Today's Christian Living July 2024

Old Dogs, New Tricks

My love/hate relationship with technology has become the family joke. We laugh about my aversion to learning new computer skills and embracing the latest gadgets. In fact, I just got my first cell phone last year. I don’t carry it, mind you. It lives on my coffee table ninety-nine percent of the time and functions as a glorified electronic toy. My motto for the past 24 years has been “They’re dragging me into the 21st century kicking and screaming.”

Ironic, isn’t it? On the one hand, I depend on modern technology for my livelihood, and deeply appreciate it. I remember when doing research involved a card catalog and hours at the library. It wasn’t so long ago, reaching someone was more complicated than sending a text or an email. And compiling a magazine was a major undertaking that required clip art, Exacto knives, typewriters and spacious work areas. I am grateful for the convenience of it all.

On the other hand, I despise it. I know enough about computers to accomplish my daily tasks. But if things don’t go to plan, I’m stuck. Troubleshooting problems is, as my husband would say, “above my pay grade.” I freely admit I cringe a little when someone announces a new protocol that will require learning new programs. It took so long for me to learn the current trick, this old dog is reluctant to let go of the old and embrace the new.

If you’re in my camp, let’s join forces and bumble forward together as best we can. It helps to remember our sovereign, endlessly kind Father has everything under control. None of the changes or advances come as a surprise to Him. None of them come without His hand orchestrating them to His ultimate glory. We can rest in Him when the harried world seems overwhelming.

“Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established and I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;

— Isaiah 46:9-10

In this issue, we’ll look at one disturbing thing modern technology has brought us: Artificial Intelligence Jesus. We’ll also hear stories of faithful servants, God’s timely provision and more about the march of time. And we’ll learn a little bit about Mattis, a real dog who learned amazing new tricks.

In

Christ, Michelle Adserias, Editor

Today’sChristianLiving(ISSN 1944-6330) is published bimonthly by JP Media LLC, N7528 Aanstad Rd., P.O. Box 5000, Iola, WI 54945. Periodicals Postage Paid at Iola, WI 54945 and at additional mailing offices. Copyright © 2024 by JP Media LLC All rights reserved. Reprint permission must be granted in writing. Publisher assumes no responsibility for claims made in advertisements. Manuscript submissions are welcome but JP Media LLC assumes no responsibility for loss or damage thereto. Material accepted for publication is subject to such revision to meet the requirements of this publication and become the property of Today’sChristianLiving Subscription $19.95 per year. Single copy price $4.95 each. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Today’sChristianLiving , P.O. Box 8551, Big Sandy, TX 75755-9766. Subscription problems and inquiries should be directed to (800) 223-3161.

President/Publisher

Diana Jones dianaj@jpmediallc.com

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

Angela Gauerke angelag@jpmediallc.com 800-397-8161 ext. 2

Founder

Kenneth N. Taylor

Letters to the Editor: Write Today’sChristianLiving , PO Box 5000, Iola, WI 54945. Or e-mail: editor@todayschristianliving.org

Individual Subscriptions: Visit www.todayschristianliving.org/subscribe or call 800-223-3161.

Subscription Support: customercare@jpmediallc.com

Group Subscriptions for Churches: Expand and supplement your church’s ministry by distributing Today’sChristianLivingto your congregation. Multiple copies of the magazine are now available in bulk rates to churches. For more information, visit www.todayschristianliving.org/ bulk or call 800-397-8161.

Today’s Christian Living reserves the right to accept or reject advertisements based on their alignment with its statement of faith, mission, and values. Advertising in Today’s Christian Living does not necessarily imply editorial endorsement, nor does Today’s Christian Living guarantee or endorse content in independent websites.

Today’s Christian Living P.O. Box 5000 Iola, WI 54945

Phone: (800) 223-3161

www.todayschristianliving.org

Copyright 2024

Reaching Souls Sharing Christ’s Light through Strategic Evangelism International

By Stephanie Rische

In any given realm, from economics to politics to business, it’s common to prioritize strategy. Whether it’s strategic planning, strategic investing, or strategic management, we know the outcomes we desire don’t happen automatically; we need to be intentional about planning for them.

But what about evangelism? As Christians, we’re familiar with Jesus’ charge to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). What would it look like to be as strategic when it comes to evangelism as we are in other areas?

This is the heartbeat of Reaching Souls International,* which exists to reach the maximum number of people, in the least amount of time, in the most efficient way. They do this by supporting national missionaries—that is, evangelists, pastors, and ministry leaders who are already serving their communities.

Dustin Manis, the CEO of Reaching Souls, says, “We believe the only way to fulfill the Great Commission at scale is to work through national missionaries. There are many advantages to this approach: no language barriers, no cultural barriers, no

Dustin and Mischelle Manis.

(Photo provided by Reaching Souls International)

travel expenses, no passports. They know their people better than anyone else. This means a country can be reached for Christ from the inside out.”

Supporting National Missionaries

Founded in 1986, Reaching Souls has seen more than 100 million salvation decisions. They currently support 2,422 national missionaries in 16 countries and are working toward 20 countries by July 2025. Each of these missionaries disciples three to four “Timothys” who follow their mentor the way Timothy was discipled by Paul.

Dustin explains that the spiritual landscape of our world is changing rapidly. Forty years ago, 70 percent of Christians lived in the West. But in the past few decades, there has been a shift in the heart of Christianity—from Europe and North America to Asia, Latin America, and Africa. “Something special is happening in the world, and we’re seeing a surge in evangelism. God is gearing up to give a last altar call for people to come and be saved by His grace. It feels like a ‘go big or go home’ moment, and we don’t want to miss it.”

The priority of Reaching Souls is to introduce people to Jesus Christ and secure their place in heaven. To do this, they emphasize going outside the church to where the people are. “In various countries in Africa, every national missionary has 12 open-air meetings every month,” Dustin says. “We provide the evangelists with a sound system and other resources,

such as bicycles to reach the villages they visit, flip charts that illustrate the gospel in pictures, and monthly support (usually around $75 a month) so they can devote more time to evangelism and discipleship.” The national missionaries report back each month about what God has been accomplishing, and they receive the gift of accountability and encouragement, as well as input to ensure that the infrastructure of their ministry is strong.

Embracing a Faith of Their Own

Dustin Manis has been CEO of the organization since 2009. But being the leader of a mission organization was not something he envisioned doing early in his life. “I grew up in a Christian family, but my parents’ beliefs were not my beliefs. As a teenager, I was running hard and fast away from God for no reason except that I was rebellious and wanted to run my own life. I surrendered my life to Jesus at 18 and started living for him at 20.”

Dustin’s wife, Mischelle, has a similar story of faith. “My mom started taking my sister and me to church when I was growing up,” she says. “I was surrounded by people who told me about the Lord, but my faith didn’t become my own until I was 18. Until then, I sought my identity in other places.” Mischelle went to Africa for the first time when she was 21, and that trip changed her life. “That experience showed me that God had a specific plan for me, outside of just being a

Praying over women about to be baptized in Latin America. (Photos courtesy of Dustin and Mischelle Manis)

Christian. I felt like I could be used by him, despite my past and my doubts about my own abilities, or lack thereof.”

Accepting an Unexpected Call

Jimmy Hodges, the founder of Reaching Souls International, was Dustin’s dad’s youth pastor prior to becoming a full-time evangelist. “Jimmy was doing stateside revivals and then was invited to go to Africa in 1972. He was a natural soul winner. He’d been praying for years that God would reveal to him the most fruitful way to do evangelism, and God led him to begin Reaching Souls.”

After Dustin’s dad reunited with Jimmy, he sold his business and went to work with Reaching Souls. “This changed the trajectory of our whole family,” Dustin says. “I went to Africa with my parents when I was 21, and that was the beginning for me.”

Mischelle fell in love with the ministry because she loved their model of nationals reaching nationals. “When I went to Kenya as a young adult, it was my first time outside the US. I saw believers who had such a clear passion for sharing the gospel. They were facing things I couldn’t fathom, but they were seeing people come to Christ in amazing ways.”

Not long after their trip to Africa, Dustin and Mischelle got married and began their careers—Dustin in business and Mischelle in teaching. They had no aspirations to go into ministry. “Jimmy asked me to work for Reaching Souls in a fundraising capacity, but I said no twice,” Dustin says. “I just wanted to support them financially.”

Then, at a time when it made little sense from the world’s perspective, the Manis family felt prompted to say yes. They had a toddler and a baby, Mischelle had recently quit her job, and they’d just bought a new house with a mortgage. “Going into full-time ministry was the last thing I was thinking about,” Dustin says. “But after I went to lunch with Jimmy, I talked it over with Mischelle. She said, ‘If we only worked there for a year, we would be doing something more eternally significant than we would in a lifetime.’” That was almost 30 years ago, and they’ve been serving with Reaching Souls ever since.

SERVING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF GRIEF

Dustin and Mischelle are the parents of four children. Seven years ago, they faced the blindsiding grief of losing their son when he was 22. “Nobody expects their child to pass away before them,” Dustin says.

“I didn’t know if we’d be able to recover from that or if we’d be able to serve in ministry again. For two or three years, I felt sidelined, like I was in a fog.” Mischelle adds, “Our son’s death was traumatic, something I wasn’t prepared for, and there was a lot of rebuilding that had to be done. We’d been intentional about teaching our children about the Lord, directing their lives, homeschooling them, and discipling them. You have an expectation that things are going to turn out a certain way, but that’s not always how life goes.”

In the face of tragedy and loss, Dustin and Mischelle had to rely on the Lord in a new way. “My trust in the Lord was there, but he had to rebuild that foundation in my heart,” Mischelle says. “I learned to be tethered to the Lord—He helped me get out bed, take a shower, go into society again, and eventually return to ministry.”

Dustin recounts a similar journey of grief: “The Lord’s strength alone brought us through. I believed God still had a purpose for me here on earth, and I felt a sense of obligation and responsibility to others to press on. I might still be balled up on the floor, but I wanted to be there for my family and help them move forward.”

“There was a time we thought we were done with ministry,” Mischelle says. “But God brought something beautiful out of our darkness.”

Dustin preaching at an open-air meeting in Kenya.

Dustin and Mischelle on their life-changing trip to Kenya in 1990.

Seeing God at Work around the World

Mischelle describes their role in ministry this way: “We’re not missionaries; we’re advocates for missionaries. We tell their story so we can get support for what they’re doing. I have the chance to advocate for people who are doing the real, hard work every day, overcoming things we can’t imagine so they can shine Christ’s light in the darkness. I’ve experienced secondary faith from them that inspires me every day.”

The Manises are full of stories about national missionaries around the world who are being used by the Lord. One such woman is Emma, a 70-year-old who lives in Mexico. When she was a young mom, her husband got involved in a drug cartel

and left her and their two sons. “Emma was convinced the Lord was going to use her to take the gospel to those with hardened hearts, and that’s exactly what she’s doing through her prison ministry. She believes the enemy turned her husband toward drugs, and now she feels called to minister to people who are headed in that direction.” As she walks through the prisons of Mexico City with her cane, the inmates see her as a mother figure—someone they can trust. Because of her witness, countless prisoners have come to the Lord, and they are now discipling others in prison.

In the past several decades of ministry, Dustin and Mischelle have come to this realization: “God can save anyone He wants to, anywhere. There are lost people but no lost causes. We’ve seen [the] people who seem hardest to reach—murderers, demon worshipers, Muslim leaders, and those deeply entrenched in substance abuse—come to trust the Lord.” If there’s someone you love who is far from the Lord, remember: There are no lost causes. The Lord delights in pursuing those who are far from him, from Kenya to Mexico City to your own neighborhood. 

*If you would like to learn more about Reaching Souls International, you can visit their website at reachingsouls.org.

Stephanie Rische edits and writes in the Chicago area, where she lives with her husband and two sons. When she isn’t chasing down commas or little boys, she blogs at stephanierische.com . Her memoir, I Was Blind (Dating), but Now I See, recounts how God surprised her with His grace and love.

Aman 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

Mischelle telling kids in a Kenyan village about Jesus.

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

Pursuing Your First Love

The late Harald Bredesen, a Lutheran minister and leader in the early charismatic renewal, was the embodiment of what Paul called “walking in the spirit.” He was a humble man who loved God and focused on being obedient to whatever God called him to do. His spiritual cup always seemed full, on the verge of spilling over. I recall one evening in the early 70’s having dinner with Harald and Pat Robertson. During dinner Harald suddenly paused and in a very quiet voice said, “I feel the presence of God right now. Could we pause a moment and praise Him?” And we did, quiet and inconspicuous, right there in the restaurant.

This was a completely natural response from a man who truly walked in the spirit—a beautiful moment I’ve never forgotten. Harald’s spiritual influence was profound. His long-time relationship with Pat Robertson led Pat to launch the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN). Pat Boone once said, “miracles follow Harald wherever he goes.”

My most amazing memory of Harald began with a conversation just before I interviewed him for my program. “Brother Jerry,” he said, “God told me I’m going to interview Anwar Sadat on national television.”

I had no idea how to respond. At the time, Anwar Sadat was the Egyptian president and a Muslim. Harald was a non-political Lutheran minister with no journalistic reputation or experience. The thought of a major television network allowing him to interview Sadat seemed beyond absurd. Harald picked up my obvious skepticism but assured me that it was a “word from the Lord.”

Three months later, I was scrolling through the channels when I did a double take and froze in astonishment. On ABC, Harald was interviewing Anwar Sadat at his summer palace with the pyramids in the background! I never doubted his “word from the Lord” again. But there’s more to the story.

God gave Harald remarkable favor with President Sadat and his family. In 1978, prior to the Camp David Summit, Harold wrote and sent President Sadat a “call to prayer” specifically for the upcoming meeting. On the eve of that historic summit, Sadat shared the prayer with President Jimmy Carter and Prime Minister Menachem Begin. The three leaders then cabled the prayer to other world leaders. Political pundits had predicted nothing of significance would result from

the summit, but the Camp David Accords led to a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt. President Carter later announced the breakthrough by saying, “We began this summit with a call to prayer. The results have exceeded the expectations of any reasonable person. I am a Christian and Jesus said, “‘Blessed are the peacemakers.’”

That miraculous outcome points back to a simple minister who walked in the spirit and never lost the power of his first love for Christ.

In Revelation 2:4, Jesus gives this message to the church. “Yet I hold this against you. You have forsaken the love you had at first.”

Can you recall your first love—perhaps your relationship with your fiancé before the wedding? It was all about joy and delight with each other. After 56 years together, Shirley’s and my love has not diminished. It has matured and grown, but the joy and delight of those early days are still there. Now, can you remember the excitement and wonder of those first days and months after your conversion to Christ? I remember as a young teen, I was eager and willing to do radical things for Jesus—even as radical as having a solemn worship session in a crowded restaurant or contacting a world leader. My faith was strong and my commitment limitless. Unfortunately, most of us have “lost our first love” over time. We still love God, but do we live lives of radical obedience and total commitment? A missionary friend calls it “living flat out for Jesus.”

The great commandment in Matthew 22:37 is foundational to Christianity. Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” It is a call for living flat out for God. Then the second commandment, which flows from the first, is to “love your neighbor as yourself.”

Jesus then explains the importance. “The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” He made it clear; living such a life is not the exception but the expectation. The Christian Life is about two things, loving God and loving others.

When we love Christ with passion and intensity, we are sensitive to His words of comfort, inspiration, direction and even reproof. The power to be an overcomer and a truly fruitful Christian comes only through our love for Christ—a love that surely has the power to change the world. 

of Faith and

A Journey Answered Prayer

By Jonathon Wright

Elmer Towns is a remarkable 91-year-old man who is still leading an extraordinary life. Even in 2022, at 90 years old, he was still writing and making a difference for Christ. His book, How God Answers Prayer, has many examples from scripture and his life to encourage anyone’s faith. Elmer spent most of his life as a college professor and administrator. He worked as a pastor and writer. His life has been an amazing journey of faith

A Call to Ministry

Elmer was born on October 21, 1932, in Savannah, Georgia. Early in life, he learned about God and the Bible through Sunday school and a Presbyterian church.

Even though he had a strong understanding of the Bible, Elmer knew something was missing. There are a couple of key events that changed the course of

Elmer’s life and solidified his strong belief in prayer.

Shortly after high school, an encounter with God transformed his life. Elmer went to a revival meeting and was convinced, through the Holy Spirit’s conviction, if Jesus were to come he would not go to heaven. He did not walk an aisle to the front during the meeting. Still, he could not escape the words the evangelist had spoken to him. Later that night, Elmer knelt by the side of his bed and accepted God’s love and forgiveness in Christ.

Soon after this, he felt an overwhelming call to pursue ministry. He turned down a full scholarship for a technical school his desire was so great. When he learned about Columbia Bible College, and felt God was calling him there, he set out to follow God. Elmer had no idea how he was going to pay for college. He simply worked hard and trusted God would provide.

Elmer Towns, co-founder of Liberty University

(Photo used with permission from Liberty University)

While carrying a full load in college, Elmer worked two jobs for a grand total of 75 cents an hour. He had some savings, and his job got him through the first semester. In the fifties and sixties, money went a lot further. That was a decent wage back then. He tells the story of going to the movies for a dime and feeding his whole family for four dollars a week. God got him through some hard times.

Elmer was running out of money and solutions by the end of the first semester. But he kept praying or, as he calls it, “knocking on the gates of heaven.” Soon, he started receiving unexpected checks from his family members. People at his home church also did some fundraising for him. His Sunday school class decided to pay his college tuition. These acts of kindness helped him through the first three years of Bible college.

Columbia Bible College helped him develop as a pastor. The school focused on the spiritual disciplines of prayer and Bible study. Prayer has been important throughout Elmer’s life and writings. He has authored many books on prayer, including the Prayer Bible, an 1800-page study of prayer throughout the entire Bible. Prayer has been so valuable to him, Elmer started a prayer journal in January 1951 and has faithfully used it every year since.

Lord Use This Humble Preacher

Columbia not only taught Elmer, the value of prayer, it also strengthened his love for God and others. As a result, he got involved with street ministry around the campus. He and

other future ministers would hold services on the streets. It took a while, but Elmer finally got to preach his first sermon. Elmer and the others fasted and prayed. He poured his heart out to God. He wanted to see people saved. It was a little discouraging when only six people showed up because of the bitterly cold weather. Usually, there were around 30 people. During his sermon, Elmer read Matthew 7:13-14, KJV. “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Elmer looked at his watch after preaching all he knew about this passage. Three minutes had passed. His sermon was too short. At first, he did not know what to do. Other sermons lasted for at least 15 minutes. So, he preached it again. At the end of the sermon, he was very discouraged because no one was coming to receive Christ. He felt defeated and started praying to close the service.

Before he could finish, a big Native American man stood up and asked to speak to the people. He told them about the plan of salvation. His authoritative voice boomed throughout the crowd. Soon, over 50 people gathered in the streets, eager to listen to every word he said. Many came forward to receive Christ because of his testimony. That man of faith bailed Elmer out and answered his prayer. He looked for the man after the service but could not find him. Some think he was an angel sent from God to help Elmer. Later, Elmer would mimic his authoritative style and lead others to Christ.

A Dream to Teach

In 1953, right before his senior year at Columbia, Elmer felt as though God was redirecting him to Fuller Theological Seminary. Columbia was not an accredited college. He hoped a Fuller professor, also a member of his church, would be able to help him get in, but before he could attend this seminary, he decided to enroll at Northwestern Bible College (now the University of Northwestern). Shortly after arriving, he realized Northwestern was not accredited either. Yet, Elmer did not give up on his dream of going to Fuller or making an impact for Christ. He prayed, worked hard, and made the most of every opportunity the Lord gave him.

After graduating from Northwestern, Elmer decided to go to Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS). He wanted to become a Bible teacher and professor. Back then, it was very hard for colleges to get accreditation. Though DTS was, and is, a very respected college, even that school did not have full accreditation. Elmer faced much adversity but he did not give up.

Elmer knew he had to attend an accredited college if he was ever going to fulfill his dream of being at Fuller. He decided to dual enroll at Southern Methodist University (SMU) which had full accreditation. They allowed him to take part-time classes in their Master of Arts program during the summer.

In 1958, Elmer took his first teaching position at Midwest College. It was here he developed a desire to be a college president. His time there allowed him to sit on Sunday School and mission boards. Everyone liked Elmer for his hard work and

attention to detail. It isn’t surprising they offered him a position to travel and raise support for the ministries he loved. He took the job almost without giving it a second thought.

But God had other plans for his life. After signing and accepting the position, he did not have peace. One night, he woke in a cold sweat. Elmer knew God was trying to tell him something. His dream of being a college president came to mind. Something about that position resonated inside his soul. He sensed God was going to open that door soon, so he turned down the job and went back to Midwest College for a year.

God opened a door for him to be a college president at Winnipeg Bible College in Canada in 1961. Ten years later, he and Jerry Falwell established Liberty University. Liberty quickly became one of the largest Christian colleges in the world. God used each educational opportunity, each new position, to prepare Elmer for the work He had called him to do.

In 1973, Elmer stepped down to pursue a writing career. He also traveled and worked with large ministries, like Billy Graham Ministries. He returned to teach at Liberty from 1977 to 2012. During this time, he also took part-time classes at Fuller Theological Seminary. It took 30 years to fulfill his dream, but he finally did it with the Lord’s help and hard work. Though he is retired, Elmer still writes for the Lord.

I recently read, How God Answers Prayer. I was not disappointed. The book offers sound advice and principles to keep in mind when you pray and God does not seem to answer. One of the greatest things we can do is relentlessly believe God does answer prayer.

Elmer’s journey to Fuller Theological Seminary took thirty years. He went there when God determined the time was right. His life serves as a reminder that God answers prayer even when things aren’t going our way. God may wait to answer our prayers to prepare us for His plan, which is better than we could have imagined. Elmer’s example encourages us to be faithful and trust God on our journey of faith.

SOURCES:

Towns, Elmer L., Walking with Giants: The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man: A Memoir. Ventura, Calif.: Regal

Jonathan is a self-published Christian author who loves to blog online. You can find out more about his books, devotionals, and journals that encourage daily Bible reading and personal growth at https://christianwritersbookstore.com/jonathon-wright and https://amazon.com/author/everydaynotes.

Elmer Towns Religion Hall.

SUBSCRIBE

No Room for Mediocrity

Excerpt from: A Dog Named Mattis by Mark Tappan

MAdapted from A Dog Named Mattis: 12 Lessons for Living Courageously, Serving Selflessly, and Building Bridges from a Heroic K9 Officer by Mark Tappan. Copyright© 2024. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson, a Division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. All rights reserved.

attis went straight down the only hallway in the ranch-style single-level house. He veered to the left into a bedroom and lie down at the threshold of the doorway in a diagonal manner, facing to the right side of the bedroom into the blind corner and closet.

He was alerting me to the presence of the suspect and I knew it, but I couldn’t see the threat. My heart began to pound as I choked up on the leash. My lieutenant got to my position, and I told him, “He’s right there!” as I gestured into the room. It was a super tight fit in the bedroom because of a queen-size bed that took up about 70 percent of the room. I angled my way into the room and saw a pile of clothes in front of an empty closet. Mattis was fixated on the pile.

My heart went from what had to be an audible pounding to an abrupt stop as I scanned the pile of clothes and noticed a bloodshot, brown human eye

staring up at me. He was no more than seven feet away from me, and Mattis was focused and ready to act. I gave more commands. “You in the pile of clothes, show me your hands or you will get bit!” No response. I tried twice more. Still no response. I wondered if the suspect just thought I was bluffing or if he was setting up for a counterattack. His entire body was covered with clothes, so I couldn’t see whether he was armed. A burglary offender met the criteria for an apprehension by dog bite. I also wondered how Mattis would perform. This was an interesting puzzle. Mattis couldn’t see the offender, only smell him. I had never run a scenario like this where the dog had to jump in blindly, but it was the right decision. I whispered, “Stellen.”

Mattis dove headfirst into the pile of clothes. There was a scream, and then the sound of a wooden baseball bat clanking about on the hardwood floor. Mattis pulled back with his jaw

Mattis with his partner, Mark Tappan (Photo courtesy of HarperCollins Christian Publishing)

clamped down on the right arm of the offender, and he kicked the bat the offender had been holding on to—he’d been waiting for us to approach so he could attack. Mattis acted too swiftly and strongly for the offender to get a swing off. He was now fully exposed in the hallway. With the incentive of the pressure from the bite, the previously uncooperative offender was now more than willing to comply with every command. I was able to secure the offender in handcuffs, and I told Mattis “Los” (the Dutch command for let go), as I dangled a ball as a substitute for what he was currently engaged with. Mattis happily let go of the offender, chomped down on his ball, and pranced about.

“What do you think, Lieutenant?”

“Wow, that could have been bad! Good dog!”

Man, I loved this dog.

I ran through the scenario in my head of what it could have looked like if we hadn’t had Mattis. It could have been very bad. If he hadn’t sniffed out the burglar immediately and alerted us to his presence, the burglar would have had the tactical ele-

ment of surprise when we entered the room. The bat and the tight space would have made it a brutal fight, and it could have escalated quickly. Mattis protected us and probably saved the burglar’s life in the process.

This was Mattis’s first bite and he executed it flawlessly. I was glad I had a dog that was tuned in, focused, and ready, because I was anything but. When I first approached the situation, I was complacent, assuming this was like the 99 percent of all alarm calls. My complacency could have gotten the other officer and me hurt. The lesson slapped me in the face: expect the worst and hope for the best.

The next training day, I put on the bite suit and hid under a pile of clothes for each of the dogs in the unit. I brought up my almost fatal mistake of being complacent. If it happened to me, it could happen to the other K9 officers. I’ve heard it said that the moment you think you are good or have arrived is the moment you start sliding into mediocrity. I wanted us to be a unit that was always striving to learn more and get better. 

“My

Annual Writing Contest

Spiritual Hero”

We all have teachers, mentors and heroes of the faith that impact our walk with God. In 1200-1500 words, tell us about your spiritual hero (besides Jesus) and why that person is so important to you. What first drew you to your hero? Why do you admire him or her? What have you learned from your hero? You can write about a Bible character, well-known ministry leader, pastor, family member or personal friend.

Please include a short author’s biography and 2-3 photos (if possible) that complement your story. You can find more details about contest submissions at todayschristianliving.org under our Writer’s Guidelines.

1st Prize:

$300 and we publish your article

2nd Prize:

$200 and we publish your article

3rd Prize:

$100 and we publish your article

Submissions must be received by August 15, 2024.

Winners will be announced in the January 2025 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.

B y Iris Carignan

“HSET ON A New Path

ave you ever gone through some kind of seismic shock in your life—something so earth shattering it felt like the ground beneath your feet was parting?” That’s what I’d asked a new friend I was interviewing. My husband and I had met him while vacationing months before. Little did I know, those words about someone else would soon become something my husband and I would also experience.

After over fifty years of marriage with plenty of challenges and blessings along our way, I never dreamt something of that magnitude would hit us. We are both strong believers and have tried to establish a family that’s grounded in faith and prayer. So, when one of our adult children and his whole family suddenly departed from their faith, it took us by surprise. Thankfully, just before our earth-shaking event, God brought a new friend across our path—the one I was interviewing - someone who’d already experienced two life-changing, tectonic shifts in his life. Each change put him on a new and unexpected path. His name is Mark Buckley, but many people just call him the “Prayer Guy.”

The Making of a Prayer Warrior

We met Mark while walking along the harbor in Oceanside, California and soon learned more about the troubles he’d faced. “I was quickly approaching retirement when my most recent challenge hit me.” He told us.

His plan was to work a little longer to prepare for a time when he and his wife could travel. Then Covid hit the world and he lost his job. He didn’t know what to do. After working in the food service industry for more than fifty years, his career came to a screeching halt. Although the change was unexpected, it wasn’t nearly as big as the shifting sands he’d experienced years earlier. This time he knew what to do— pray.

During the interview, I learned praying wasn’t something Mark would’ve tried twenty-five years ago. You see, before this new job loss occurred, he’d gone through years of depression and hopelessness. He’d even tried to commit suicide multiple times.

Engulfed in the constant pain of despair, one small prayer, just before his sixth attempt, made all the difference in the world. Just before swallowing an enormous overdose of pills, Mark asked God to “fix things so this suicide doesn’t

hurt.” The answer that came back was a big fat “No!” Instead of being painless, his head began to throb with excruciating agony and he slipped into a five-day coma.

Doctors were doubtful he would survive. His kidneys and liver were badly damaged. But soon after he awoke from the coma, God placed two young men in Mark’s life for his healing; not just physical healing, a greater restoration. God began to reveal His purpose for Mark.

The first person had the courage to share his faith with Mark and guide him towards Jesus. He was a young man who had just begun dating Mark’s daughter and had driven her to the hospital to see him that night. The other was a young Marine, also in a coma, laying in a hospital bed right next to Mark. He’d had a terrible jeep accident while doing military maneuvers. His skull was crushed and his stomach severely damaged. When Mark saw him, his heart was broken by the devastation of a nineteen-year-old who hadn’t asked to die.

“I began to pray for someone else. To care about another person’s pain and suffering instead of my own.” Mark confessed.

The Power of Prayer

That set things in motion for God’s more complete answer to his prayer. It put him on a new path—a path towards faith. Once again Mark prayed, but now it was for the young Marine. Even after Mark was released from the hospital, he continued to visit him. He would talk to the young man, though he lay comatose and nearly lifeless. He would tell him “Don’t give up” and “you’re going to be okay.” On one occasion, the Marine reached his hand out to Mark, startling everyone.

Weeks went by and Mark continued to struggle with lingering despair. Then one day, a friend gave him a book of hope called “From Prison to Praise” by Merlin Carothers and invited Mark to church. To his surprise, the message given by the pastor that morning seemed tailored just for him. It was about carrying burdens beyond our own responsibility; how we tend to mentally replay our worries until they become overwhelming. Unbearable.

The message touched Mark deeply and he gave his life to Christ that day. A fresh breath of hope found his heart and a lightness came as his burdens were lifted for the first time in his life. The very next day, Mark went to visit the

Mark Buckley, with Iris’s husband, Larry. (Photo courtesy of Iris Carignan.)

Mark Buckley offering prayers to those on sidewalk.

young Marine again. As he stood by his hospital bed praying, the Marine stunned everyone by speaking his first words in several weeks. “Hi, Mark.”

A Ministry of Prayer

So, it’s no wonder that twenty-five years later, when Mark lost his job, he prayed about it. He asked God what he was supposed to do next. This time God answered in a dream. The same dream came every night for two weeks straight. It was a simple dream with a picture of a t-shirt that said: Do you need prayer?

He knew God was giving him a new direction for his life, a new path to walk that mostly involved praying. Just how he should move forward, he wasn’t sure. He decided to start by walking along the beach not far from his home in Oceanside. “God told me to just smile at folks and be friendly.” Mark explained how people started to respond. He knew they were also hurting from the effects of the Covid virus and various other burdens in their life.

“Then one day while walking around the harbor, I spotted a young woman who seemed very distraught. She was sitting along the harbor path with suitcases piled nearby.” Mark continued. “I asked if she would like me to pray for her and she said yes. Afterwards, as I turned to walk away, I noticed a young man who’d obviously been watching me. The man asked, ‘Why did you do that?’”

When Mark told him about his dream and how God had revealed he was supposed to walk and pray for people, the young man offered to give Mark some free custom t-shirts. “Turns out the guy owned a t-shirt manufacturing business,” Mark explained with a toothy grin that quickly spread across his face.

Just weeks after interviewing Mark for this story, my husband and I were back in Oceanside, so I called him. “Got your story ready for your approval.” Then asked. “We didn’t see you walking today. You alright?” Knowing his past experiences with depression, I was concerned. This time it was Mark and his wife who needed prayer. They both had Covid and he was disappointed that he couldn’t do his usual prayer walks.

“Oh no! We’ll pray for you both,” I said. “Turns out my husband and I need prayer now, too. We’re going through our own troubling earthquake. Mark, please pray for our family while you’re recovering,” I pleaded.

The prayers we sent up for one another became a circle of hope and encouragement to our own spirits. As fellow soldiers in a battle, I was able to encourage Mark with a poem I’d written several years ago. God brought it back to me with enlightening hope despite the shifting sands our family was traveling on.

The Outcome of Prayer

Our path has miraculously settled and you’ll still find Mark on his prayer path wearing a t-shirt that says, “Do you need prayer?” Accompanied by his dog, Brando, he walks the harbor every morning. Over the past three years, he’s likely prayed for over 2000 people. He has dozens of stories about helping others

find hope and comfort to their troubles— including us. He’s even witnessed miracles, much like the healing his Marine friend experienced. Just recently, Mark told us about a young woman who lost her husband to depression and suicide, something Mark was very familiar with. The blessing of comforting and guiding her through all the guilt she was carrying, reconfirmed Mark’s godly purpose.

Mark feels like these past few prayer-walking years have taken him to hundreds, even thousands, of new places around the world through the folks he’s met and prayed for. “The harbor brings folks from around the world, so I get to travel in my retirement years after all,” he declares with another joyful smile.

I smile, too, as I realize God not only brought us to Oceanside to meet Mark, but placed us in his path so we can both continue to be strengthened by each other’s prayers during our own earthshaking trials.

You can reach Mark Buckley at terimark@cox.net or visit his website: gettingoverdepression.org 

Iris Carignan is a published author, awardwinning painter, and inspirational speaker. Her published works include Fresh Eyes: Seeing God in the Unexpected and a children’s book, Moriah’s Wings, which she also illustrated. In November 2023, Iris published her first fiction novel, The Buzz @ ChickyPie’s Café. Iris and her husband, Larry, live in Thousand Oaks, CA, and have three (plus one) children and seven grandchildren.

The Prayer Guy, Mark Buckley, with his loyal companion, Brando.

One Flesh?

Itold Jenna, “Terry usually fills my gas tank.”

Jenna seemed baffled. “I’m confused,” she said.

I tried again a bit slower. Jenna seemed irritated.

“Aren’t you Terri?!” She asked.

I had done it again. Two becoming one was fine, but spouses sharing the same name was tough

Submitted by Terri Hutchison

Two men were chatting in the living room while their wives were in the kitchen. One of the men was telling the other about this wonderful restaurant he and his wife had visited a few days earlier.

“Wow, sounds great! What’s the name of it?”

“Hmm, what was it? Dear me, I’m having a hard time remembering. Oh, what’s that flower with the pink blossom and thorns on the stem?”

“You mean a rose?”

“Yeah, that’s it.” Then looking over his shoulder he shouted, “Hey Rose, what’s the name of that restaurant we went to the other night?”

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.

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 50 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).

ASK DR. WALT

By

Laughter is the Best Medicine

Dear Dr. Walt,

Our family has always enjoyed telling jokes and puns — and we think we’re healthier for it, at least emotionally. In fact, our grandma always said, “Laughter is the best medicine.” And she’d quote the Bible: “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.” Our guess is that this is all good for our health. Agree? Disagree?

Answer : I can still hear Leonard’s contagious laugh and see his face. He was nearing 92 when he walked into my office on my very first day of practice. “Been looking for a younger doctor,” he said bluntly. “I find that younger doctors keep me younger. ‘Sides, some of the old codgers ‘round here don’t have no sense of humor.”

Our relationship was off to a great start. Leonard became one of my favorite patients. His list of physical maladies was not brief. He suffered from a severe form of heart failure — the result of several

heart attacks through the years. With even mild exertion, he experienced chest pain that could double him over and a shortness of breath that would slow him down.

Leonard also had a chronic, irritating dermatitis, couldn’t see or hear very well, and was crippled with arthritis worsened by injuries from a number of logging accidents in his youth. Yet, the time I spent with him, whether in the office or around town, was always a time filled with laughter. Leonard knew more good jokes than any man I’d met before – or since.

“What are you here for today?” I asked him.

“Come to get my premarital exam.”

“You getting married?” I asked. “At 91?”

“Yes, sir. Be my fourth. Lost my three other beauties to breast cancer. Don’t want to be lonely anymore. Need someone to tell my jokes to.”

“Who you marrying?”

“She’s a 23-year-old bar maid from the next city over,” Leonard deadpanned. He knew I knew he was a deacon in one of the local, most fundamental churches in our area. Then he broke out with what I came to appreciate was his trademark —

Walt Larimore, MD

an ear-to-ear smile. “Just want to be sure to marry someone who’ll outlive me this time.”

We shared the first of what would be many laughs through the years. Leonard had a high “humor quotient.” His ability and willingness to laugh was part of the reason I considered Leonard highly healthy — in spite of his physical problems.

Laughter is the Best Prescription

Down through the years, I’ve consistently put one of the two following written notes on a prescription for my patients who are a bit too serious. Consider filling one or both of these prescriptions for immediate relief!

First, learn to laugh at yourself. When you goof up or make a mistake, do you get mad? When you accidentally drop something, do you get angry or even curse at yourself? Being a perfectionist, I suffered from this problem for a long time. But I’m learning to lower my expectations of myself — to laugh at myself. I’m convinced I’m healthier for it.

I’ve learned that slip-ups and less-than-perfect behavior are part of everyone’s daily life as a human being. Now I laugh at myself when I put a box of cereal in the refrigerator or the milk in the pantry. I chuckle when I misplace my glasses — which means I’m laughing throughout the day! These goofups have become an opportunity to raise my humor quotient rather than an occasion to belittle myself.

Second, become an expert at giggling. Take several doses of giggles every day. Chuckle, cackle, chortle, and belly-laugh your way to higher degrees of health. You need only be a student of yourself.

What are some things that make you giggle? It may be a funny video, a humorous book, or even a few choice comics

in the daily newspaper. For years, I had three desk calendars; one with daily jokes, one with funny medical stories and the third had a wacky cartoon from Gary Larson. Every few hours, I would turn the page to that day’s date in one of the calendars and enjoy a giggle. I loved sharing them with my nurse, my partners and my patients.

After another of our office visits, I was walking Leanard to the checkout desk when he asked, “Doc, you know the three signs of old age?”

“I think I know a few,” I responded. “But which ones are you thinking about?”

He looked down at his hands and tapped the pointer finger of his right hand into the palm of his left hand. “The first is you begin to lose your memory.”

“Well,” I said, “that’s not unusual for a man of your age. After all, you’re 97 now!”

Leonard didn’t look up, as he tapped his pointer and middle fingers into his palm. “The second,” he said, as he kept tapping the two fingers. “The second,” he repeated as he scrunched up his eyes. “Hmmm,” he said as he looked up at me. “I done forgot the other two.”

The staff who had been watching this, always expecting a joke from Leonard, all broke out in smiles and chuckles as he looked as hurt and heartbroken as he could. Then, in an instant, he smiled ear to ear. “But I still know where I wrote down ’em other two. I’ll tell y’all when I come back tomorrow.

Leonard graduated to glory that night while he slept. I’ve never known for sure whether he was kidding me or his mild dementia had led to him forgetting. But, I suspect the former. His humor improved my and my office staff’s health — not to mention his own. 

HEART-HEALTHY HUMOR

Researchers who study centenarians, people who live to 100 years old, have found the majority have a wonderful sense of humor. Indeed, a great deal of medical research has demonstrated the direct impact of humor, including smiling and laughter, has on boosting both the immune and cardiovascular systems. How do humor and laughter have this effect? The studies I’ve reviewed don’t provide a conclusive answer. Nevertheless, many researchers feel that lightening one’s emotional load through laughter causes the body to decrease the level of inflammation

in the walls of the blood vessels — an inflammation that contributes to hardening of the arteries, heart attacks, heart failure and strokes. When the inflammation is reduced through smiling and laughing, the risk of blood clots decreases, as does blood pressure.

A physician friend told me how stressed he would feel during busy days of seeing patients back-to-back. One weekend, he decided to begin watching three comedy routines each week. He’d watch a clip while eating his lunch. He laughed so loudly, the nurse checked on him the first day of

his new routine. In no time, she and the other staff members joined him for lunch and comedy.

“My stress levels dropped like a brick,” my friend told me. “And not only mine, but my staff’s as well! We began handling the stress of the day without getting more stressed out ourselves. And we seemed to provide even better care for our patients who were suffering from stress.”

Jerry and Shirley Rose talked about pursuing our first love in this issue’s “Living in Wisdom.” When you boil it all down, that’s the secret to spiritual growth — maintaining a vibrant relationship with our Savior and Lord.

Whatever our lives are marked by - joy or sorrow, comfort or pain, plenty or little, confidence or doubt, wellness or illness — abiding in Christ equips us to remain steadfast and immovable as we tap into God’s power in us. We can continue growing, maturing and becoming more Christ-like whether everything is going well or everything seems to be falling apart.

God has promised to use all life’s ups and downs to accomplish good in our lives and His eternal plan. (Romans 8:28). Paul was also confident of this:

“He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 1:6

You might find these resources helpful along your journey.

A Bit of Earth: A Year in the Garden with God

By Andrea G. Burke [Lexham Press]

In A Bit of Earth , Andrea G. Burke looks at the seasonal practice and common grace of gardening through a devotional lens. Part memoir, part prayer book, A Bit of Earth weaves care and intent through moments of ordinary living. You can find it at https:// lexhampress.com/catalog

Delighting in God’s Law

By Kristie Anyabwile [Moody Publishers]

Have you ever skipped over books of the Bible like Numbers or Leviticus? Kristie Anyabwile removes the dread and disillusionment often associated with studying God’s law in this new Bible study. You don’t have to be daunted by His law. You can be delighted by it! You can find it at https://www.moodypublishers.com/ delighting-in-gods-law

Count Your Blessings

By Kenneth W. Osbeck [Kregel Publications]

In Count Your Blessings, dive into the profound stories behind 30 carefully selected hymns that overflow with solid, practical wisdom. This insightful collection invites you to seek God’s goodness in a world filled with challenges and hardships, offering guidance on how to nurture a spirit of gratitude and choose joy. You can find it at https://www.kregel.com/ christian-living-and-devotionals/count-your-blessings/

Moving Forward After Messing Up: A New Future with the God of Second Chances

By Chris Rappazini [Moody Publishers]

Do you need freedom from addiction? A second chance at marriage, family, or a career? Maybe you love someone whose devastating path of poor decisions is inflicting heartache upon heartache. In Moving Forward After Messing Up, Chris Rappazini will show you how to experience freedom, joy, and forgiveness. You can find it at moodypublishers.com/moving-forward-after-messing-up

Let Us Break Bread Together

By Kenneth W. Osbeck [Kregel Publications]

Let Us Break Bread Together is an insightful collection of thirty hymns that focuses on the power of God’s community and on his covenant “to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,” often delivered through the hands, feet, and words of his people. You can find it at https://www.kregel.com/christian-living-and-devotionals/ let-us-break-bread-together/

I Could Be Wrong, But I Doubt It

By Phil Robertson [Nelson Books]

Politics won’t save you. Science can’t give you the power to sidestep death. The pleasures and joys of this world are fleeting at best, damaging counterfeits at worst. But Phil has good news for you: Jesus offers life, joy, and peace, and he’s never more than a prayer away. You can find it at https://icouldbewrongbutidoubtit.com/

Now and Not Yet

By Ruth Chou Simons [Nelson Books]

Now and Not Yet guides readers feeling restless in their current circumstances towards growth & purpose. It encourages embracing the biblical truth that “someday” is made up of thousands of “right nows,” flipping the script on hard seasons, & living faithfully in the tension between what is and what is not yet. You can find it at https://nowandnotyetbook.com

Don’t Sink Your Own Ship

By Max Anders [Zondervan Reflective]

With simplicity and lightheartedness, bestselling Bible teacher and pastor Max Anders walks readers through 20 spiritual lessons, providing biblical clarity on problems we all face. Each lesson includes application questions, scripture references, and recommended reading, making this a great small group resource. You can find it at bit.ly/maxanders

You Can Be Free

By Kirby Kelly

Experience freedom and everyday peace through a practical battle plan to defeat the sin that feels stuck on repeat and win back your life. Learn how to exchange unhealthy thoughts, behaviors, and cycles for true and lasting peace through Christ. You can find it at https://bit.ly/kirbykellyyoucanbefree

The Garden Within

By Dr. Anita Phillips [Nelson Books]

In the New York Times bestselling book, The Garden Within, trauma therapist Dr. Anita Phillips reveals how embracing emotion is the key to living your most powerful life. Just as gardens thrive in good ground, the abundant life you seek can only be grown in the soil of your heart. You can find it at https://nelsonbooks.co/the-garden-within

Knowing God Through the Year

By JI Packer [InterVarsity Press]

Each day you’ll read a Scripture and a brief passage about the glory and joy of being in relationship with God. With each day’s reading you’ll find a prompt to help you respond to God in prayer and reflection. This could be the most significant book you’ll read this year. You can find it at https://www.ivpress.com/knowing-god-through-the-year

Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools

By Tyler Staton [Nelson Books]

Prayer is the source of Jesus’ most astonishing miracles and promises, and yet, people find prayer to be boring, obligatory, or confusing. Join Tyler Staton, author, pastor, and national director of the 24/7 Prayer movement, as he invites you to discover the incredible gift of prayer. You can find it at https://nelsonbooks.co/praying-like-monks

Hearing God Through the Year

By Dallas Willard [InterVarsity Press]

In these daily devotionals, Dallas Willard helps us understand how we can know the voice of God and act on it. Each day you’ll read Scripture and find suggestions for prayer and reflection to become more open to God’s presence. You may be surprised—and transformed—by what you discover. You can find it at https://www.ivpress.com/hearing-god-through-the-year

Christian Authors Crossword

Therese Marszalek is the author of six books including 40 Days and From the Wilderness to the Miraculous She is passionate about bringing hope and healing through Jesus and His Word. Therese and her husband live in Big Lake, Minnesota. You can visit her website at www. theresemarszalek.net

Content in All Things

By Therese Marszalek

Although I often referred to our beautifulyet-mischievous golden retriever as my “test in life,” God used her countless times to teach me key spiritual lessons. Harley Anne was with us almost 14 years. I learned much through watching our furry family member, especially about being content in spite of less than desirable circumstances.

To me, being cold is torturous. If I were ever captured as a prisoner of war, I suspect the enemy could coerce me into talking during an interrogation by dousing me in ice water. If they threw me in a chilly cell in soggy clothes, I’d likely divulge all in exchange for a warm blanket. For Harley, however, being cold was the polar opposite of torture. She basked in polar conditions and would have lined up for a mid-winter polar plunge.

stances, I’ll thrive in them. I suspect Harley Anne understood what Paul was saying and I don’t quite get it yet.

Experiencing peace, in spite of ever-changing and often uncomfortable circumstances, is the result of trusting God fully. It’s total abandon to Him, who knows every detail of every situation from beginning to end. His perfect plan is built on His unfailing fatherly love that wisely allows our discomfort to teach us to become more like Him.

“ Experiencing peace … is the result of trusting God fully. “

On frigid days, Harley begged to go outside, especially after a fresh snowfall. Fixing her gaze longingly out the front window, she would press her wet nose against the glass until we let her out to roll in the fluffy, white powder. Leaping out the door, she’d suddenly stop and free fall to one side, then start her delighted, snowflake frenzy.

After witnessing her wintertime play, I swear she was trying to make snow angels. If not for Harley’s favorite treats to woo her inside, she likely would never have stopped frolicking on her snowy playground. The long winter meant daily pooch nose prints on the window – and regular window cleaning, about which I habitually complained.

While in Kenya on a mission trip, I witnessed the hard work of the staff at Shangilia Children’s Home in Vihiga, a small village outside Kisumu where we stayed in grass huts. They boiled a large vat of water and carried it on two poles to the rustic, cement shower area so our team could enjoy bucket showers. I never heard one complaint from the Christlike staff members. I braced as I poured my bucket of warm water over my head, thinking of how much I missed the continuous flow of my hot, steamy shower at home. The young Africans singing to their heart’s content in the men’s shower drown out my less than grateful thoughts. They were praising God as they took cold showers. “Praise God!” one of the joyful men proclaimed in a deep Kenyan accent. “It’s invigorating!” I sing in the shower now, too, with a renewed heart of gratitude. Though I once felt I’d been put out in the cold, tossed into torturous circumstances God gave me a new outlook. I can make my own kind of snow angels as I endure.

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

The Apostle Paul, who faced many intense challenges, learned to be content in all circumstances. He said, “… for I have learned to be content in all circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through him who gives me strength.” — Philippians 4:11-13

Paul knew his utter lack of strength and ability but was fully persuaded he could do all things through Christ, though His strength. If I can learn Paul’s secret, I’ll not only survive my circum-

Thanks to God’s message sent through our golden girl, instead of grumbling about what I don’t have, I’m more intentional about being grateful for what I do have. I focus on how blessed I am and pray for the multitudes across the globe that don’t get to experience the abundance of blessings I so often take for granted.

Our beloved Harley passed away before her fourteenth birthday. We cherished the nose smudges that graced our front window for over a month after she was gone. We eventually wiped them away, but the message she taught us about learning to be content in all things left a heavenly pawprint on my heart forever. 

THE MIRACLE OF THE

Three Tarnished

By Richard B. Whitaker

IPennies

n May 1981, just three weeks shy of my thirty-seventh birthday, I suffered a debilitating stroke. It not only ended my career on the Los Angeles Police Department, but also dramatically changed the course of my life.

The explosion in the left side of my head was so violent, it caused me to bolt upright in bed. In a seated position, my head was forced to the right with my chin against my shoulder and my right arm was drawn tightly across my chest with the fist clenched. In this position, the entire right side of my body began to tremble and seize while my left side remained relaxed and calm.

I watched as my wife Cheryle turned on the light and sat up in bed. When she turned in my direction, terror lingered behind her eyes. My body continued to seize and I realized that, although I knew what was happening, my attempt to speak was nothing more than guttural sounds and garbled words. This condition lasted nearly five minutes. It then gradually subsided, leaving me confused and physically exhausted.

Unsure of what happened, and finding myself able to speak and function after a couple of days rest, I returned to work in my assigned division. However, within two weeks after my return I had another seizure while sitting at my desk. Fellow officers rushed me to Central Receiving Hospital. After an examination, the city doctor – an orthopedic doctor - told me I was fine, as far as he was concerned. He believed my seizures could have been caused by medical issues he was not qualified to diagnose. Therefore, he recommended I rest a few days and see my family physician.

During the next week, the seizures and garbled speech continued, which left me frustrated and fatigued. Because the city would not classify the stroke as duty connected, I was placed off duty and on sick status. I was required to use my accumulated sick days to secure a paycheck rather than remaining

on the books as injured on duty. Unfortunately, over the next month the severity and frequency of the seizures increased, as did my visits to a number of different doctors.

The year brought with it tremendous challenges, especially physically and financially. Daily, while Cheryle and each of our seven young children struggled with “Dad’s illness,” my health continued to deteriorate and was accompanied by seizures, impaired speech, and painful migraine headaches.

During that year the City of Los Angeles also sent me to a number of doctors in an effort to eliminate the possibility that the stroke had been job related. The process was difficult, and after six months, when I had used all my sick time and vacation hours, my paychecks stopped. With no money coming in, Cheryle found a job at the neighborhood Thrifty Drug Store where she scooped ice cream for $5.00 an hour.

As time passed and the city continued to fight my request for an “injured on duty” pension, life continued. The children still needed to eat and the bills still needed to be paid. The struggle was one we had never faced before. Although difficult, we never forgot the promise we found during our Old Testament scripture study in Malachi. God reminded us;

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.

— Malachi 3:10

Over the years we had been faithful in our commitment to tithing, but one day, I realized that we were out of money. We had exhausted the few resources available to help with food, rent and other bills. Facing the stark reality that we had done everything we could, I decided it was time for a family meeting.

It was June 1982.

We had a large dining table in our home which I had made to seat our family of nine. It was eight feet long and four feet wide

and painted bright peach. On the night of our family council, following dinner, I told the children we needed to talk.

I explained to them that the money was gone and all we had left was what I would put on the table. Slowly, I placed two shiny dimes and seven old pennies in front of me.

“That’s it, kids,” I said. “All we have as a family is twentyseven cents.”

The room was silent.

“Now, what should we do?” I asked.

The silence was soon broken as each of the children said, “We pay our tithing, Dad.”

Slowly, I removed three tarnished pennies and placed them in an envelope addressed to our bishop. When that was done, the silence was broken by our ten-year-old, Becky, who was seated at the far end of the table. Knowing that she was out of my reach, she shouted out as only she could, “I hope that doesn’t mean we’re going on church welfare, Dad!”

“That is an option, Rebecca,” I said smiling.

Becky’s comment sent the entire family into a state of uncontrolled laughter. She was one who could always see the funny side of a situation, and she never hesitated to share her opinion no matter what the topic.

With the tithing paid, things did not immediately improve. But as a family, we were able to face another day knowing that in the Lord’s own time, the windows of heaven would open. And they did.

Within a couple of weeks, the City of Los Angeles granted me a work-related disability pension. After another year, when my health began to improve, I was able to secure employment at Lockheed Aerospace.

As a family, we learned a wonderful lesson and experienced the results of the principle that faith does, in fact, precede the miracle. 

Whitaker is a retired Los Angeles Police Department Detective. Following the death of a daughter, he and his wife, Cheryle dedicated themselves to humanitarian service in the United States and South America. Their family consists of seven children, twenty-one grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. They reside in St. George, Utah.

with fresh content and encouraging words at

www.facebook.com/tclmagazine

Richard

The Richard and Cheryle Whitaker Family today. (Photo courtesy of Richard B. Whitaker.)

Resource Guide

Solomon was right. There is nothing new under the sun. Generation after generation faces the same questions, the same struggles, and the same sin bents. Those issues are just framed differently by the culture in which we live and, in our day and age, by rapidlychanging technology.

Because nothing remains static, new voices are always bringing a fresh perspective to those age-old questions, struggles and sin-bents – voices that speak to our generation with its unique cultural trappings. The writers have

followed God’s lead to offer encouraging, instructive words. Perhaps you will find the message He has for you in one of these new books.

“The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

— 2 Timothy 2:2

Crossword Answers

Praying Through Your Pregnancy: A Week-by-Week Devotional for Expecting Moms

By Jennifer Polimino and Carolyn Warren [Revell, a Division of Baker Publishing Group]

Praying Through Your Pregnancy is the perfect companion for this special time in a mother’s life. Each chapter in this week-by-week guide reveals what is happening with the baby’s development that week, starting with the very first moment of conception. Also included are prayers, Scripture, and journaling space. You can find it at BakerBookHouse.com

Herod & Mary

By Kathie Lee Gifford [W Publishing Group]

Explore the entwined lives of King Herod and Mary, Mother of Jesus, in this gripping narrative by Kathie Lee Gifford! Journey through Herod’s ambitions and downfalls, and witness Mary’s divine mission to bring the Messiah into the world. A historical look at power, faith, and redemption. You can find it at https:// kathieleegifford.com/herod-and-mary

The Forge

By Kendrick Bros. LLC and Chris Fabry [Tyndale House Publishers]

Isaiah is a young man without any plans for the future. Until the people in his life—his mother Cynthia, his mentor Joshua, and prayer warrior, Miss Clara—encourage him to start making better life decisions. Read the book before you see the movie! You can find it at tyndale.life/Forge

Don’t Sink Your Own Ship

By Max Anders [Zondervan Reflective]

With simplicity and lightheartedness, bestselling Bible teacher and pastor Max Anders walks readers through 20 spiritual lessons, providing biblical clarity on problems we all face. Each lesson includes application questions, scripture references, and recommended reading, making this a great small group resource. You can find it at bit.ly/maxanders

and Where AI

By Michelle Adserias

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here to stay. Whether you’re aware of it or not, artificial intelligence already plays an active role in your life. It keeps track of what you watch on streaming services and recommends shows you might like. It monitors your internet activities and suggests websites you could find helpful. Even if you watch network television and avoid social media, your bank, medical offices and insurance companies are probably using AI to manage your accounts. Your community likely relies on AI, to some degree, to keep the infrastructure running smoothly.

What is AI?

According to Aruna Pattam, an AI and Data Science expert, artificial intelligence is “the science of making machines that can think like humans. Artificial intelligence involves using computers to do things that traditionally require human intelligence.” It begins with making machines that can draw conclusions about what they should do based on past human activity. Rather than a programmer having to input every response to

every specific situation, a programmer inputs data and potential responses, leaving the computer room to conclude how the tidbits of information are related. Alexa and Siri are commonly used AI tools that operate on this premise.

Is AI good or evil?

While the technological world has embraced AI, those who aren’t so technologically-minded have accepted it with mixed feelings. It bears a remarkable resemblance to George Orwell’s “Big Brother” in his novel, 1984 – always watching and listening. It can be disconcerting but, like I said earlier, it’s here to stay. There’s no going back. Whether that’s good or bad is a matter of perspective.

Like any other tool, AI itself is neither good nor evil. God created us in His image, with the intelligence and ingenuity to create things, as He did. Unlike God, we can’t create something from nothing. We can’t just speak things into existence. Wouldn’t that be handy at 5:00 on a weeknight when you don’t know what you’re going to make for supper? But we can create something from the myriad of resources God gave us to work with.

the Bible Meet

What we do with the things we create is what concerns our Heavenly Father. Knowledge and invention can be used for good, for evil or for both. Just as the printing press was used to put God’s Word in the hands of more people, AI could be used to put God’s Word in the hands of more people — translated into their own languages. AI has the potential to understand the nuances of languages, within their cultural contexts, and transform the Bible from something foreign to something familiar, more quickly than a team of devoted linguists could.

Sadly, AI can also be used as a tool for evil. It is already being used to mimic real people and deceive trusting souls. For instance, Séance AI can mimic the voices of deceased loved ones. It allows people to “converse” with someone they’ve lost. While those who are thinking clearly will recognize it as a high-tech parlor trick, it offers false hope and comfort to those who are grieving, and probably not thinking clearly.

Ask_Jesus

Perhaps the most disturbing thing to come out of this strange new world of technology is AI Jesus. Yes, you read that right. I

was quite surprised when I first learned about it, too.

Powered by ChatGPT, The Singularity Group, based in Germany, created and launched their Ask_Jesus chatbot on Twitch in 2023. AI Jesus is handsome and rather holy-looking in its hooded tunic. It speaks in a calm, inviting voice on any topic posed to it; from serious questions about biblical and moral issues to ridiculous questions whose responses are intended to humor the listener. The fact Ask_Jesus was launched on a gaming platform suggests that it was developed for entertainment purposes.

Whether the questions posed are serious or silly, the results are tragic.

In fairness to the programmers, AI Jesus is a good moral teacher, which is how much of the world views the real, living, eternal Jesus. AI Jesus responds to serious questions about spiritual things in ways that are consistent with scripture — to a degree. The chatbot will not take a biblical stand on any issue that might offend someone, such as sexual sin or abortion, but instead advises listeners to look at the issues from a legal and ethical perspective.

Those who programmed this chatbot don’t truly understand what it means to follow Christ. AI Jesus never mentions the need for repentance, forgiveness or becoming a new creation in Christ. There is no talk of an ongoing personal relationship with the life-giving Savior marked by obedient, holy living. They offer a shallow image of God’s Son, a false Jesus. In doing so, whether they intend to or not, they are leading sincere seekers astray.

No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

— 2 Corinthians 11:14-15

How are people responding to AI Jesus?

Reese Layson, cofounder of The Singularity Group, stated this: “We’ve seen an overwhelming response from people, Christian as well as non-Christian and non-religious, who find it inspiring and comforting. It’s a very modern interpretation of Jesus that always provides wholesome and uplifting feedback no matter the question.”

I watched a portion of two YouTube videos to see what AI Jesus was all about. The first program was hosted by a young man getting a good laugh from making the chatbot look as ridiculous as possible. It was offensive.

The second segment I watched was from the Athene AI Show.* The host posed several serious questions to AI Jesus and did, indeed, receive “inspiring and comforting” words in return. His response? “AI Jesus is probably one of the most, He’s really, like, extremely competent at answering questions, very hard ones too, in ways that, I think, at this point humans already cannot compete with because it’s just literally omnipotent. It sounds crazy what I’m saying here, but it’s the closest to omnipotence you can get right now where we live. This is the closest to Jesus you guys are gonna get.”

The responses from the show’s listeners are even more concerning. While a handful of people voiced disapproval of the chatbot misrepresenting God’s Word and God’s Son, the vast majority were like these:

• “For me personally, I think it makes religion more accessible by talking to someone instead of being told to read a book.”

• “Jesus: People keep asking if I’m back, and yeah, I’m thinkin’ I’m back.”

• “ This is the Jesus I was looking for my whole life!”

Though its intent was to provide something primarily recreational, it’s clear from the comments that people are taking AI Jesus seriously. They do not seem to be viewing this chatbot as a manmade “it.” They seem to be viewing it as a “who,” a computer-generated representation of who Jesus truly is. It’s clear Satan, the father of lies, is using this new platform to deceive people. Why pursue a relationship with an unseen Savior when you can interact with a tangible facsimile of Jesus?

Why search the Scriptures or speak with spiritual mentors when you can ask the computer-generated Jesus for guidance?

How Should Christians

Respond to AI Jesus?

As believers, we need to approach this new chatbot with due caution, clear thinking and an understanding of the potential pitfalls. We need to be aware of the impact it’s spirituallyconfused culture.

It’s not surprising there are respected Christian leaders who are opposed to this new addition to the AI world. Dr. James Spencer and Ed Vitaglio, Executive Vice-president of the American Family Association, had a conversation about Ask_Jesus on the “Thinking Christian” podcast.

In response to Reese Layson’s comments about people finding AI Jesus “comforting and inspiring,” Ed Vitaglio said, “Jesus certainly can be inspiring and comforting but He’s also convicting and challenging… The Word of God, that’s Jesus, interrogates our lives. There’s nothing about the fallen nature that should make us comfortable in the presence of a holy God.”

AI Jesus is not going to challenge anyone’s lifestyle. It has been programmed to make all questioners feel good at the end of their conversation. AI Jesus is not going to compel anyone to seek God and His Word for truth, not confront sin. It is never going to fill anyone’s need for a personal relationship with a living Savior or speak on His behalf. It is finite and fallible because it was created by finite and fallible beings. As Mr. Vitaglio put it, “You are interacting with a code, not a flesh and blood person anointed by God to help you in your walk.”

Dr. Spencer observed, “As we look at this AI Jesus, one of the big problems is it, sort of number one, ignores the fact that Jesus is actually present to us anyway – as though we needed something else to mediate between us and Christ.” When we turn away from our sin and ourselves and turn to follow Christ, He comes to live within us. The Holy Spirit, our Helper, becomes our guide. He directs and convicts us. He illumines spiritual truth for us. He intercedes in prayer for us.

Jesus answered and said to him,  “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.” — John 14:23

As artificial intelligence continues to advance, impacting more and more aspects of our lives, we can take comfort in God’s sovereignty. Nothing will add to His complete work on the cross, and nothing can rob it of its power. Nothing happens, no new technology is created, outside of His foreknowledge or outside or His plan. God will ultimately orchestrate all things, even those things Satan twists with evil intent, to His honor and glory. 

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

— 2 Peter 1:2-3

God takes away the world that the heart may cleave more to Him in sincerity.

— Thomas Watson

Pleasures come like oxen, slow and sure, and go away like post-horses upon the spur.

— Joseph Hall

As the wicked are hurt by the best things, so the godly are bettered by the worst.

— William Jenkyn

God’s wounds cure.

Sin’s kisses kill.

— William Gurnall

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.

Dear Dave,

I know you recommend using cash or debit cards instead of credit cards. But can you explain why my husband and I shouldn’t take advantage of credit card points for travel expenses that are required for work but will be reimbursed by the employer?

— Cathy

Dear Cathy,

So, your employer is so poor they require you to advance them for your travel? You do understand if your employer decides not to pay you one month—for whatever reason—that it’s your credit card and your debt, right? Even if this hasn’t happened yet, you’re exposed to the risk. All for a couple of airline miles that are virtually impossible to use? No, thanks.

I understand this is standard procedure for some companies, but then a big chunk of corporate America has conned its employee base into taking out a loan on their behalf—with a promise of repayment—and the employee taking on all the risk. On top of that, these companies act as if operating this way is no big deal. Well, it is a big deal. And it’s not a good way to run a business or treat your employees.

Cathy, I once counseled a guy who walked into my office with $11,000 on his American Express card that was “supposed” to be reimbursed. Guess what happened? When he went into work earlier that day, he found a padlock on the door. The company he worked for had filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and he got nothing. At that point, he had $11,000 on his American Express card, and the credit card company didn’t care one bit about his company going broke. They wanted their money.

When you use a credit card, you spend more than when using a debit card or cash. Tons of research has proven this to be true. Using someone else’s money just doesn’t produce the same friction in your brain as paying for something with your own money. You don’t feel the sting of it leaving your personal account. Do you want to know something else? I’ve never met a single millionaire who pointed to credit cards and airline miles as the reasons for their financial success.

By Dave Ramsey

But I do know a lot of broke, middle-class people strutting around, bragging that they gamed the system. They’ll tell you they beat a multi-billion-dollar company, one that spends tens of millions of dollars every year on studying consumer behavior in depth, at their own game. No, they really didn’t. I’m telling you all this, Cathy, because I want you and your husband to protect your number-one wealth-building tool: your income.

Long story short: If you play with snakes, sooner or later you’ll get bitten.

— Dave

Dear Dave,

When my wife and I got married, she had about $70,000 in savings and I had a lot of debt. We bought some property from her parents to build a home on, and she made a 20% down payment on the land from her savings. We’ve paid off some debt, and she has more in savings now. But I feel guilty, and it seems unfair to ask her to pay on our debt with her savings since most of it is debt I brought into the marriage. How do you feel about this?

— Sonny

Dear Sonny,

This question tells me you’re a good guy with a good heart. But let me ask you a thing or two. When your wife gets sick, is it unfair for you to take care of her? You didn’t cause it. It’s not your fault. Of course, it’s not unfair. I’m not mad at you, buddy. I’m just throwing your own logic right back at you.

Maybe these next lines will sound familiar: for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health. The old “Book of Common Prayer” continues the vows and says, “Unto thee, all my worldly goods I pledge.” This is called oneness. It’s called unity. And it’s what a good marriage should be about. Do you get what I’m saying, Sonny? The two of you are in this together. This is not a business partnership or joint venture. It’s a man and a woman pledging themselves, and all they have

and are, to each other. I understand your feelings, but if you’re not careful, that kind of guilt will stand in the way of you two creating a successful marriage—both financially and emotionally.

When you got married, the “me” and “mine” became “we” and “ours.” You got all her stuff, the good and bad, and she got all of yours. Now it’s time for you to work as a team to make the bad stuff go away and the good things even better. What’s fair (and what’s right) is to combine all of your income, all of your assets and all of your liabilities.

I know it’s uncomfortable, but you’ve got to choose courage. Ask her to go all in on this with you and attack your debt together. Work toward making your dreams come true together as one.

That’s what’s fair, and that’s what’s best when you’re married.

— Dave

Dear Natalie,

For starters, I’d suggest cutting expenses any way you can, living on a strict budget and saving as much cash as possible. But taking out a second mortgage? No! You don’t want that hanging over your heads.

You might want to get another opinion on the kitchen remodel, too. Sure, a new kitchen would be nice, but would it be a make-or-break kind of thing if you decide to sell your home? Probably not, unless it’s in really terrible shape right now. Regardless, there’s no way I’d go into debt to make this happen. I mean, your house isn’t even on the market yet. There’s no reason to fix up a house that’s not for sale, especially when you’ve got just $4,000 to your names.

My advice is to wait and see how the whole job situation plays out before making any big decisions. Then if you end up selling the house and moving, you might take $500 or so from savings to freshen up the kitchen a little bit.

— Dave

Dear Dave,

I plan to buy another investment property with cash in the next year or two. Currently, I have $83,000 sitting in a high-yield savings account at 4% interest. My goal is to save another $50,000 to $70,000 in the upcoming months. 4% is good, but I want to make sure I’m maximizing my returns. Should I be doing something else with the money?

— Brett

Dear Dave,

My husband was recently told layoffs are about to happen at his company, and that it might be a good idea for him to start looking for another job. He has found a couple of good possibilities, but the jobs are located 100 miles away. In preparation for a possible move, we spoke with a real estate agent who told us we’d have to remodel our kitchen to sell the house. We’ve got about $4,000 in savings, but the agent said remodeling would take between $2,500 and $3,000. Should we get a second mortgage to pay for the work?

— Natalie

Dear Brett,

I like the way you’re doing things. Right now, you’re parking the money short term for a purchase a few months down the road. If you invest it, you might make a little more, but you’re taking more risk too. If I’m you, I’m parking the cash.

Here’s the deal: The money you’ll have to purchase another property won’t come from a return on the investment. It’ll come from you putting money in the account. The investment isn’t the secret sauce in this scenario—you are. If you invest the money and make 10% rather than 4% over two months, let’s say, that amounts to a 3% difference. That’s nothing in your case. You’re not within a couple thousand dollars of doing a deal. Your deal is a $150,000 deal. Your return on investment isn’t going to make this happen,or keep it from happening. See what I’m saying?

Just keep doing what you’ve been doing and park the money. People who are math nerds, like us, always look for things to fix an investment. But sometimes the thing that fixes the investment is you. You are the one doing the investing. You are the one putting money in the account. So, in this case, don’t try to fix it. Just pile up money and go do it.

Great question, Brett!

— Dave

The Hidden Peace

By Joel Muddamalle [Thomas Nelson]

We’re all marked by certain inescapable aspects of life. We have less control than we want, more anxiety than we need and just enough insecurity to remind us of our shortcomings. To experience these things is human. We aren’t superheroes and invincibility isn’t an option. But humility is.

Humility is the missing piece for the security, strength and confidence we all want. It’s time to stop trying to avoid or overcompensate for our limitations. God has better things for us. It all begins with bowing low in humility.

With relatable stories, practical wisdom and biblical theology broken down into digestible takeaways,  The Hidden Peace  by Dr. Joel Muddamalle will help you overcome the fear of being “found out,” walk through hurtful situations, confidently know you’re being used by God, and live by the biblical definition of self-awareness.

Weakness is not your enemy. Weakness with humility is the path to strength and peace.

How Do I Talk to My Kids about Social Justice?

By Chuck Mason, MDIV [Xulon Press Elite]

Social justice indoctrination in public schools is reordering the minds of our kids and reshaping America. The Woke narratives are presented to kids as unquestionable truths without counter perspectives. Parents searching for a resource that can explain these ideologies and present counter-perspectives can find help within the pages of How Do I Talk to my Kids about Social Justice This resource provides strategies to expose woke narratives using facts, evidence, and critical thinking, giving parents the information they are searching for. Chuck Mason is a Fuller Seminary grad, wilderness adventure addict, and culture warrior. After studying postmodern philosophy in seminary, he dedicated his intellectual life to battling the postmodern societal influences and indoctrination.

Mason is an accomplished public speaker presenting forums on critical race theory, LGBTQ, and cancel culture to federal and state legislators, pastors, and parents and he continues to educate about their impact of American culture.

I Could Be Wrong

By Phil Robertson [Nelson Books]

In nearly five decades of walking with God, Phil Robertson has learned why Jesus is the only one worth following. Only Jesus has the answers to our questions and solutions for our problems.

It’s no secret that our world is increasingly divided and broken. We’ve got the fear, anxiety, and hopelessness to prove it. Jesus alone can make good on the promise of lasting peace, real freedom, and life eternal.

With his trademark directness, humor, and insight, Phil will help you: experience Jesus as the all-powerful Creator and Sustainer of life, reconcile your sin and brokenness with Jesus’ unending forgiveness and healing, and see Jesus for who He really is - the friend who’s there for you, no matter what.

Politics won’t save you. Science can’t help you sidestep death. This world’s counterfeit pleasures are fleeting, at best. Only Jesus offers life, joy, and peace, and He’s never more than a prayer away.

The Irish Matchmaker

By Jennifer Deibel [Revell]

As daughter of a well-known matchmaker, Catríona Daly is no stranger to the business of love--and sees it as her ticket away from the sleepy village that only comes alive during the annual matchmaking festival. Enter Lord Osborne’s son, Andrew, who attends the festival after a failed setup by a rival matchmaker failed. Catríona seizes the opportunity to make a better match for the handsome man — and for herself!

Donal Bunratty is in desperate need of a wife after loss left him to handle the farm and raise his daughter on his own. Shy and lacking the finer social graces, he agrees to attend the matchmaking festival but when he arrives, it’s his matchmaker who catches his eye – even though she’s clearly enamored with someone else.

Catríona uses her expertise to secure a match that could change her life forever. Will her plan succeed? Or will love have its way?

Now and Not Yet

By Ruth Chou Simons [Nelson Books]

Too often, we’re disappointed with our “right now” — our circumstances, relationships, progress, or our daily grind. We want to do so many things — good, godly things — our situations won’t allow. Are we missing out on our own lives?

Ruth Chou Simons reminds us to lean into the right now we’ve been given. In Now and Not Yet, Ruth helps us embrace the biblical truth that someday is made up of thousands of right nows, that the difficult parts of our lives are actually unique gifts, that we don’t have to feel trapped where we are and that we can live faithfully in the tension between what is and what is not yet.

Waiting Isn’t a Waste

By Mark Vroegop [Crossway]

Throughout our lives, we experience countless periods of waiting. Some moments are mere nuisances — others are daunting seasons filled with intense worry and doubt. We grow impatient with immovable traffic or crave an impending answer to a medical condition. Whatever our circumstances, our innate response is to take action rather than stay still.

Your right now matters and you can either press in or check out. God is at work even when you don’t see the progress you’re looking for. He’s not through with you yet.

Restore the Table

By Ryan Rush, PhD [Forefront Books]

When is the last time you gathered around the dinner table with those you loved without distractions, having meaningful and intentional conversation? If you can’t remember, you’re not alone.

Busy schedules, digital distractions, and loneliness plague us, making gathering around the table for a meal feel like something from the distant past. This is why Pastor Ryan Rush posed a challenge to his congregation: have five meaningful mealtimes with those you love each week.

The challenge took off and what happened was transformative. Marriages were strengthened, siblings got along better, people who had struggled with addictions began to face them, students’ grades improved.

The table changed everything.

In  Restore the Table, Pastor Rush explains why intentional mealtimes together builds relationships and establishes a lifelong legacy. The table is so much more than the place we eat. When used intentionally for discipleship and connection, the table can change the world.

In  Waiting Isn’t a Waste, Mark Vroegop calls believers to resist the human urge for control and lean on Christ for comfort while we wait for life’s uncertainties to unfold. He explores what it means to wait on God by looking at six important realities — waiting is hard, common, biblical, slow, commanded and relational.

This book not only teaches readers how to wait on God but inspires them to embrace waiting — for it prompts wisdom from God and brings invaluable peace to the present. Those struggling with anxiety, discouragement, or weariness as they wait will find help in its pages.

The (Young) Men We Need

By Brant Hansen [Baker Books]

The world needs young men to grow up into real men. But here’s the problem: young men get so many conflicting messages about what it means to be a man, they find it hard to know what masculinity looks like when men are at their absolute best.

Into this cultural confusion, Brant Hansen paints a refreshingly specific, compelling picture of what men are designed to be. Combining depth and humor, he calls for young men of all interests and backgrounds to be ambitious about the right things and to see themselves as protectors and defenders of the vulnerable, with whatever resources they have at their disposal.

The (Young) Men We Need is witty, to the point, bracingly honest, and packed with wisdom. Perfect for any guy age 14 and up who wants to know “Why am I here?” — and is ready to show up. Includes discussion questions.

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

ALGERIA:

Eradicating Christianity

The Algerian government continued its campaign this summer against Christians, specifically evangelicals, after an appeals court upheld a one-year prison sentence, and a $735 fine against a nationally known pastor accused of leading a banned religious service.

The court also issued an additional six-month prison term against the pastor. If the ruling against Pastor Youssef Ourahmane, one of the most widely known Christian leaders in Algeria, is upheld by the nation’s Supreme Court, it will send a clear warning to Christians across the country who refuse to be beaten down: No one is beyond the reach of government persecution.

Ourahmane guides numerous churches and Bible schools across the country and is the vice president of the Association of the Protestant Church of Algeria, which is made up of at least 45 church bodies. The appeals court issued its ruling in May. At press time, no date had been set for the Supreme Court hearing. If the court reviews the case, it will either accept the lower court’s ruling, or send it back for a re-trial.

The government’s actions against Ourahmane are part of a much larger war the Algerian government has been fighting to eradicate evangelical Christianity. The attacks intensified dramatically in 2017 and according to human rights advocates, continue to get worse. While the constitution protects freedom of religion in Algeria, the nation is 99 percent Muslim and the government uses different laws and regulations with great effect to curtail that legal freedom for non-Muslims.

Ourahmane was charged under one such law, Ordinance 06-03. Under the ordinance, Christian groups are required to register with the government as associations, but few are approved. Prison often awaits the leaders of churches who hold meetings without proper registration. The government also requires all Christian places of worship to be inspected, approved and registered.

“Proselytizing,” as it is called in Algeria, by Christians is strictly forbidden under 06-03. The penalty is severe, with a prison sentence of up to five years and a maximum fine of $7,500 – a fortune in Algerian terms. It is illegal to “convert a Muslim to another religion” or to “undermine the faith of a Muslim.” As if that wasn’t enough, in August 2023, a new law was enacted requiring all media to respect Islam and the “moral and cultural values of the nation.”

The government uses 06-03, the National Commission for Non-Muslim Religious Services, Executive Decree 07-158 and other regulations to trap Christians in myriad set of rules that are almost impossible to follow, unless one abandons their faith in Christ or pursues God completely in private. Under the guise of enforcing the rules, the government places Christians under surveillance, harasses and interrogates them. Their houses are often searched and their worship materials confiscated. Eventually, the government finds some charge they think will stick against someone and then tries the accused Christian, often times in absentia.

(Photo

In September 2023, Ourahmane was notified he had been tried and found guilty of holding an unauthorized religious assembly and of holding worship in a building not permitted for worship. He was sentenced to two years in prison and a fine was levied against him.

The charges stem from a March 2023 holiday outing, when Ourahmane spent three days with several Christian families at a church compound. At one part of the compound there was a church building that had been sealed in 2019 on orders of the provincial governor. After a police investigation, Ourahmane was charged.

I have met Ourahmane a couple of times. I remember fondly the time I spent drinking coffee with him and his wife in a cafe, comparing notes about the places we had both lived at one time or another. He is gracious, kind, charming, intelligent and fun to be around. His confidence in God is strong but flows out of him in such an unassuming manner, it draws you in naturally to learn more about Jesus. It would be sad to see him go to prison.

Most of the court cases underway in 2024 are not being reported to the general public by human rights groups out of concern for the accused, but according to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, there are at least ten Christians with cases outstanding against them.

Last year in February, a court sentenced two workers at a Christian media company to two months in prison for producing Christian audio-visual materials “with the intention

of agitating the faith of a Muslim.” A judge sentenced them to 12 months in prison, two of which were served while awaiting trial. The rest of the sentence was suspended. The court also banned the two believers “from practicing Christian activities” for life, according to the USCIRF.

Months later, in May, officials raided the home of a Tizi Ghenif pastor, seized his computer and interrogated him several times. In November, a judge sentenced the pastor and four other members from his church to three years in prison and fined them each $1,450 for “inciting Muslims to change their religion,” according to the USCIRF. The case is under appeal, all of charges were based on the Ordinance to Regulate Non-Muslim Worship.

With one hand, the Algerian government uses its draconian laws to persecute Christian leaders. With the other hand they close and seal shut places of worship to further intimidate the “rank and file” followers of Christ. Last year, roughly 11 EPA churches were sealed shut under orders of Algerian judges or abandoned out of fear of the government. At least 41 churches have been forcibly closed since 2017 due to government intimidation. Less than five currently remain. 

PRAYER POINTS:

PRAY God will provide spiritually and physically for all those who remain in prison in Algeria and the families awaiting their release.

PRAY God will remove any fear, sadness and anxiety for those imprisoned for their faith in Algeria.

PRAY God will lead the Algerian Supreme Court to overturn the lower appellate court’s ruling in Pastor Ourahmane’s case and that during the retrial, he will be found not guilty.

PRAY The upcoming presidential elections, scheduled for September, will take place peacefully, and that the winner will see Christians as an integral part of Algerian society.

PRAY Algerian Christians will remain strong in the face of persecution. Rather than being stricken with fear, pray they will be inspired by the Holy Spirit and their fellow believers to act boldly for Christ.

• Donate to your Church

• Leave in clinics and waiting rooms

• Gift to retirement communities

• Leave with the sick or homebound

• Share with Bible study groups

• Leave in coffee shops, salons and more!

Editor’s Pick for Kids

God’s Little Astronomer

By Tina Cho (author) and Marta Alvarez Miguens (illustrator) [Waterbrook Multnomah]

Blast off into space and discover how every part of the universe—the planets, the stars, asteroids, meteoroids, and more—display God’s glory, creativity and, most important, His love for you and me!

In God’s Little Astronomer, author and educator Tina Cho invites young readers to see God’s creation in the heavens. From the sun, moon, stars, constellations, and comets, this out-of-this-world introduction to space will teach budding astronomers new words, facts, and concepts, while also encouraging them to see God throughout the universe, and reinforcing the message that the same God loves them too.

Each page includes fact-filled sidebars plus an accompanying Bible verse, making God’s Little Astronomer the perfect combination of faith and science for budding scientists.

“Mom, I have a girlfriend,” announced my four-year-old grandson when he arrived home from preschool.

“You do? What’s her name?” asked my daughter.

“I don’t know,” Sammy replied.

Puzzled, my daughter asked, “Well, how do you know she’s your girlfriend?”

“Because she told me so,” said Sammy.

Submitted by Candi Deal

Dick: “Great news! Teacher said we would have a test rain or shine.”

Jane: “ What’s so great about that? ”

Dick: “ It’s snowing.”

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.

My Hiding Place

By Michelle Adserias

I have a favorite park where I go to contemplate the greater things of God. I often sit on a pink granite outcropping which overlooks an abandoned mill pond. From my perch, I can see a colony of crayfish that have taken up residence in the stones cluttering the river bottom. I don’t make habit of watching crayfish. I prefer observing God’s “prettier” critters. But I confess, they’re quite interesting little crustaceans.

I never gave much thought to what they eat. Apparently, they dine on rock scum. They creep across the rocks, picking green fuzz with their front legs and cramming it into their little mouths. When they feel threatened, they propel themselves backwards, usually into a little crevice in the rocks. They are alert to any potential dangers. Even my shadow on the water sends them scurrying to safety.

Watching the creeping crayfish sheds some new light on Jesus as my hiding place, as my rock, and as my refuge. Each crayfish seems to have a hiding place he calls his own — under a stone, or a piece of driftwood, or in the cleft of a rock. He knows exactly where it is and never strays far from it. He quickly runs to it when any danger is near. In his hiding place, he is safe and secure.

“You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance.”

— Psalm 32:7

God wants to be our hiding place. He tells us to be alert to the potential dangers of temptation. He wants to protect us from trouble and rejoice at our deliverance from sin, temptation and the enemy’s advances. But, like the crayfish, we must each stay near our hiding place and run into it when danger lurks nearby.

“Be to me a rock of habitation to which I may continually come…”

— Psalm 71:3a

God wants to be our rock. He wants us to come home to Him day after day, just like the crayfish continually returns to the rock he calls home.

“But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works.”

— Psalm 73:28

God desires to be our refuge, our safe haven from life’s trials. Like the crayfish, we can quickly scurry back to God, our rock of ages. He is always near.

note:

changes

unavoidable omissions or errors.

• Audiobooks

• Bibles

• Bible Accessories

• Bible Studies & Curriculum

• Bulk Orders

• Christian Books

• Children’s Products

• Christian Living

• Christmas

• Church Supplies

• Closeouts

• Clothing and Accessories

• Downloads

• DVDs

& Home

Cards

Resources

Diana Derringer, author of Beyond Bethlehem and Calvary and caregiver for her husband, shares hope and joy through more than 1,200 devotions, articles, dramas, Bible studies, and poems in 70-plus publications. She also writes radio and television programs for Christ to the World Ministries. Enjoy Words, Wit, and Wisdom at  dianaderringer.com

Back Home

“For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” – 2 Corinthians 5:1 ESV

Recently, I went back home. My heart longed for the familiar scenes of my childhood and early adult years.

Our Church Home

First, I went back to the church where I grew up. Where Mom cooked, taught, loved, hugged, joked, prayed, sang, and encouraged everyone. Where Dad served as deacon, trustee, Sunday school superintendent, teacher, mentor, and Gideon. Where my sister, brother, and I professed our faith. Where my sister and I were baptized in a nearby creek and our brother in the new church’s baptistry.

Back where we separated Sunday school classes with curtains, rang the bell for worship to begin, and learned shape note music before my sister began to play piano during services. Where every little girl wanted to sing like Ms. Virginia. Where Bible school drew all the neighborhood children for cookies and Kool-Aid with sides of Bible study, missions, and evangelism. Where my wedding was the last one before the old weatherboard-sided building was replaced by a new stone structure.

Back where Mom and Dad now lie buried along with so many others who influenced my life in a positive way.

Our Swinging Bridge

I went back to the creek where we swam, fished, cooked out, dared one another to run across the swinging bridge, and enjoyed our summers despite sunburns, mosquito bites, and stubbed toes. Where cousins laughed, cried, played, fussed, and learned the fine art of getting along.

Back across the creek to where my aunt and uncle welcomed all who entered. Where the kitchen table groaned from an abundance of fresh garden produce and country cooking, and where stomachs groaned from overindulgence in all that bounty. Where their mules and wagon provided local transportation, and everyone wanted to hop aboard for that adventure.

Back where no one lives now, many long gone from this earth, others to new homes with modern conveniences, motorized vehicles, and crowded neighborhoods. Back where family has kept the

By Diana Derringer

bridge swinging and the farm producing but plans to sell their homeplace soon.

Our Family Home

Finally, I went back to the house where I grew up. Where two little girls lived with Mom, Dad, and Granny. Where we were challenged to excel through competitive games. Where we learned to read by reading to each other. Where we learned to write with lined paper and pencils bigger than our thumbs. Where board games, yard races, and long walks in the country taught us the value of time together.

Back where Dad tended an enormous garden and orchard, and Mom canned and froze the overflow. Where we pulled weeds and hoed vegetable rows that never seemed to end. Where we learned to practice delayed gratification before we knew such words existed.

Back where my sister and I begged for a little brother who finally joined our crew after we both married. Where Mom and Dad filled the empty nest and began parenting again through foster care for children needing temporary placement and adoption of our brother who needed a permanent home.

Back where church attendance, daily Bible reading, and family devotions were the norm, and visitors were invited to join. Where family reunions were held each summer and music was played with friends on Friday or Saturday nights. Where cousins visited for a few days, weeks, or months. Where outof-state guests laughed about needing a map to find our out-of-the-way home.

Back where a young couple now lives with their three little girls, also sharing their faith through daily example and a place of respite for all who visit. Where our family no longer gathers but memories still beckon our hearts to stop and sit a spell.

Our Eternal Home

As I walked around and through those formative places, I cried, I smiled through tears, and I gave thanks. Thanks for parents who chose to follow Jesus as young adults. Thanks they went beyond weekly church attendance to a daily lifestyle of worship that pointed their children and all they encountered to the Savior they served. Thanks that, although they no longer live in that house, they continue to live in our hearts. Above all, thanks that when I cross the bridge from this earthly abode, I will step into God’s heavenly promise — home at last. 