch with Christ for one hour?

—William Gurnall

Always, everywhere God is present, and always He seeks to discover Himself to each one.”

—A.W. Tozer

God does not give us everything we want, but He does fulfill His promises, leading us along His best and straightest paths to Himself.

—Dietrich Bonhoeffer 44

TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

JULY 2023

(photo credit: Michael Shoemaker)

Living Water

R

By Michelle Adserias

ivers amaze me. As I sit on a granite outcropping in the Flambeau River, I wonder at the volume of water passing by. And no matter how much flows past, there is always more, and more and more.

The current keeps a constant tempo. There are no breaks, no pauses, no hints of hesitation as it scampers downstream. It just keeps coming from some unseen - seemingly limitless - source upstream, ever filling the falls downstream with the waters of life.

“He who believes in Me, from his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.”

(John 7:38) Jesus offered His living water to the Samaritan woman He met at the well.

He said it would become a well of water springing up to eternal life. (John 4) I try to wrap my spiritual mind around Jesus’s words as the water rumbles on. God pours

out a river of rich mercy, unfailing love, divine righteousness, and perfect peace. His living waters are limitless, flowing unabated from His abundant goodness toward all who love Him. However, God doesn’t just saturate souls so they can be self-satisfied. He fills them to overflowing so the living water flows along to quench other thirsty souls. I think it must tie in with God telling Abraham, “And I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.” (Genesis 12:2) The living water flowing from us draws others to the Well that Never Runs Dry. Perhaps God intended me to sit here today so the river could soothe my spirit and sing to my soul. Perhaps He appointed the river to remind me of my Creator’s limitlessness.

Or perhaps the river is showing me how to live joyfully and energetically, relentlessly carrying the Water of Life to a thirsty world. 

Women in the Bible Words can be found in any direction (including diagonals) and can overlap each other. Use the word bank below.

INDEX & WEB LISTING

ACTS Retirement-Life Communities.......www.actsretirement.org.............................2 Baker Publishing.....................................www.bakerpublishinggroup.com.............27 Christianbook.com..................................www.christianbook.com...........................48 David C Cook Publishing.........................www.davidccook.org.............................1, 33 HarperCollins Christian Publishing.........www.harpercollinschristian.com........ 33-34 Josh McDowell Ministry..........................www.josh.org............................................33 Masthof Press..........................................www.masthof.com....................................35 Chris Thurman.........................................drchristhurman.com..................................19 Total Living Network...............................www.tln.com.............................................47

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Gomer Eve Hannah Lydia Ruth Bathsheba Rebekah

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

Martha Mary Rachael Sarah Esther Jezebel Rahab

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

Naomi Sapphira Zipporah Leah Delilah Elizabeth

Tyndale House Publishers.......................www.tyndale.com.....................................11 Vision Video ............................................RedeemTV.com...........................................15 Please note: The Advertisers’ Index is published as a convenience to our readers. While every effort is made to obtain accuracy and completeness, last minute changes may occasionally result in unavoidable omissions or errors.

(photo credit: Dictionary.com) TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

45

GRACE NOTES

The Best Gift Scott Rannells, a self-published author (Confessions of a Christian, 2013), loves to write about faith in Jesus and how it can inform everyday decisions. Scott leads the divorce care program at his church, loves exercise, and loves his four grown kids.

He lives with his wife in Minnesota.

46

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hat is the best gift you have ever received? The best gift does not come wrapped or in a bag, and it doesn’t even come all at once. It comes in little, sometimes hidden, doses. It is called grace.

In my senior year of college, I was excitedly preparing to graduate when I realized I needed one more elective. I wanted to choose something easy, and I noticed English Lit was available. It sure looked easy - all I’d be expected to do is read some stories and answer some questions about them. So, I signed up and was on my way to graduating!

However, within just a few weeks I sat in the university lecture room stunned, silent, desperate and petrified. While my classmates eagerly participated in class discussions - untangling plot twists and exposing character motivations - I hid in my chair and used every brain cell to think of something to share from the day’s assigned reading. All the while, I fought off the budding fear that I wasn’t going to graduate because of an elective. I was then, and still am, inclined to nonfiction literature. I struggled to relate to any of the assigned readings.

This was dose of grace number one. Believing I was going to graduate with no problem, I was swiftly delivered into humility. To experience humility is to be in fellowship with Jesus. I needed to focus on His presence, even when my dream of graduating was threatening to collapse.

As the semester continued, I became no more an English Lit scholar than the chair I was sitting in. I sought help from the professor and teaching assistants, but I needed more help than even they could give. Multiple failed pop quizzes and zeropoints-for-participation periods later, I faced a final exam with a very limited knowledge of the material. In the last few minutes of the last class period, the professor revealed six essay questions, three of which would be on the exam. He did not tell us which three. So, I had to come up with answers for six questions in three days. I did not know how I would to do this, but I knew I had to.

I needed to focus on the presence of Jesus, and I needed to pray.

This was dose of grace number two. There was a limit to the number of times I could reason-

TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

JULY 2023

ably visit the professor and assistants, but I could come before the Lord in unlimited fashion.

So, all weekend long I studied and prayed, studied and prayed, studied and prayed. I sat in my chair, went over all of our readings, and did my best to come up with answers. We were allowed note cards for the exam, so I crammed my answers to all six questions onto three cards.

As I crafted my answers, it became clear three of them were superior to the others. I prayed those three questions would be on the test. I could control how much I studied and prayed. I could control how I crafted my answers. I could not, however, control what questions would be on our final exam.

This was dose of grace number three. In Philippians 4:6, Paul writes, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (ESV) I may not have realized it then, but that whole weekend of studying and praying was about silencing my fears and strengthening my faith.

When we let our “requests be made known to God”, He uses our circumstances to draw us closer to Him. This truth is beautiful and remains foundational in my prayer life today.

Finally, I was seated in the lecture hall on exam day, waiting for the questions to be revealed. This was dose of grace number four. I couldn’t believe it then, and still can’t today, but the questions revealed were the exact questions I prayed for!!!

Maybe some other students prayed for those questions as well, I don’t know, but I answered them, got a B on the exam, a C for my final grade, and graduated.

Thankfully, I am no longer tested by English literature. Various other tests and trials, however, are still part of my life. By His grace, I have learned to make all my requests known to God, and trust Him with the outcome. 

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By Scott Rannells

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