Today's Christian Living March 2024

Adoption Q&A with Herbie Newell

Easter Gift Guide

Encourage • Equip • Engage

JUSTIN & TRISHA

DAVIS Lives Transformed

by God’s Grace

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29

Overcoming Obstacles:

Struck Down but Not Destroyed March 2024 $4.95 US / $5.95 Canada

On the Cover: Justin and Trisha Davis, www.refineus.org Photo provided by Megan Mellinger

MARCH 2024

VOL. 62 NUMBER 2

Features 5 Beauty from Ashes

by Michelle Adserias

Their darkest season became God’s greatest victory.

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Resilient Faith

by Stephanie Risch

Jay Hewett’s determination in the face of dire circumstances.

14 A Fight for Life

by Sharron Carey

How a stranger’s sacrifice brought Brittany health and healing.

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16 The Road to Redemption

by Keith Luberto

One man’s journey from spiritual death to new life.

20

Departments

The Malted Milk Ball Incident

4

The Fine Print

A childhood lesson in God’s abundant grace.

4

The Good News

24

Kids of the Kingdom

42

Quick Takes

by Micah Henry

26 Adoption Q&A with Herbie Newell, President of Lifeline Children’s Services 29

45 Laugh Lines

14

Easter Resource Guide

38 First Looks Resource Guide

Columns 19 Living in Wisdom Christ’s Ambassadors 22 Ask Dr. Walt High Cholesterol Treatments

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28

Turning Point Broken Heart, Healed Spirit

40

Persecution Report 2024 Open Doors World Watch List

44

Dave Says Best Use of Resources

46

Grace Notes Memories Fade, Love Remains

29 38 TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

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THE FINE PRINT

Broken and Restored

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s this issue came together, I was struck by the commonality of our struggles. We may all come from different backgrounds; social, economic, ethnic or spiritual. We may fight different battles; against temptations, against illnesses or against other trying circumstances. But this we have in common: We all struggle.

We shouldn’t be surprised. Jesus promised, in John 16:33, “in this world you will have trouble.” That’s not one of those happy promises people frame and hang on the wall – but it’s true. As long as we’re in this world, we are under sin’s influence. Although we’re freed from sin when Christ redeems us (Romans 6:6), our flesh still longs for sinful things, Satan still tempts us to rebel against God, and sin’s curse on this earth still brings illness, death and decay to our lives.

Praise God, the verse doesn’t end there. Jesus went on to say, “but take courage. I have overcome the world.” So, what does that look like?

God takes all our struggles, all our failures, and uses them to His glory. That’s what the stories in this issue are about. When (not “if”) we are broken, in one way or another, God will refresh and restore us – if we let Him. He will take what is unholy and make it holy. He will use those trying moments, days and years to mold us, and those around us, into Christ’s image.

After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.

— 1 Peter 5:10-11 In Christ, Michelle Adserias, Editor

Vol. 62

No. 2

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’s Christian Living, PO Box 282, Iola, WI 54945. Or e-mail: editor@todayschristianliving.org Individual Subscriptions: Visit www.todayschristianliving.org/subscribe or call 800-223-3161.

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

The guilty man was his own son.

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

He was caught in a heart-wrenching dilemma. Then he thought of a solution. The judge stepped down, removed his robe, and exchanged places with his son. He was executed in his son’s place.

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

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

The question is, will you accept God’s free gift? It’s only a sincere prayer away.

If you’d like to find new life in Christ, tell God you are sorry for your past wrongs and want Him to be your Lord and Savior. He’ll send the Holy Spirit to live in you, guide you, and change you from the inside out.

“It is by grace you have been saved through faith — and this is not through yourselves, it is the gift of God — not of works, so that no one can boast”

—Ephesians 2:8-9.

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Beauty from

Ashes “G

By Michelle Adserias

od can use your deepest wounds as a launching pad for your greatest calling.”

Neither Justin nor Trisha imagined this is what their future would hold. Though both had grown up in families with limited means (and considered the opportunity to attend college a rare privilege), they were different in many ways. Justin grew up in the country. Trisha grew up in the inner city.

Justin came to college with a set plan – to be a teacher and basketball coach. Trisha had no plan – though the love and acceptance of her college community pointed her toward church ministry. Justin fell in love rather quickly. Trisha needed a little more time. As she said, “I was takin’ the high road on that.”

Once Justin won Trisha’s heart, things moved quickly. They began dating in 1994, got married in 1995 and had their first child in 1996. Led by God to plant a church, Justin and Trisha moved their family to the Indianapolis area. “We had $5,000.

I figured by the time we ran out of money we should have a church going.”

They moved on June 1, 2002 and held their first service on June 9 with twelve attendees. By 2005, the congregation had grown to about 700 people. According to Justin, however, his giftedness outweighed his character because he had not done

the hard, soul work in his own life to sustain a healthy home and a healthy church.

Everything imploded in 2005 when he confessed to Trisha – out of resignation more than remorse or repentance – that he was having an affair. Suddenly, their whole world was upended.

Justin and Trisha didn’t speak for several days, but within two weeks they were going for counseling together. They went four days a week for two months,

The Beauty of Brokenness

During those two months, Justin was alone. He, quite literally, had no one but Jesus. “When all you have is Jesus, you discover Jesus is all you need. Brokenness is a posture of recognizing that without grace, you have no hope.” Justin was broken. He moved beyond resignation to remorse and repentance.

When he sought Trisha’s forgiveness, she gave it. As she put it, “Forgiveness is the secret sauce to intimacy.” But Justin still needed to earn back her trust.

At the counselor’s suggestion, they moved to a new community and started over – to give themselves, and the wounded church they left behind, time and space to heal. God provided Justin an excellent job working as a headhunter for a Chicago business. The healing process was under way.

TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

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Trisha and Justin minister to others through speaking engagements at churches, weekend marriage retreats and more.

(Photos courtesy of RefineUs Ministries.)

Four years after the affair, a local pastor and friend asked them if they would come to his church and tell their story.

“Uh, absolutely no. That’s not happening,” was Trisha’s immediate response. Their friend pulled the pastor card and asked her to pray about it. In time, she and Justin agreed to speak. Trisha remembers very little about the actual service.

What stands out in her mind is what happened after the service. “Afterward, was this amazing revelation that God uses our brokenness and makes it beautiful. Beauty for ashes.”

People lined up to talk with them, desperate to learn how they could find redemption in their own situations. Justin and Trisha had found reconciliation and God had gifted them to help others find it, too.

In the process of rebuilding their lives, the practice of being open and honest spilled over to their children. Ranging in age from 14 to 27, Trisha notes that her older children are honest with their younger ones about their struggles and shortcomings. It has given their two youngest children, adopted from difficult circumstances, a sense that they are accepted … that they belong, despite the trauma from their past. Their home has become a haven for those who need healing.

As the Davis’ ministered to couples and spoke in churches, they began to see how the authenticity needed for a healthy marriage is also necessary for a healthy church. They want believers to know they can “be fully known and fully loved” within their church families, as well.

The Beauty of Openness

The Beauty of Togetherness

RefineUs Ministries was born. Initially, the Davis’ sat with couples one-on-one and taught them what they’d learned about marriage. “The heart of our ministry is ‘we go first’ so we can walk through hard times with others, side by side, arms locked together,” Justin explained. Their couples’ ministry has now expanded to podcasts, speaking engagements and conferences.

Justin and Trisha want to help others understand that truth, transparency, and forgiveness are crucial in marriage.

Justin recalls just trying to make the conflicts go away in those early years of marriage. He was under the burden of unrepented sin. Trisha recalls bringing a bitter heart into their relationship. Each was carrying secrets that were driving wedges between them. Neither understood that healthy conflict is a way to develop greater intimacy in marriage. Together they learned to bring their sins, shortcomings, inner thoughts and hidden emotions into the light. Building truth and transparency into their relationship, even if it caused short-term conflict, brought them closer together. They began to rebuild trust as they were fully known and fully loved.

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Justin believes being transparent is a risk we must all take if we hope to be conformed to Christ’s image by our gracious God, and help others become more Christlike. “If we can embrace the fear of being real and authentic, we will actually give people a place to experience the transformation Jesus promised.”

Why is transparency — with God, our families, and with our siblings in Christ — so vital to our spiritual growth? How do we “embrace the fear of being real” so we can experience true transformation?

It begins with a sound view of God. As A.W. Tozer said, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” (The Knowledge of the Holy).

In Romans 8:38-39, Paul says, “for I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” If we can also say these words with heartfelt conviction, we will not fear God’s rejection – no matter what we have done, are doing or will do.

The Davis Family

Justin noted how honest Christ’s followers were with Him. Martha was disappointed Jesus didn’t show up sooner and prevent Lazarus’ death. Thomas wondered whether the man standing in front of him was really the risen Messiah. The woman at the well was honest about her less-than-holy lifestyle. In all these encounters, Jesus responded with open arms and a gentle spirit. “He loves our questions because He is big enough to handle them.” Furthermore, each person walked away changed by their new understanding of the Savior. “God transforms the parts of our hearts we’re willing to give to Him.” Though God will never reject us, being transparent with people can come at a cost. When we find the courage to speak openly about our sins, our temptations, and our spiritual shortcomings, some people may judge and reject us. But far more will find the courage to respond with equal authenticity. By allowing others to see our imperfections, we give them permission to be imperfect, too. We can walk through our struggles, our failures, and our hurts together. No one needs to silently suffer, feeling as though they are alone – feeling as though no one else would understand.

1 John 1:9 commands us to confess our sins to God for forgiveness. Justin’s favorite verse, James 5:16, instructs us to “confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed.”

Confessing our sins to God for forgiveness, and to one another for healing, brings them out of darkness and into the light. It removes our shame, something which Justin believes inhibits our spiritual growth. “Conviction says ‘what you did is wrong.’ Shame says, ‘you are wrong because of what you did.’”

When we quit allowing the accuser (Satan) to shame us, we become “wounded healers.” God can use our wounds and scars to help others heal.

Trisha’s favorite passage ties into this, as well. Hebrews 12:613 explains how God disciplines those He loves. She first contemplated this passage when she and Justin were separated.

MORE ABOUT RefineUs MINISTRIES Justin and Trisha Davis built RefineUs ministries on their deeply-rooted conviction that God faithfully gives us “a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” – Isaiah 61:3 Their desire is to help married couples thrive and find joy in a Christ-centered marriage. They offer several online, print and in-person resources.

Marriage Coaching: Justin and Trisha are willing to walk alongside couples who have friction in their marriages.

Let’s Get Real: Every few weeks, the Davis’ share honest conversations and wisdom about life and love.

MentorUs: MentorUs is a 52-week marriage devotional delivered via email. Each week, the Davis’ send a devotion and Scripture for the couple to read together with discussion questions to help couples connect and grow spiritually.

Retreats: RefineUs Weekend is held twice each year in Nashville, Tennessee. It’s a time for couples to gather and grow closer together, and closer to God. Speaking Events: Justin and Trisha speak at marriage conferences and church events across the country.

Books: Beyond Ordinary: When a Good Marriage Isn’t Good Enough focuses on the power of authenticity in marriage. Being Real>Being Perfect: How Transparency Leads to Transformation explores the power of authenticity in our relationships with fellow believers. You can learn more about their ministry at refineus.org.

TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

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“God’s discipline almost felt cruel when we were going through our separation.”

Later, Trisha understood God was making her new, even when she was at rock bottom. “Rock bottom is hard, but it’s still solid ground.” She was standing on shaky legs, In our culture of scams, fake news and artificial intelligence, people are looking for something real. In fact, Webster Dictionary’s “Word of the Year” in 2023 was “authentic.” Because we serve and follow the one, true, real God, our churches can be a place where the searching world can find “real” people, loved and accepted as they are, who extend open arms to “real” people, loved and accepted as they are.

And, as we live honestly with one another and before God, He will transform us into the holy, righteous people He intends us to be. 

From bestselling author Jill Eileen Smith Experience the story of the great flood as you never have before.

Shop at BakerBookHouse.com for 30% off and free US shipping.

N

But we all, with unveiled faces, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

— 2 Corinthians 3:18

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Resilient

Faith J

How God’s Strength Prevailed in Jay Hewitt’s Weakness

By Stephanie Rische

ay Hewitt was 35 years old when he received a devastating diagnosis: incurable brain cancer. As a pastor, a husband, and the father of a young daughter, he found himself shocked by this news. “I was scared and confused. I couldn’t help but wonder, Why me?”

Jay says that in the face of trauma, people have different reactions—they are wired toward fight, flight, or freeze. “I’m a fight guy, which really means that when something difficult happens, I try to control things. When I got my diagnosis, I felt out of control.” In an attempt to manage as many variables as he could, he became consumed with finding the right doctors, the right medical care, the right diet. “But when you’re facing an incurable disease, none of those things ultimately give you control.”

A pivotal point came when, in desperation, Jay uttered two prayers. “I very directly asked God, ‘What are you doing?’ That was an important moment for me, because God answered.”

While Jay didn’t hear an audible voice, God used Scripture to

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TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

MARCH 2024

Jay celebrates his Ironman Triathlon victory with his family. (Photos provided by and used with permission from Jay Hewitt.)

soothe his confusion. “Sometimes when you pray, you sense something in your spirit that you know isn’t of you.” God spoke through the words of 2 Corinthians 12:9-10: “‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

That promise brought a measure of satisfaction to Jay’s soul.

The second prayer was, “How can I cooperate?” If God was at work through Jay’s weakness, then he wanted to be part of what God was doing. “God allowed me to see not just the obstacle but the opportunity within the obstacle. I got this wild idea that I can only describe as a nudge from the Holy Spirit. What if I attempted an Ironman triathlon - while going through radiation and chemo?” This was something he couldn’t imagine trying even at his strongest, so if he were to accomplish it at his weakest, it would be clear it was only because of the power of Christ.

“I saw this as an opportunity to not just tell my daughter about faith but show her. We can tell our kids that Scripture is reliable; it’s another thing to let them see it in our lives.” This shifted his outlook from confusion to purpose. “It allowed me to approach the next season with meaning, positivity, and resilience.”

The Journey to an Empowered Life

Jay’s journey to faith began when he was a teenager. “I didn’t grow up in a religious home—it was a chaotic household. When I was a teenager, two of my best friends invited me to church.

They told me there were good-looking girls there, so I went!”

At youth group, Jay heard the gospel for the first time. “I heard about a loving Father I could trust. I realized this was what was missing from my life—I needed a parental figure I could trust. I put my faith in Jesus, and my life changed dramatically from that point. I had a new community, new mentors, and a new purpose.” Not long after he came to faith, he was deciding where he would go to school and what he would do for his TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

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I AM WEAK, I AM STRONG Jay Hewitt shares the story of facing a cancer diagnosis in his new book, I Am Weak, I Am Strong. In the face of crisis, would he turn toward God, or would he walk away? He recounts how God’s strength enabled him to conquer an Ironman triathlon while undergoing cancer treatments.

His intention was to demonstrate God’s power to his young daughter, and in doing so, he showed us all what resilient faith looks like.

Jay had two types of readers in mind when he was writing this book. “Some readers are facing an impossible situation— they’re up against insurmountable obstacles and are barely holding on. I wanted to show them that they can find opportunities within their obstacles and, by the power of God, find the strength to accomplish those opportunities. The other readers are leaders who feel like they have a large calling on their life. It takes a lot of perseverance to attain a goal like that. I wanted to show them what resilience looks like.”

Jay says the process of writing the book was cathartic. “It allowed me to look back on a really chaotic time of my life and make meaning of what had happened to me. I also had a sense that these lessons I’d learned could help other people too.

Someone might look at this book as a memoir, but I think of it as a storydriven playbook on resilience.”

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TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

career. “I decided I wanted to go into ministry so I could help others the way I’d been helped.”

When Jay and his wife, Natalie, started a family, he realized he was now living for something bigger.

“Having a family changes a lot in terms of your priorities. All of a sudden, you’re looking beyond your own lifetime. As someone who didn’t grow up in a Christian household, I realized I had an opportunity to pass on a legacy of faith—to change the course of an entire family line. My faith mattered, not just for myself, but for the development of my child’s faith too.”

Jay’s cancer diagnosis served as a critical juncture for his spiritual journey. Did he really believe God was good and faithful, even when everything seemed to be falling apart?

“When you’re diagnosed with something, it causes some people to walk away. But I saw this as an opportunity to show my daughter what resilient faith looks like. I wanted her to know that even when you’re tempted to give up, you can hold on to hope and trust Scripture. That enables you to live an empowered life.”

Finding Gratitude in Suffering

Jay’s training for the triathlon was grueling, both physically and mentally. The race consisted of 2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of biking, and 26.2 miles of running (a total of 140.6 miles)—and he had to complete the race in under 17 hours. “I wasn’t

MARCH 2024

a triathlete, so I had to learn these disciplines. And I was doing it all while undergoing cancer treatments.

I would wake up feeling nauseous and fatigued, with a pounding headache.

But I knew that if I was going to complete the race, I had to prepare. So, I prayed for strength, got out of bed, and trained. I had no choice but trust God to provide strength, and He did.”

Just before race day, Jay read this verse: “The joy of the Lord is your strength” — Nehemiah 8:10. “I decided to believe this was real, not just nice-sounding words. I’d heard the advice to “choose joy” before. I’d tried it, but it didn’t work for me. When I was up against an impossible task, I realized that gratitude is the gateway to joy.” On the day of the race, Jay determined to find as many things as possible to be grateful for. This enabled him to rejoice during suffering.

“I wasn’t rejoicing for the suffering, but I was grateful in the midst of it, and this produced true joy.”

The first leg of the race was the swim. To Jay’s surprise, the swim was fun, and he got out of the water feeling good. The same was true for the bike ride, and after the second leg, he was ahead of schedule. Then he transitioned to the running portion.

“I started off feeling good . . . until I didn’t. A couple of miles in, with 20 miles still to go, my body turned on me—it just started shutting down.”

The chemo treatments had wrecked Jay’s digestive system, causing him to feel like he was running with the

stomach flu. “I wasn’t getting nutrients from the food and water I was taking in. If you try to run a marathon without water, you’ll cramp up.” At this point, Jay faced a tough reality. “It was time for me to come to terms with the fact that I wasn’t going to finish. That’s when I changed my mantra. I told myself, You don’t have anything to prove, just an example to set. I wanted to look my daughter in the eye and authentically tell her that I’d given everything. She knew I’d dedicated the race to her, and I didn’t want to let her down.”

Jay looked at the course ahead of him and prayed for God to intervene. “It didn’t seem like I got help at first. I felt like I was destined to fail.” Then there was a shift. “My coach had been tracking my vitals via my Smartwatch. She saw I was in trouble, and she met me at an aid station. She was a world-class triathlete, and she’d brought her running shoes along. She started running beside me and troubleshooting.” Jay’s coach figured out what was going on with his body, and she gave him salt tablets to put under his tongue. This allowed nutrients to absorb into Jay’s bloodstream, giving him what he needed to cross the finish line.

“When I was reunited with my family after the race, I felt like I was floating. I could hardly believe it, but with God’s help, I’d finished what I started.

I got down on one knee and looked my daughter in the eye. I told her, ‘Honey, if I can do it, you can do it, because we serve the same God. Our God delights in demonstrating His power in our weakness. God is going to put dreams in your heart. Don’t be surprised when life knocks you down but keep holding on to the hope of Jesus. In His power, you can get up and press on. You’ll see that anything is possible with God.’”  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.

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A Fight for B

By Sharron Carey

Life

rittany looked into the mirror at her dull-yellow face.

Pain ripped through her abdomen, she grabbed it with one hand and the phone with the other and called her husband, Chris. She hated to call him. He was in the middle of a big construction job. But her symptoms had escalated and she was sick and terrified.

While waiting for Chris to come, her thoughts revisited the previous months. She and the family had COVID in October 2020. Everyone else recovered but her symptoms lingered.

She had blood tests, then more detailed blood tests throughout December.

Christmastime came and went. On December 29, she woke up jaundiced. Out of the blue, the phone rang. Her doctor wanted her to go to the local hospital because her bloodwork was off the charts. Five days later they were no closer to a diagnosis than before her admission. Now at home, she phoned to update the doctor on her escalated symptoms, this time she was sent to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville.

Chris drove, deep in his thoughts, while Brittany prayed and slept. The couple had met and married young. They had two children quickly, then moved from Florida to Tennessee to be closer to her family. Two more children followed, and their schedules took over their relationship. School functions, sports, family demands, and money worries dominated their lives. Chris felt old, overwhelmed, and angry at life. Finally, they separated and divorced after twelve years of marriage.

Brittany clung to her country church, prayer, friends, and family and moved on. Time passed slowly as the couple tried adjusting to this new life. For Chris, the isolation from his family brought intense sadness and longing. He no longer wanted that life. Determined to change, he asked Brittany for a second chance. Through forgiveness, soul searching, and hard work, they started again. He turned his life around, joined her church, and was baptized. They remarried in October 2019.

At Vanderbilt Hospital, Brittany and Chris were nervous and tired of everything. A group of doctors and medical staff scheduled a meeting. With unreadable faces, they gathered in 14

TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

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A Stranger’s Sacrifice

Brittany with her partial liver donor, Shelly.

her room. The head doctor took the lead and told them that because of COVID and the health condition she had, she was in stage 4 liver failure and needed a transplant, or, at least, a partial one since the liver can regenerate. It was her only hope.

A MELD score is one of the ways the diagnosis was made.

Like an APGAR score for babies, it comes from several factors and observations. Her MELD score was 21. Death was 30-35. The couple looked at each other and tightened the grip on their hands. Listening to the doctors was surreal. Brittany covered her mouth with her hand.

I can’t leave my kids, she thought. She was 36 years old. The silent shock was reflected on her face, and on Chris’s.

Shortly after returning home, she was placed on the transplant list. While she waited, Chris’s father lost his battle with chronic illness. They grieved the loss of his father. Brittany stayed in Tennessee, unable to attend the funeral, while Chris went to Florida. It was another heartbreak in a season of fear and sadness. She remembered Jesus’s words in John 16:33.

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation but take courage; I have overcome the world.” We were meant to withstand bad things so God can mold us into Christ’s image. Her hands were tied, she couldn’t do anything except pray and wait.

Weakened by her condition, Brittany was unable to work and had few contacts outside her home. So, she sought support and connections with friends and family through social media. Social media was a two-edged sword. Most people were supportive of her, but others made thinly-veiled accusations of fault or posted nasty comments.

Living in Florida, Shelly was part of the extended friend group. One February day, she read a post from Brittany’s sister-in-law, pleading on Brittany’s behalf. She did not know Brittany personally, but her heart broke at the thought of Brittany’s kids losing their mother, as she had.

Shelly and Brittany were both wives and mothers and, strangely, shared the same blood type. Shelly wondered whether she could be a partial liver donor. There were many reasons not to donate. She had a family and responsibilities.

Brittany with her husband, Chris, and their four children.

Yet, the nagging urge continued. She spoke with her enthusiastic family who encouraged her and, after a dream guided her steely resolve, she clicked on the donor link.

For Brittany, the battle continued into spring. She had a particularly bad day and was admitted to the hospital. Lying in bed, she tearfully begged God for a miracle. I can’t leave my kids. Her family and friends wanted to show their emotional and monetary support.

They organized a motorcycle ride to help raise money for her transplant. They put up posters to garner support. On the day of the ride - with plenty of tattoos, bandanas, and chains - bikers came from everywhere to be a part of the event. Her pastors and church members were among the riders as well.

There are always critics, but God saw the riders’ hearts. Just as when Jesus walked the earth, God chose people from all walks of life to do his work.

Shelly came to Vanderbilt to meet with the doctors and for further testing. More like an interrogation, the doctors were serious, to the point of frightening her. They wanted to make sure she was physically and mentally prepared to go through a very difficult and dangerous procedure. Her family was there to encourage her. This meeting only made her more determined.

With her family’s blessing, the surgery was scheduled for June. The long flights and connections were repeatedly delayed. Exhausted, she arrived in Nashville after midnight, and the next day they were prepped for surgery. Early morning testing showed Brittany’s body was not well enough to endure the procedure and surgery was canceled. Time had taken its’ toll. Chris reminded her that God orders his angels to protect you wherever you go and would provide (Psalms 91:11). He closed his eyes in silent prayer and refused to give up in despair. He knew, by faith, he’d heard God’s voice; Brittany would be healed.

Once she returned home, Shelly was exposed to COVID, had a bout of bronchitis, and ran out of money for the return trip. The pictures posted of Brittany on social media made her keenly aware of the ticking clock. She didn’t want to ask people for money, yet she was becoming frustrated and panicky.

She turned to a friend, a voice of reason, and set up a GoFundMe account. She reminded Shelly of the vast number of loving people who wanted to support her. Through God’s hand, she raised $4,000 in 36 hours. Once she was cleared for surgery and arrangements were made, she returned to Vanderbilt, where she donated a portion of her liver to Brittany. The lives of these two women, once complete strangers, would be forever linked by God and organ and the unlikely tool of social media.

Philippians 14:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Brittany’s fight was not over. She remained in the hospital while Shelly flew home. She was permitted to see family for short trips but returned many more times.

Her spirits sagged. She weighed a mere 97 pounds. The church gave her a canvas with “Team Brittany” on it, covered in prayers and scriptures. Chris gave her the canvas and prayed with her, willing her to soldier on.

Once she was home, she was ordered to stay inside and away from people. Yet, one Sunday she had an overwhelming urge to go to their church. The church family had provided meals, transported the kids to events, sold “Team Brittany” T-shirts, and a million other things. They’d been her mighty fortress. A blanket covered her weakened body, and her old clothes hung on her. She didn’t care. She had to go.

When she and Chris entered the church, the singing stopped and the instruments grew silent. When the congregation turned around and caught sight of her, they sent up a riotous cheer. With thunderous clapping, shouts and joyous tears, Chris and Brittany were home – home where God placed them, home where their spirits could grow in the knowledge of God’s unwavering love.  Sharron Carey is a retired middle school teacher. She and her husband transplanted from Florida to Texas to finish watching the grandkids grow up. This is her first publication and she hopes to give people hope through Brittany’s story.

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Keith Luberto’s (# 35) dreams of being a college basketball star evaporated as his alcohol and drug use escalated in high school.

(Photos courtesy of Keith Luberto)

The Road to

Redemption

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By Keith Luberto

s I surveyed the jail cell, I couldn’t help wondering how I got here. The short answer? I crashed a truck while drunk and stoned and had been arrested. The long answer? Many choices made over the last two decades led me to that moment.

I looked around at the others in the cell. Some were actually enjoying themselves. They’ve been here before, I thought, but this is not where I am supposed to be. What went wrong? I had such promise in my life. Somehow, I am 29 and a loser.

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When I was in middle school, my Uncle John once said, “You’re smart, and you’re good looking. Don’t blow it.” Well, I had undoubtedly blown it. For years, I clung to the excuse that my mother’s entire side of the family was made up of alcoholics and drug addicts, and I was absorbed by the family curse.

Now I realized I was responsible. Perhaps I got caught up in the ‘60s philosophy of “sex, drugs and rock and roll,” but it was still my fault for making the wrong choices.

My life began in an Edenic setting. I grew up in a pristine neighborhood in Hauppauge, on Long Island. We lived in a

new ranch-style house with a manicured lawn and beautiful landscaping. We weren’t rich, but we never seemed to need more. I certainly had no shortage of toys. I had all the GI Joes and accessories, a Rolls Royce bicycle, and a three-foot-tall green robot named Big Loo.

Keith’s carefree days of being a Baby Boomer kid, playing with his Big Loo robot and tank.

Living in Hauppauge was like being in a 1960s Norman Rockwell painting. On summer days, during the week, my mom would meet up with other moms from the neighborhood, pile the kids in cars, and head to the north shore of Long Island Sound. Sunken Meadow State Park was our beach of choice.

We spent our time frolicking in the calm waters, playing in the white sand, walking the wooden boardwalk, and eating in the food pavilion.

On summer weekends, we traveled to the South Shore to ride the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. We would body surf for hours. At both beaches, transistor radios blasted the latest AM radio hits from blankets. Even today, certain songs from the era transport me back to the beach.

When not at the beach, we took off on our bikes for adventures. Or we pursued our obsession with all things sports. I lived next to a family of five boys and spent many hours with them. Soon, sports dominated my existence. In the spring and summer we played softball. After dinner, our dads would often jump in and play. Some dads were already on their third or fourth cocktail, which livened up the competition. In the fall, we played touch football, and in the winter, basketball.

The blue skies of my idyllic childhood were, at times, darkened by clouds of hurt. I had a hard time making friends and was often on the painful side of cruel comments. My parents argued after dinner, and I couldn’t escape their raised voices.

Then one Friday summer night, my mother disappeared. My father was working late, so I was alone in the house with my younger brother, Chris, who was asleep. I looked all over the house and outside in the darkened yard, but no mom. I was terrified.

After what seemed like an eternity, my mother returned home. I was crying and demanded to know where she had been all this time. She began to chase me around the house.

She caught me and pinned me to the ground. Sitting on my chest, she accused me of being exposed to drugs. I was in fifth grade and had never seen anyone use drugs.

That incident was the beginning of the end of a close relationship with my mother. The next morning, she didn’t remember anything. She blamed the incident on the double martinis she had for lunch.

Searching for a sense of security as I entered middle school, I found comfort in a best friend, Karl. We enjoyed typical best friend activities, especially sports, but Karl also introduced me to a lifestyle that led me down a path of self-destruction. Even in sixth grade, Karl imbibed in beer, so why not follow? Unknowingly, my dark journey into addiction began.

Through my junior high and high school years, I pursued both my love for sports and my ever-increasing use of drugs and alcohol. I was a good student and a good athlete, but my dreams were tainted by my addictions.

Meanwhile, my mother’s drinking reached the binge stage when I was in high school. She would stay drunk for days. This was incredibly painful for me, though I would never admit it.

I hated my mother and her drinking, while sadly following in her footsteps.

At the end of my senior year, I made the All-League team, was recruited by a number of small colleges, and got accepted into an excellent small school in Pennsylvania. I was on my way, or so I thought. The summer before my collegiate freshman year, I spent each day running, weightlifting, practicing basketball drills, and playing in pickup games. At night, I got drunk and stoned.

I left for college thinking I was ready for academic and athletic success. With little self-control and no supervision, however, I quickly sank to the lowest levels of academics and athletics. Over a two-year period at college, I earned just one semester’s worth of transferable credits. Basketball was harder than anticipated, and I quit. I wasted my time and my parents’ money pretending to be a college student. I unceremoniously returned home and tried a few bouts at community college.

Sans cap and gown, I graduated to daily cocaine use. To support the habit, I stole money from an employer. I decided to join the Navy before I got caught and the hammer fell. I hoped it would straighten me out. To my surprise, many of my shipmates were looking for the next drink and high, too. I reverted back to my addict ways and discovered crystal meth, which was cheaper and more powerful than cocaine. I’m amazed I passed the frequent urinalysis tests.

After four years, I received an Honorable Discharge. I returned and lived in my parents’ basement, where I fell into depression and spent all my money on a months-long binge.

When I eventually took a job, it was a job where I could drink and do drugs during the workday. My life was spiraling toward a crash, and it finally, literally, came on the fateful night I crashed that truck.

As I sat on the concrete bench in my jail cell, head hanging, I had the strongest sense God was giving me one last chance. I was in a hole, a deep hole, but it could have been much worse.

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Keith with his family today, living the good life in sunny San Diego, CA. God is Good!

I could have killed someone. I could have been killed. Someone could have been seriously injured or paralyzed. Somehow, I had totaled a truck and didn’t have a scratch. This was my wakeup call.

I reflected back to all my former transgressions. God must have carried me through. Miraculously, in that moment, my desire for alcohol left my mind and soul. A few months later, I kicked drugs.

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After being clean and sober for almost two years, I reconnected with Alison, whom I met during my early days in the Navy. She gave me a Bible and told me about Jesus. As I read the Bible, it came alive to me. It was as if God had written the book specifically for me and to me. When I tried to read the Bible in the past, it was just dead words. Now my eyes were opened.

I prayed to have a relationship with Jesus, for Him to become my Lord and Savior. He kept me safe in a dark world. He watched me walk a long and painful road, then offered me a totally different path. And I seized it. He saved me and made me a new person.

It’s been over thirty years since I last used alcohol and drugs.

Alison and I have been married for thirty-one years and have two wonderful sons. I was able to let go of my anger and hatred, and forgive my mother before she passed. My strained relationship with my father was also healed. After living in darkness for so many years, I now live in the light.  Jesus Christ reached out His Hand and Keith Luberto grabbed it. After years of alcohol and drug abuse, and the many consequences, Keith feels blessed to be saved spiritually and fully. For the past 32 years Keith has been an athletic director and basketball coach, teaching life lessons to high schoolers.

LIVING IN WISDOM

By Jerry and Shirley Rose

Christ Ambassadors 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.

A

fter my conversion at age 15, I became active in a Christian youth organization called “Christ Ambassadors.” It was a robust ministry to evangelize and disciple young people. At the monthly rallies, teenagers gathered to sing, worship God, hear inspirational teaching, and socialize. My wife was also active in “CA’s” and was a star participant in its quiz team program—a competitive game where kids memorized entire chapters of the Bible and answered questions about those scriptures. Later, when I became a teenage evangelist, I spoke at a number of CA rallies in the Dallas area.

Every meeting opened with the theme song, aptly titled “Christ Ambassadors.” I haven’t even thought about the song in at least five decades. But after all these years it came to mind as I was writing this article. It is the first line that grabbed my attention.

“We are Christ ambassadors and our colors we must unfurl.” I have sung that song hundreds of times without really thinking of its true meaning.

I now realize that the words define who we are as Christians and how we should live. We are God’s emissaries here on earth, called to be living testimonies of His love and grace to those around us. The Apostle Paul stated it in 2 Corinthians 5:20.

“So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” What Paul wrote in that verse is a profound spiritual directive and must not be taken lightly.

As God’s ambassadors, the colors we must unfurl are the spiritual virtues listed in Galatians 5:22-23.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

That fruit is the first evidence of who we are in Christ and provides the foundation of our testimony to the world. What good is a flag that is folded or rolled up? We may think we possess the virtues of Christ, but have we unfurled our flag so that all may see our colors? What are some ways we do that?

One outstanding example is featured in a documentary TLN produced a few years ago.

We partnered with the legendary Chicago news anchor Bill Kurtis to produce a program on Mercy Ships. Mercy Ships travel the world with doctors, dentists, nurses and other health care workers who

provide life-changing surgeries and care for people in poverty-stricken nations. Over the years they have changed thousands of lives as ambassadors of Christ’s love and grace. Our goal was to focus on the humanitarian aspect of Mercy Ships. However, the men and women volunteering these charitable acts with great personal sacrifice are mostly outspoken Christians. They choose to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit in a radical and very public way. We were pleased when the documentary was viewed by hundreds of thousands and was entered into the New York International Film Festival. Though blatantly faith-based, it was awarded the World Medal for Cultural Issues.

We are not all called to be ambassadors for Christ by joining a missions organization like Mercy Ships, but Paul tells us to imitate Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:1 reminds us that as followers of Christ, we are called to imitate Him. Our lives should bear witness to His love, compassion and servant-heartedness.

A few days ago, my wife was rear-ended by an impatient, angry young driver who honked her horn several times and then ran into the back of Shirley’s car. It was not a serious crash and did minor damage—except to Shirley’s self-control. She said to herself as she exited the car Show a Christlike attitude. She was not happy, but she wanted to imitate Christ. However, despite her best intentions, as she approached, the young person tore into my wife, claiming it was all her fault. Shirley admits that unfortunately she did not exactly portray Christ that morning.

A good way to begin your day is to ask the Holy Spirit to help you display the Fruit of the Spirit by reminding yourself that you are an Ambassador of Christ. Do people you encounter see Jesus through the fruit you display? Though we will we not always succeed, the closer we are to Christ, the more the life-giving colors of the Spirit will unfurl to all those around us—our family, co-workers, friends, strangers we meet, and yes, even our enemies. I love this quote from Saint Teresa of Avila: “Christ has no body on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Christ’s compassion for the world is to look out; yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good; and yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now.”  TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

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The

Malted Milk Ball Incident

L

By Micah Henry

ittle boys with no money should not walk down the penny-candy aisle of a grocery store. Doing so, it turns out, is a very effective test of a little boy’s honesty.

The Jefferson Golden Dawn— the store where the malted milk ball incident unfolded—was the Mecca of our weekly trips to town as a kid. Simply stating that the Golden Dawn had penny candy would not do justice to the store, or to this story. It appeared to me, they had enough candy to satisfy the sweet tooth of the entire state of Ohio.

Well, this aisle was my favorite place in the store to hang out, even more so than the cereal aisle. In retrospect, placing myself in the path of such temptation was probably not the best idea.

One particular trip to this candy stockpile proved to be illfated. Tall, large, clear bins of candy lined one side of an entire aisle. These wonderful bins were filled with every kind of candy a young boy could want. There was the colorful stuff— Skittles, M&M’s, Starbursts. There were all kinds of chocolates, bubble gums, and even old people’s candy: rubbish like chocolatecovered cashews and Werther’s Originals.

Remarkably, they even had the finest chocolate in the world: Andes Candies. I knew it was the best candy you could get because my older siblings had informed me these chocolates came straight from the Swiss Alps, wherever that was. I always thought it was amazing that, to the best of my knowledge, the only two places in the country to get Andes Candies were the Jefferson Golden Dawn and the crisper drawer of my grandmother’s refrigerator. Of course, in the strict sense of the term, this wasn’t penny candy at all. It was sold by the pound.

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Fortunately for me, we had many occasions to go to the Golden Dawn. There were only two grocery stores in town, so there was already a 50/50 chance that we would end up there.

Typically, this would be on a Tuesday — Double Coupon Day. For my parents, who were feeding six kids, this was a big deal.

My siblings and I paid special attention to the coupons in the cereal aisle, undoubtedly the aisle my mom dreaded the most.

The Golden Dawn had much more than groceries and candy, however. It was probably Sam Walton’s inspiration for founding Walmart. Food, sporting goods, fishing tackle, ammunition, hardware, and pharmacy—if it was necessary to survival, you could find it there. Many of the aisles had fullsized, taxidermied animals standing on top of the shelving.

The animal-stuffers had done a great job capturing the ferocity of these creatures. One large black bear, in particular, was the source of considerable anxiety in my youth. He stood perched atop the shelf as though he was appointed guardian of the entire candy aisle. This seemed perfectly logical, after all when the animals got together to vote, he would have been a shoo-in for the position of store sentinel.

Little did I know, as I joyfully made my way down the candy aisle the day of the incident, I was destined to face a great moral test. Sooner or later, everyone faces a great test. Jesus spent 40 days in a wilderness with no food and passed the test. I spent a few minutes in a candy aisle and failed my test miserably.

I had no money with me—talk about setting yourself up for failure. One of my older brothers was with me, and he planted the seed in my mind.

“Have a Whopper,” he said casually while he ate one.

“Nobody is going to miss just one.”

I hesitated, staring into the clear bin of malted milk balls.

He was right, I told myself, as I picked out one, popped it in my mouth, and savored the taste. I mean after all, how could they possibly keep track? Surely each and every piece of candy was not counted by some mysterious candy-keeper with a clicker, I thought, as I swallowed the Whopper.

So, the deed having been done, I pensively waited to see what calamity would befall. Would alarms blare and security guards surround me? What about Mr. Black Bear? Surely his gaze would be fixed on me like a cat on a mouse. Nope. He just stood there, transfixed on the same spot he had been before the space-time crack had developed.

“Okay,” I thought as I returned to my mom, “that wasn’t so bad.” Nothing monumental happened. No lightning strikes.

No sirens or handcuffs.

As I walked out of the store, however, the sinking feeling in the pit in my stomach began to grow. I figured it would subside by the time we got home. Hopefully, the familiar routines of the late afternoon would wash away the guilt. Surely listening to “Adventures in Odyssey” (the radio program we listened to every afternoon) while my mom put fish sticks and brownies in the oven would prove sufficient distraction. Plus, I had new cereal boxes with more UPC symbols to cut out and add to my collection. (I was saving for the latest mail-order prize.) By the end of the day, though, I had not managed to get rid of the guilt.

In the days before our next weekly trip to the store, I began to formulate a plan for redemption. The solution, I realized, was simple— tell someone at the store I ate a Whopper without paying for it. By the time we got back to the store the following week, my plan was concrete. I would carefully count and place nine malted milk balls in the little clear bag, take them to the register and, once there, tell the cashier that there should really be ten because I had already eaten one. I figured the timeframe of the crime was not important.

Once I got back to the store, it was much easier to execute my plan than I anticipated. I focused on accomplishing my mission and tried to keep the fear in the back of my mind at bay; that someone from the store would call the police. After a week of careful planning, I was relieved to see the details fall into place. I knew I had only a few short minutes to pull it off while my mom was distracted with my siblings in the cereal aisle.

When I got to the checkout with my small bag of nine Whoppers, I was dismayed to find the conveyer belt jammed full— from the gum and tabloids in the back all the way to the little chrome lip on the front—with groceries of the family ahead of me. I waited nervously, the little clear bag of candies clenched in my hand. When it was finally my turn, I handed the cashier the bag and waited for her to put it on the scale while I looked down at the floor. I don’t recall that she even weighed the bag.

She merely looked at me with a smile and said, “ten cents.”

“Well,” I replied, “it’s actually more than that because I ate one already. You see, there are only nine in there, but there should be ten.”

After a sincere chuckle, she said, “that’s ok honey, I don’t think anyone will miss just one.”

“That’s it?” I thought, “She isn’t even going to make me pay for it!” I figured I better get out of there fast, before she changed her mind. I shoved the bag of nine milk balls in my pocket and found my mom in the store. I felt and walked like a new person, a fact, thankfully, my mom didn’t notice.

My conscience is clear of the malted milk ball incident. Time has, however, clouded it with other moral failures not so easy to pinpoint, nor to solve. Perhaps that is partly why I long for my childhood days, when a stolen malted milk ball was a monumental thing with a simple solution. Along the way, in spite of myself, I have learned a great truth; God has already paid for not just that one stolen malted milk ball, but for all the other whoppers I have stolen since.

What’s more, He is not waiting like Mr. Black Bear to pounce on me. Instead, He’s more like the cashier, waiting for me to come to Him with childlike honesty and tell Him about my failures, so He can smile and make it right.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

—Romans 8:1-2  Micah Henry lives in rural western Pennsylvania with his wife and two young sons.

Employed in the construction industry, he enjoys being outdoors. When he is not writing, you may find him chainsaw carving bowls or out for a walk with his family—the inspiration for many of his stories, some of which he tells at bedtime.

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ASK DR. WALT

By Walt Larimore, MD

Best Treatment for a Potential Killer – High Cholesterol 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).

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Question: My LDL number is high.

It was 145. I took a red yeast rice supplement for a few months and now it’s 120. My doctor says we’re shooting for 70 and recommends I stop the supplement and start a prescription statin. I’m a 66-year-old pastor and not on any prescription drugs, so I’m reluctant to start now.

Perhaps that’s just pride and not wisdom. I’d appreciate your thoughts.

Answer: I usually recommend a statin over

red yeast rice. It’s not because I’m against natural medicines (herbs, vitamins, or supplements).

I’ve recommended red yeast rice for almost three decades in selected patients, but not routinely.

Before explaining the rational, let’s review some basics.

What is cholesterol and why should you care?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that naturally occurs in the body and is critical for health.

Cholesterol is used by your body to produce hormones and to digest fatty foods. However, if you have too much cholesterol it can build up inside your blood vessels and narrow or block them, a disease called “atherosclerosis.” This can lead to cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, heart attack, and stroke. For our purposes, I’ll use the common term “heart disease.”

Heart disease is the #1 killer of men and women in America totaling almost 700,000 deaths in 2023 or one in five deaths each year. It kills one person every 45 seconds, which is the equivalent of four 747 aircrafts crashing each day of the year.

In 2023, the top health concerns among Americans were, in this order, mental health, obesity, cancer, stress, and coronavirus – heart disease isn’t even on most people’s radar screens. Women

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are more apprehensive about breast cancer than heart disease, which kills more women than lung cancer, breast cancer, and colon cancer combined.

While about three million women in the U.S. are living with breast cancer, which causes one in 31 deaths, almost 50 million women have heart disease and causes one in three deaths for women.

How do you find out if you have high cholesterol?

Unfortunately, high cholesterol does not have any symptoms early in the disease process. The only way to know whether you have a potential problem is with a blood test called a “lipid profile,” which will usually measure these cholesterol levels: • Total cholesterol: a measure of all the different types of cholesterol in your blood. It’s based on the LDL, HDL, and triglycerides numbers.

• LDL (lethal) cholesterol: a “bad” type of cholesterol that is a major cause of artery blockage. A high LDL significantly increases your risk for heart disease and premature death.

• HDL (healthy) cholesterol: a “good” type of cholesterol that helps clear LDL cholesterol out of your arteries. A higher HDL is better for you while a lower HDL increases your risk for heart disease.

• Triglycerides: a type of fat that can also increase your risk for heart disease.

• Non-HDL cholesterol: your total cholesterol value minus your HDL value. A high non-HDL level can indicate an increased risk for heart disease.

It is important to get your lipid profile checked regularly. The general recommendation is every 4 to 6 years. Some people may need to get their cholesterol checked more often depending on their risk of heart disease. High cholesterol can run in families. If someone in your family has high cholesterol or takes medicine to control cholesterol, you might need to get tested more often. Talk to your doctor about what’s best for you.

ATHEROSCLEROSIS

How do you deal with abnormal cholesterol numbers?

Lifestyle changes such as a heart-healthy diet (a Mediterranean-type diet) and regular exercise are the first line of defense against high cholesterol and the first choice in treating abnormal lipid levels. In addition, not using tobacco products (quit smoking or vaping), losing weight if you’re overweight or obese (normalize your BMI), and drinking no or minimal alcohol all help maintain or improve cholesterol numbers.

But, if you’ve made these important lifestyle changes and your cholesterol levels are still abnormal, your health care professional will likely recommend a prescription for supplements, medication or a combination - depending on various factors; your personal risk factors, your age, your health, and potential drug side effects or interactions with foods or other medications.

What is red yeast rice?

Now, Pastor, to your question. Red yeast rice is a rice on which a naturally red yeast has grown – turning the rice red.

This yeast can produce a substance, monacolin K, which is structurally identical to the prescription statin, lovastatin.

Thus, not surprisingly, red yeast rice products that deliver 10 mgs of monacolin K (lovastatin) a day have been shown, in several clinical trials, to be very effective in lowering elevated levels of cholesterol, as well as decreasing triglycerides and increasing HDL over a 6-12-week period.

Unfortunately, most red yeast rice supplements that have been tested do not contain the amount of monacolin K needed to lower your cholesterol. Furthermore, most product labels do not list the amount of monacolin or lovastatin they contain. ConsumerLab.com, my favorite independent testing lab of natural medications (herbs, vitamins, and supplements), found only two red yeast rice products that provided the amount of lovastatin proven to lower cholesterol in placebocontrolled clinical trials.

Of additional concern is that CL found a potential kidney toxin, citrinin, in 30% of the tested products, one of which contained citrinin at a level 65 times the limit allowed in Europe (there is no established limit in the U.S.).

Another independent testing lab, NatMed, rated the red yeast rice extracts that they tested from five to seven, out of

ten, for safety and effectiveness. I do not recommend products that have a NatMed rating of eight or less.

Should you use red yeast rice?

Based on the varying amounts of lovastatin in most products and citrinin in many products, ConsumerLab.com recommends that “it may be preferable to use a prescription statin drug to ensure a more consistent dose [and safer products]. However, red yeast rice may be effective for some people who don’t respond to statin drugs, and certain side effects may be diminished.”

If you decide to take red yeast rice instead of a prescription statin, ConsumerLab’s “Top Pick” among the products it has “Approved” as safe and effective is HPF Cholestene™. A serving of two capsules twice daily provides 12.9 mg of lovastatin – a dose likely to help lower elevated cholesterol levels. ConsumerLab adds, “HPF Cholestene™ appears to provide the best value—just 49 cents per 10 mg, which is less than half the cost of getting the same amount of lovastatin from the next least expensive product, Nature’s Sunshine®, at $1.03. The highest cost to get 10 mg of lovastatin is $7.60 from Nature’s Way ®.”

Why choose a statin instead?

According to the National Institutes of Health, the first goal of therapy in people with high cholesterol is a reduction of your LDL. By far and away, prescription statin medications have been proven to be the most effective agents to both normalize lipids, especially to lower LDL levels, and most importantly to prevent cardiovascular events and deaths.

It’s wise to remember the importance of choosing treatments proven to reduce adverse cardiovascular outcomes such as heart attacks, strokes, and premature deaths. Just because a drug or supplement reduces total or LDL cholesterol levels, that does not always equate to improved cardiovascular morbidity or mortality.

Furthermore, a generic prescription statin is by far the least expensive medication option. Prescription 10 mg statins can cost as little as 7 cents (atorvastatin) or 10 cents (lovastatin).

And you’re guaranteed purity and consistency of product. As pointed out earlier, ConsumerLab’s “Top Pick” red yeast rice for value and safety, cost 49 cents per 10 mg of lovastatin.  TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

23

KIDS OF THE KINGDOM

“WILL WE BE SINGING EASTER CAROLS?”

E

ight-year-old Susie came home from school and informed her mother that today in class they had learned how to make babies.

The mother, rather shaken by the development, called the teacher to complain.

After listening to the mother complain for a few minutes, the teacher responded, “Did you ask her to explain how it is done?”

“No,” said the mother.

“Then ask her and call me back,” replied the teacher.

“So how DO you make babies?” the mother asked her daughter.

Susie responded, “You drop the ‘y’ and add ‘ies.’”

—From Mikey’s Funnies www.mikeysfunnies.com 24

TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

“IT’S JOHN THE BAPTIST.”

Editor’s Pick for Kids

Angels on Your Side: When You’re Feeling Scared

By Marty Machowski (author) and Rommel Ruiz (illustrator) [New Growth Press]

When children are scared by a storm, afraid of the dark, or wake up from a bad dream, how can you remind them of God’s protection and love?

Angels on Your Side dives into a biblical exploration of God’s army of angels.

Logan’s Grandpa teaches him that not only are angels real, but God uses his mighty warriors to guard him. Logan learns that God’s angels are an invincible army fighting on our behalf in the strength of the Lord. When an incredibly powerful angel is on your side, there’s no reason to be scared or worried.

Through Rommel Ruiz’s beautiful 3D illustrations and gospel truth, Machowski helps children ages four to seven understand God is always with them. Accompanied by two sets of 3D glasses, Angels on Your Side will become a favorite bedtime story to remind children the best way to combat their fears is to take them to God.

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New Homes, Renewed Hope

Adoption Q&A with Herbie Newell, Lifeline Children’s Services Tell us a little about yourself. How and when did you begin to understand the importance of adoption?

Before serving with Lifeline Children’s Services, I was a CPA for a local accounting firm. My wife, Ashley, was the director of Save a Life, a pregnancy resource center in Birmingham, Alabama. Through her work, our heart grew for women experiencing unplanned pregnancies. We began to ask the Lord how we could make a difference in the lives of both these women and their unborn children. We saw the tangible expression of the gospel, our adoption into God’s family when we put our faith in Christ, both mother and child experience through adoption. The mother has hope her child will find joy and life, while the child is given family and life.

How long have you been matching adoptive families to children who need a home? Why is this important to you?

Lifeline was founded in 1981 as a response to the crisis pregnancy center movement. While the crisis pregnancy center encourages pregnant women to choose life, Lifeline disciples them through their pregnancy, assuring they are equipped to choose life. Our ministry goes beyond meeting the daily physical needs of women, children and vulnerable families. It offers redemption, reconciliation, and reunification. Ministry to the vulnerable should never be divorced from gospel proclamation.

What role does foster care play in caring for displaced children?

Foster care meets the urgent needs of children who have been displaced from their biological families because of abuse, neglect, abandonment, or the parents’ inability to effectively care for their child’s needs. It provides temporary stability for children living in consistent instability. Unlike adoption, the goal of foster care is to give biological families a reprieve, to help parents find ways to provide safe, loving, and nurturing environments for their child – and then to reunite them. Lifeline offers private foster care services as an extension of the church’s call to care for at risk children.

How does adoption differ from foster care?

Adoption is a permanent solution for children who cannot be raised by their biological families. They are either willingly 26

TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

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surrendered by families that are unable to provide a suitable home, or they are involuntarily removed from their biological family because their situation puts them in some sort of physical or emotional danger.

Adoption is superior to long-term chronic foster care because it gives a child a sense of belonging, as well as the stability of a family.

Can you tell us a story about the impact your ministry has had on someone’s life?

One story that instantly comes to mind is a story of reunification. One of Lifeline’s ministries is a six-week training, coaching and mentoring program offered through local churches called “Families Count.”

One family lost their three biological children to the foster care system and were determined to get them back - then promptly get divorced. They were both unemployed and desperately wanted out of their marriage because they believed it was toxic. Both parents were chronic substance abusers.

Their county asked the church to provide childcare so the families could have supervised visits while attending the training. One child came to saving faith in Christ Jesus, then asked her parents why they didn’t believe in Jesus. Both parents began to wrestle with faith. Before long, three family members surrendered to Christ.

Not only was that family reunited, but mom and dad grew in their love and appreciation for marriage. The local church helped them get solid work. Today, they are a teaching couple for Families Count in their church.

Lifeline Children’s Services’ ministry is clearly directed by a desire to honor God. How does adopting a child mirror God’s heart?

There are 6 key similarities between physical adoption and God’s adoptive heart: 1. Adoption is planned Adoption was for God, and is for us, seriously planned. It’s not an afterthought.

2. Adoption is costly Adoption was for God, and is for us, costly. Physical adoption costs money, time, reputation, and energy – acts of sacrificial love. Spiritual adoption cost God the greatest act of sacrificial love – sending His perfect Son to the cross to pay for our sins.

3. Adoption is legal Adoption, for God and for us, changes the legal status of a child. Just as adopted children are legally declared part of their

they go their way in all modesty and cheerfulness. Falsehood is not found among them; and they love one another, and from widows they do not turn away their esteem; and they deliver the orphan from him who treats him harshly. And he, who has, gives to him who has not, without boasting.”

If our readers are interested in providing foster care or adopting a child through Lifeline Children’s Services, where should they begin?

Herbie Newell with his wife, Ashley, and their three children.

new family, we are legally declared God’s children by the judge and creator of the world.

4. Adoption creates heirs Spiritual adoption makes us heirs, just as physical adoption makes children heirs. Both carry the full and total inheritance of firstborn sons.

5. Adoption is transformative Physical adoption changes a child’s location, identity and possibly his or her culture. Spiritual adoption results in our moral transformation through the Spirit. Our marked life change is evidence we are God’s children.

6. Adoption is a blessing Adoption is blessed by God. He’s not some faraway, sovereign creator. He is our daddy! He is proud of His children and blesses them.

“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

— Galatians 4:4-6 How does adoption play into the Old Testament, the New Testament and the early church?

The Old Testament commands to care for the vulnerable harken the children of Israel back to their slavery in Egypt. As slaves, they were fatherless, vulnerable, strangers, and aliens.

When the Lord rescued His people through Moses (adopted by Pharoah’s daughter), they gained a family, a belonging, a nation and a land. The Lord commands His people to remember His goodness and care for others in the same circumstances.

The New Testament picks up on the same sentiment, however with the stark reality that we now have a true belonging in the family of God through the life, death and resurrection of Christ Jesus.

As for the early church, this is what The Apology of Aristides - AD 125 says: “They do not worship strange gods, and

There are three ways you can reach out to us: via the phone at (205) 967-0811 in any of the 50 states; by email at info@lifelinechild.org, or by visiting our website at lifelinechild.org.

The first step is to gather information. Our team is ready and able to assist families who are open to answering the call to adopt or foster.

Also, if you know of a young woman who needs our pregnancy counseling services, we are ready, willing, and able to assist 24/7. You might consider helping her navigate to our designated website: mylifemygift.com In what ways can our readers who are unable to foster or adopt a child support your ministry?

Pray for Lifeline. Pray for vulnerable children and orphaned children. They need us to intercede on their behalf and, as we pray, the Lord changes our hearts and the way we see those who are vulnerable around us.

I would also encourage people to get their churches involved and begin looking for ways to engage with orphan and foster ministry at home and around the world.

Last, but not least, we need people to give as the Lord leads them. Lifeline is committed to not accepting local, state or federal funding. We rely heavily on charitable donations from individuals, private foundations and businesses. You can give a gift at Lifelinechild.org/donate There are also some great resources on our website to help people get involved: Lifelinechild.org Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?

Adoption, orphan care, and foster care are pro-life ministries. As a church, we must care and wrap our arms around vulnerable children by helping their families and bringing them into our homes. We must be as pro-life on the other side of the delivery room as we are on the way in.  Herbie Newell is the President/Executive Director of Lifeline Children’s Services and its ministry arms including (un)adopted and Lifeline Village. Herbie holds a master’s degree in accounting from Samford University. He joined the Lifeline staff in 2003 as Executive Director. Under Herbie’s leadership, Lifeline has increased its international outreach to 41 countries and has expanded to 18 states.

Mr. Newell is a sought-after speaker. He is also the author of Image Bearers, Shifting from Pro-Birth to Pro-Life released in 2020. He and his wife, Ashley, live in Birmingham, Alabama, and are parents to son, Caleb, and daughters Adelynn and Emily.

TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

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TURNING POINT

By Breanna Thompson

Broken Heart, Healed Spirit

Breanna Thompson is a wife, mama, teacher, writer, and above all, a follower of Christ. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, spending time with her family, enjoying nature, or attempting to craft something (key word: attempting).

She holds tight to 2 Corinthians 1: 3-4 which says that God comforts us through our difficult times so that we might comfort others through theirs.

Her dream is to eventually write full-time, spreading the Word of God and encouraging others through their hardships.

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.

28

G

rief: this small word has such a huge impact. It tore a hole straight through my chest, and I was almost positive my heart had been ripped clean out. I was walking, talking and, miraculously, still breathing. But I was on autopilot. I did just enough for my kids to see that mommy was okay. Inside, I was anything but. I blamed God. My baby was innocent. I was only 17 weeks along, almost halfway through my pregnancy. Why? Why did He need him? I blamed Him for getting my hopes up, for giving me such joy, only to snatch it away in the blink of an eye.

On top of losing my baby, I rang in the 2021 New Year from the hospital bed, with my husband grieving by my side. Despite the hardships we faced during that time, I didn’t realize how angry I was until after leaving the hospital. I spent the first few weeks – post-miscarriage – searching for answers, no, demanding them, and silently screaming at God for being so cruel. Then, I slowly began pulling away from God. It wasn’t immediate, but over time I stopped going to church, stopped reading my Bible, and I even stopped praying.

It took me months—about four to be honest—to realize something. God grieved first. God lost a son, first. I was so wrapped up in my own grief and blame, I didn’t think about the fact God had endured the loss of His own son. I wanted to punish Him for taking my son. I knew deep down that wasn’t truly the case. He hadn’t taken my baby. Instead, He welcomed Him. I like to imagine He cradled him lovingly in his arms. God wasn’t the bad guy. He could never be the bad guy.

My change of heart didn’t come easily, nor did it happen willingly. After a few months of skipping church, revival came.

My dad decided to go out on a limb and risk my anger by suggesting I come to church with him. He mentioned the preacher was great, and he thought I’d like him. There was no pushy guilt trip or anything. He merely suggested it and moved along. I decided to give it a go. I let God know before I went that I was still angry and this wouldn’t change anything. Boy, was I wrong.

It changed everything. Sitting in that pew, crying before everyone was even fully seated—

TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

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fists balled, screaming at God in my head with my legs bouncing in irritable anticipation. Still, I sat. I knew I needed to give that preacher a shot for my dad. Not five minutes into the sermon, I wanted to bolt. The pastor in the pulpit said, “Open your Bibles to Ezekiel. We are going to talk about how God doesn’t let the dead stay dead.”

Subtle much, God? I clenched my teeth and tried to stomp my foot down so I could rise, only my leg wouldn’t move. I was frozen, like a statue. I started to panic, hot tears springing to my eyes. Why can’t I move? You need to hear this. Listen, child. I have never “heard” God as a physical voice, but I swear I felt Him in that moment as if He was speaking through my own body’s betrayal. As I sat, literally rooted to the spot, God spoke directly to me through the visiting pastor. He talked about how Ezekiel trusted God to bring the dry bones back despite knowing his own shortcomings. He said we don’t have to know God’s purposes to know He’s good.

The part that really told me He was speaking to me was the fact my baby, the one who I had miscarried four months prior, was named Ezekiel Canaan.

But there was an even more telling revelation.

After telling the preacher my story, he mentioned he had a completely different sermon prepared. It was only an hour or so before the service (about the time I truly decided I would be coming to listen) he had decided to switch messages. He mentioned being in a boat and he felt the Lord compel him to preach from Ezekiel. No longer was I angry at God. I realized He hadn’t left me. I’d left Him. I left that sermon with chills, a broken heart, and a healed spirit. 

Easter Special Advertising Section

T

RESOURCE GUIDE

he sin penalty had to be paid. Ever since Adam rebelled in the Garden of Eden, we’ve been unholy. Unholy people could never stand in the presence of a holy God without first being purified.

In the Old Testament, the sin penalty was paid through the blood of sacrificial animals. In the New Testament, it was paid once and for all - through the blood of the sacrificial Lamb of God. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. – Romans 5:19

But our loving Father didn’t stop there. Not only did Christ’s death on the cross redeem all who will put their faith in Him, His resurrection defeated sin’s curse; death. Those redeemed by Christ’s blood are not only forgiven and restored to fellowship with God here on earth, we are sealed for all eternity. We will, one day, stand in God’s presence. We can sing with joyful hearts;

Kids’ Big Questions about Heaven, the Bible, and Other Really Important Stuff

The Action Bible: Faith in Action Edition

Christ has for sin atonement made, What a wonderful Savior! (“What a Wonderful Savior,” E.A. Hoffman)

By Sandy Silverthorne [Baker Publishing Group]

By Sergio Cariello [David C Cook]

Sandy Silverthorne tackles 101 questions about heaven and the Bible—offering honest, thoughtful answers that reveal just how much God loves and cares for his children. His quirky cartoons and activities make finding the answers fun! Perfect for kids ages 6-8. You can find it at BakerBookHouse.com

This engaging reimagining of the bestselling The Action Bible combines 230 epic stories of biblical heroes with vibrant comic-book-style illustrations and an immersive online experience. The Action Bible: Faith in Action Edition is the best interactive Bible to help kids grow in God’s Word and live out their faith. You can find it at TheActionBible.com

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Clopper and the Lost Boy

Kregel Treasury of Illustrated Bible Stories

By Matt Lockhart [Kregel Publications]

Twelve years after Clopper the donkey took Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem on that spectacular night when Jesus was born, he is off on another trek with the family as they journey together to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover. You can find it at kregel.com/childrens-bible-stories/clopper-and-the-lost-boy/

True to the Word, this impeccably illustrated Bible storybook for children is destined to become a classic in its own right. Parents and grandparents will find this a perfect family keepsake for the young lives they love! You can find it at kregel.com/childrens-bibles-and-reference/kregels-treasuryof-illustrated-bible-stories/

Amon’s Adventure

Amon’s Secret

By Emily King [Kregel Publications]

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By Arnold Ytreeide [Kregel Publications]

With short, action-filled chapters, reflections for family devotions, and a foundation of archaeological evidence, Amon’s Secret is a fun and powerful way to connect to the church’s beginnings. You can find it at kregel.com/fiction/amons-secret/

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The King of Easter: Jesus Searches for All God’s Children

12 Crucial Truths of the Christian Faith

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“This book is an indispensable resource for anyone who wants to get back to the basics of what Christians believe and why.”

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Living a Job Faith: From Tried to Triumphant

Hiding God’s Word in Our Hearts: A Collection of Bible Studies

By Todd R. Hains; Natasha Kennedy [Lexham Press]

By Marvin A. McMickle [Judson Press]

By Paige Lanier Chargois [Judson Press]

Using imagery from the courtroom, witness how Job survives massive loss, overcomes the doubt of his friends, and emerges triumphant through his unshaken faith in God. Job’s example can inspire us to persevere in faith through hard times, reassured that God is with us in our most difficult moments. You can find it at judsonpress.com/Products/J308/living-a-job-faith.aspx

Marvin McMickle offers expert insights through the in-depth study of popular Bible passages. Beginning with the Twenty-Third Psalm, the book shares reflections that can guide small group discussion, personal reading, or congregational conversations. Additional topics include The Lord’s Prayer, The Roman’s Road, and individual studies that relate to timely topics. You can find it at https://www.judsonpress.com/Products/J314/hiding-godsword-in-our-hearts.aspx

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I’m a Christian—Now What?

A Guide to Your New Life with Christ

It Is Finished

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New Christians have a lot of questions. They might not even know which ones to ask. Aaron Armstrong shares his experience as an adult convert to offer practical and friendly encouragement to new believers—and the seasoned Christians who want to disciple them—as they take their important first steps with Jesus. You can find it at aaronarmstrong.co/now-what

Join Bible teacher and bestselling author Charles Martin on a life-changing journey back to the cross.

Through 40-days of vivid storytelling, uncover the depth and impact of Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection in a fresh and transformative way. Take the journey this Easter! You can find it at www.charlesmartinbooks.com/ books/it-is-finished

Simply Pray

Fighting for Family: The Relentless Pursuit of Building Belonging

By Deb Hopper [Our Daily Bread]

Understand the power of ASK—Ask, Seek, Knock— as you examine your prayer life and apply this concept from Matthew 7:7. Deb Hopper masterfully weaves her own story from divorce and desperation to hope and healing with biblical principles and Scripture to encourage you to pray. You can find it at https://go.odb.org/simply-pray24-christian-living

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By Chris and Julie Bennett [HarperCollins Focus]

In Fighting for Family, husband-and-wife team Chris and Julie Bennett put their philosophy of “We don’t quit on family” into action, demonstrating how to combat isolation, build healthy relationships, and fight for (not with!) the ones you love, right where you are. Find it at FightingForFamily.org

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The Story of Jesus

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A Savior Is Risen

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Apply God’s Word to your life every day with a year’s worth of devotions written by men, for men, along with application statements, questions for reflection, and more. The NIV Men’s Devotional Bible offers encouragement from contemporary and classic communicators and authors to help you on your walk with God. You can find it at BiblesforEaster.com

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This NASB Wide Margin Bible features a beautiful two-color interior with substantial margins on both the inside and outside of the page, allowing you to record notes and deepen your reflection on and study of God’s Word. You can find it at BiblesforEaster.com

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The Old Testament Handbook

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CSB Student Study Bible

The CSB Easy-for-Me Bible is a full-text Bible designed for emerging readers who are ready to explore the Bible themselves. Highlighted memory verses and dozens of colorful pages featuring learning helps, games, and reading challenges teach children to better understand the Bible and read it on their own. You can find it at bhpublishinggroup.com/product/csb-easy-for-me-bible-forearly-readers-aqua-blue-leathertouch

CSB Notetaking Bible, Large Print Hosanna Revival Edition

By CSB Bibles by Holman [B&H Publishing Group]

The CSB Student Study Bible is designed to help students and young people know and be transformed by God’s Word! The Bible keeps Scripture primary on every page alongside student-centered resources and tools designed to help you engage and be transformed by the life-changing message of God’s Word. You can find it at bhpublishinggroup.com/product/csb-student-study-bible/ csb-student-study-bible-deep-coral-hardcover

By CSB Bibles by Holman [B&H Publishing Group]

The CSB Notetaking Bible, Large Print Hosanna Revival Edition is designed in partnership with the creative team at Hosanna Revival. Each cover design is uniquely handpainted and printed on cloth cover materials. A Bible meant to record a lifetime of reflections, prayers, and insights. You can find it at hosannarevivalbible.com

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37

Special Advertising Section

FirstLooks

C

RESOURCE GUIDE

hristian publishers are diligently making new resources available to help build up the body of Christ. There are Bible studies, study Bibles, devotionals, and prayer journals to guide us in our personal pursuit of God. There are memoirs and biographies to remind us that we don’t walk alone. There are

books intended to help us overcome the hardships we encounter throughout our lives, and encourage us along the way. And there are books that offer a godly perspective on life through characters and circumstances born in the author’s imagination. Here are just a few new resources for you to consider.

Thank God It’s Monday(?)

Men’s Daily Bible

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By Tom C. Petersen [Morgan James Publishing]

By Robert Wolgemuth, CSB Bibles by Holman [B&H Publishing Group]

For Christians who have struggled to live their faith at work, Thank God It’s Monday(?) offers insight, wisdom, and a healthy dose of humor to encourage you to keep at it.

Author Tom Petersen shares his own shortcomings at work, claiming humor and God’s grace to persevere. You can find it at Barnes and Noble at https://bit.ly/3OC2JPh

The CSB Men’s Daily Bible invites men from every walk of life into a daily conversation with God’s Word.

Guided by General Editor and best-selling author, Robert Wolgemuth, alongside the wise council of his friends, this Bible is full of encouragement and useful tools calling men to live boldly. You can find it at www.mensdailybible.com

TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

MARCH 2024

Special Advertising Section

Encountering God Study Bible

Evangelical Study Bible

By Richard Blackaby, Henry Blackaby [Thomas Nelson Bibles]

[Thomas Nelson Bibles]

Learn from the insights of Blackaby Ministries with the Encountering God Study Bible. Featuring explanatory notes, word studies, biblical character sketches, historical encounters with lives of exemplary faith, and more, you will see that you can encounter God in His Word— and that He wants to encounter you through it. You can find it at EncounteringGodBible.com

The Evangelical Study Bible is a large print Study Bible inviting you to explore and experience the refreshing truth of God’s Word alongside verse-byverse commentary, explanations of essential Christian teaching, archaeological notes, apologetics commentary, and profiles of key biblical figures. You can find it at EvangelicalStudyBible.com

The Woman’s Study Bible

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[Thomas Nelson Bibles]

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The Woman’s Study Bible poignantly reveals the Word of God to women, inviting them to receive God’s truth for balance, hope, and transformation. This Bible speaks to a woman’s heart with special features created by women specifically for women. Available in three translations: the NIV, NKJV, and the KJV. You can find it at womansstudybible.com

The Timeless Truths Bible anchors you in the truth of God’s Word with devotional notes and commentary from trusted voices of the past for every chapter of the Bible, text from the creeds and confession of the faith, and artwork inspired by Scripture. You can find it at timelesstruthsbible.com

TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

39

PERSECUTION REPORT

By Will Morris

Persecuted, but Not Forsaken: World Watch List 2024

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

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I

t is an image of stark contrasts. At one comfortable church, a pastor buried in cultural relativism and politics offers a sermon with self-help platitudes common in the “gospel” of our age.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, a pastor who lost his family to attacks sits in a candle-lit room surrounded by a handful of other believers who have all suffered at the hands of militiamen.

His sermon consists mostly of Christ’s words.

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” – John 15:18-20 As the world seemingly continues its descent into complete chaos, global Christians increasingly suffer for their faith in Jesus’ saving grace.

Worldwide, 365 million Christians, one in seven, face high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith, an increase of five million over last year’s figure of 360 million, according to the 2024 World Watch List.

The Watchlist (WWL) is an annual report of the fifty countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. According to the report, some 4,998 Christians were killed worldwide in attacks related to their faith. Officials from Open Doors, the international advocacy organization for persecuted Christians that authored the study, caution that the figures likely run much higher because many deaths go unreported.

Property crimes against Christians skyrocketed with 14,766 churches, church-run hospitals and schools being attacked during the reporting period. This is a seven-fold increase from 2,110 reported attacks the year before. Attacks on Christian-owned homes, often arson attacks, rose more than three times to 21,431 in the 2024 report from 4,547 the year before. Those attacks translate into 278,716 believers being forced from their homes or into hiding, more than twice last year’s number.

The countries identified as the ten worst places for Christians to live remained the same as last year’s report, although they were ranked differently.

TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

MARCH 2024

The Top Five

North Korea: As usual, North Korea placed first. North Korea has ranked at the top of Open Doors’ worst countries list for all but one of the past 23 years. Christianity is strictly forbidden.

Instead, the semi-official state religion, and the only one allowed, is a personality cult centered on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

According to the report, being discovered as a Christian in North Korea “is effectively a death sentence.”

“Believers will either be deported to labor camps or killed on the spot. And it’s not just them: their whole family gets the same fate. It’s impossible for Christians to live freely in North Korea, the report states. “… Meeting for worship is extremely dangerous and must be done in utmost secrecy. Even being found to own a Bible could mean death.”

Somalia: The number two country on the WWL is home to only a few hundred Christians. They are targeted constantly by multiple groups. Converts are subject to harassment, abuse and even murder because they are seen as traitors against Somali culture. Sadly, violence against Christians has increased significantly over the past year.

“Islamic militants have increasingly focused on identifying and eliminating Christian leaders.

Even the suspicion of conversion from Islam to Christianity can lead to life-threatening danger,” the study states.

Al-Shabaab suicide attacks surged this past year.

“Their aim is to cripple security in the country, and to eradicate Christianity from Somalia,” the report reads. “In this context, Christians find it almost impossible to meet in the country.”

Libya: This country rose from number five to number three on the WWL this year. It is still plagued by violence and lawlessness as Islamic groups, tribal militias and criminal gangs continue fighting each other over the scraps of the country left over following the First Libyan Civil War. They agree on one thing; there is no place for the country’s 35,000 Christians.

“Christianity in Libya seems impossible. Authorities assert that Libya is a wholly Islamic nation where Islamic law governs how the nation is run and how problems are resolved,” the report reads. “This means, in society’s eyes, there can be

1 North Korea 2 Somalia 3 Libya 4 Eritrea 5 Yemen 6 Nigeria 7 Pakistan 8 Sudan 9 Iran 10 Afghanistan (2024 Watch List photo provided by and used with permission from Open Doors. For more information about the Watch List visit opendoorsus.org.)

no Christians in Libya – and that’s what the authorities want the public to believe. However, the truth is more complicated. …The biggest risk for a believer is if he or she expresses their faith publicly – particularly if they come from a Muslim background.”

Eritrea: In Eritrea only four religious sects are officially recognized, Sunni Islam, Eritrean Orthodox Christianity, Roman Catholicism, and Lutheranism – and those are closely monitored. All other sects, including evangelical Protestant groups, pursue their faith at their own risk. Discrimination and persecution of Christians remains “extremely high,” and violence has increased this year from last.

“While some churches are officially recognized, there is still no sphere of life where the pressure on Christians is not at an extreme level in the country, with persecution by the government being the strongest source of pressure,” according to the report.

Yemen: Although fighting in the proxy war between Houthi rebels and the Yemeni government largely stopped in 2023, the country remains a broken state, much of it ruled by Islamic militias of one sort or another. The economy is shattered. Starvation and diseases (like cholera) are endemic. Necessities like food and medicine are too expensive for many people. In addition, the country is plagued by a water crisis. The United Nations estimates that 15.3 million Yemenis, half the population, do not have access safe drinking water. In the wake of the instability, al-Qaeda, controls parts of Yemen placing even more pressure on Christians.

“Yemeni society is strongly Islamic, conservative and tribal, and the tribal punishment for denouncing Islam can be death or banishment,” the report states. “Most believers are Yemeni and come from Muslim backgrounds. As conversion from Islam is forbidden by law, Christians must keep their faith secret, or risk severe repercussions from their families, the authorities or radical groups. This can include divorce, loss of custody of children, arrest, interrogation and even honor killings.”

Other Key Findings of WWL Report

It is impossible for any report to capture the day-to-day struggles of Christians being persecuted for their faith, especially those persecuted to the point of death. Nevertheless, some trends stand out. One in seven Christians worldwide face

high levels of persecution. Five years ago, the figure was one in nine. Islamic militia groups, Islamist and autocratic governments are the leading perpetrators of persecution against Christians. Political instability, and the lawlessness that exists in frontier states contributes to this persecution.

African Christians are most affected by Islamic militias and Islamists in general. Roughly 90 percent of the almost 5,000 Christians killed worldwide for their faith came from Africa.

Of those, 4,118 were killed in Nigeria, almost all by Islamic militia men and terrorists. The increasingly autocratic Islamist government of Algeria has taken a hardline approach toward Christians. Pastors have been arrested and jailed. The government has aggressively shut down churches. Of the 46 churches connected with the Église Protestante d’Algérie only four remain open.

The autocratic government of China closed more churches than any other country, according to Open Doors. The closures and harassment are part of a larger push for the Sinicization of China’s religions, “This includes the insistence that sermons reflect the Core Socialist Values. Churches have also been closed or told to remove crosses and put up Communist emblems and slogans,” according to the report. China is number 19 on the 2024 Open Doors World Watch List. 

PRAYER POINTS: STRENGTHEN and protect the leaders of persecuted churches. Refresh their bodies and their faith. Make them unafraid and guide their steps.

PROTECT persecuted believers from unmet physical needs and replace their fear with “peace beyond understanding.”

PROTECT believers when their places of worship are shuttered. Allow them to meet safely in secret.

PROTECT all Christians from the wave of Islamic militancy spreading throughout Africa. Pour your Spirit out on African Muslims, that they may come to repentance and salvation.

BE WITH ALL those imprisoned for their faith in Christ. Protect them from harm, provide for their needs and give them daily purpose and hope. Allow them to become even bolder in prison, bringing the lost to Christ.

TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

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QUICK TAKES

Holy Habits

Beneath the Swirling Sky (The Restorationists)

By Carolyn Leilogluo (author) and Vivienne To (illustrator) [Waterbrook] After an experience he’d rather forget, Vincent is determined to be done with art. So, when he and his little sister, Lili, spend spring break with their art conservator greatuncle, Vincent’s plan is to stay glued to his phone.

That is, until Lili disappears into one of the world’s most famous paintings and Vincent learns his parents have been hiding something from him. Their family is the last of The Restorationists, a secret society with the power to travel through paintings—and a duty to protect them from evil forces.

With Lili’s safety on the line, leaving art behind is no longer an option. Vincent must team up with his know-it-all secondcousin Georgia, wrestle with why his parents lied to him, and confront both his past and a future he never wanted. Young readers are invited into a captivating universe where paintings become portals—and adventure lurks beyond every canvas.

The Practice of the Presence of Jesus

Questioning Faith

By Joni Eareckson Tada [Multnomah] Brother Lawrence lived through the drudgeries of monastery kitchen duty during the turbulence of 1600s France. Joni Eareckson Tada suffered a terrible accident that left her paralyzed. This tragedy led her from a life of distant faith to a life as a devout Christian. She later became a worldwide disability advocate, sharing her experiences of suffering with grace. Both believers found the secret to peace and joy. Both learned to be in ongoing conversation with the Father, every day and every hour.

The Practice of the Presence of Jesus shares wisdom from these two everyday saints, to teach and inspire you to experience the nearness of God in your life. With rich devotional content from Brother Lawrence’s The Practice of the Presence of God, and original art and insights from Joni, you’ll find a blend of past and present wisdom on humility, thankfulness, fear, worship, obedience, and more.

42

TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

By Noah Herrin [Chosen] Many followers of Jesus have plans for family, finances, and career, but very few have a spiritual plan to grow closer to Jesus. We must be intentional in order to hear from God, grow in faith, and form good habits that lead to a meaningful life.

Going beyond the surface level, pastor Noah Herrin gives you ten tangible practices that will plunge you into the depths of a real relationship with Jesus. Simple but powerful, these ten small choices will lead to big changes, including: • Rising in influence from the ashes of insecurity • Resting where you once were striving • Standing firm in faith when surrounded by struggles • Enjoying community instead of being alone In just minutes a day, you can intentionally develop habits that shift your relationship with Jesus from duty to delight— and run with purpose in a world that wants you to wander.

MARCH 2024

By Randy Newman [Crossway] Do you have honest questions about faith? Have you walked away from your faith? Do you have questions about some of the things your faith tradition taught? Students and young professionals today are submerged in a culture of cynicism and doubt. Many identify as nonreligious but wrestle with questions about God’s existence, the meaning of life, and whether it’s possible to find goodness and beauty in this world.

Randy Newman has been listening to people’s faith stories for 40 years. He understands spiritual questions usually spring from a series of twists and turns. Our political view, family background, understanding of sexuality, and religious background all play a part in our faith journeys. Questioning Faith can help readers navigate terrains of doubt, He’ll help readers sort through their questions and find solid answers.

Randy Newman is the senior fellow for apologetics and evangelism at the C. S. Lewis Institute

I Didn’t Survive

By Naghmeh Abedini Panahi [Whitaker House] It’s hard enough having a painful secret you fear telling. It’s even harder when you find yourself in the international limelight as the advocate wife of a Christian hero imprisoned for his faith.

Naghmeh Abedini Panahi lived in constant tension from the irreconcilable realities playing out on the worldwide stage as she interacted with power brokers and wellknown religious leaders. Tension involving: • Steadfastly honoring God versus succumbing to circumstances • Personal reality versus public persona • Genuine faith versus hypocritical religion • Truth and caring versus the end justifying the means • Obedience to God versus loyalty to others It all came to a breaking point, and the only way through it was death. Not physical death, but death and rebirth in her understanding of God, her faith, and her identity as a woman.

Through pain, abuse, and loss, Naghmeh demonstrates what it means to find our identity in God.

The Unfair Advantage

By Aaron Burke [Nelson Books] Pastor Aaron Burke takes a closer look at the seven unfair seasons Joseph endures in the book of Genesis and reveals how Joseph’s struggles are not unlike the battles readers face today.

Combining biblical truths with insights from walking with people through their biggest challenges, this book offers a message of hope and renewed strength for anyone who has battled discouragement, rejection, temptation, unfair punishment, deprivation, or neglect. The surprising reality revealed by Joseph’s story is that unfair moments and difficult seasons - if handled wisely - can be used by God for our advantage.

Readers who are walking through a season that seems unfair will be reminded of God’s ultimate gift of favor. While their situation may seem hopeless now, they can trust that God is forging something beautiful out of the brokenness, putting purpose to their pain, righting every wrong, and building a destiny better than their greatest dreams.

More Than Reconciliation

By Andrew Southwick [Bold Vision Books] America is at a tipping point and, in many ways, grows more divided by the day. One of the most visible divisions, racism, continues to be repackaged, reshaped, and reintroduced in every generation. We’ve tried every legal, cultural, and sociological idea to dispel racism’s ugly legacy. Every idea, that is, except Jesus.

More Than Reconciliation takes a step toward solutions popular culture hasn’t offered. It brings the gospel message and spiritually transforming work of Jesus Christ back to the center of the conversation, and challenges readers – Christian or not – to approach prejudice and hatred with renewed minds. All are invited to see others as creations of God rather than creatures of cultural demographics.

Racism won’t be solved through wokeness. Hatred can only be overcome where it was conquered - at the foot of the cross. People will not be reconciled to each other unless they are reconciled to God.

When It’s Your Time to Serve

By Karen Pence [Broadside Books] Washington D.C. is crammed with people eager to talk about statistics, polls, and policies. Karen Pence is more likely to talk about beekeeping—if she’s not teaching an art class, painting watercolors, or riding her bike.

An elementary schoolteacher who never expected to leave Indiana, Karen learned God’s grace truly is sufficient—despite the turbulence of political campaigning and multiple moves - during her extraordinary journey to becoming Second Lady.

When It’s Your Turn to Serve is full of relatable stories from a leader, teacher, mom, and Christian from her unpredictable life. Through it all, Karen has learned to take surprises in stride. In this warm and deeply personal book, the former second lady shares lessons she’s learned about God, faith, and family. Her stories didn’t make the headlines, but they will challenge you to take opportunities that arise, recognize your God-given purpose, and make a difference when it’s your turn.

TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

43

DAVE SAYS

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.

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By Dave Ramsey

Dear Dave,

Dear Dave,

I’m an anesthesiologist. My wife is a stayat-home mom. We have about $50,000 in a retirement fund, $50,000 in consumer debt, $220,000 in student loan debt, and we owe $280,000 on our house, which is worth around $500,000. We’re thinking about using our retirement fund to pay off consumer debt, then selling the house and using the money to pay off student loans.

We’d live in an apartment, save for a down payment on the next home, and do things right financially moving forward. What do you think about this game plan?

How do you handle a situation where someone needs financial help, but has misspent money you’ve given them? My wife and I have been helping a young man we recently met. He told us he was trying to get his life together after a divorce and job loss and needed a little money for groceries and household items. He has asked us a couple of times since for more money, but we discovered he was buying alcohol with most of the cash we gave him. We are unsure what to do next.

— Jake

Dear Jake, Wow, I really appreciate your motivation, man.

You’re willing to do whatever it takes, and that’s cool. Not many people are determined to do the kinds of things you’re talking about.

I almost never tell people to sell their homes. If you can’t afford it, that’s one thing—and in that case, we’d sell the house. If it’s the only way to avoid bankruptcy, we’d get rid of it in a heartbeat.

But in your case, things are a little different. You’re in a pretty deep hole, but your income gives you a huge shovel to carve out some steps, get out of that hole, and fill it in so you never fall in again.

Now, this is going to mean some real lifestyle changes for a few years. I’m talking about beans and rice, and no vacations. There’s no more living like a rich doctor, because you’re not a rich doctor—you’re a broke doctor. We’re going to temporarily stop adding to your retirement fund, not cash it out, and start living on a written, monthly budget where every single dollar is given a name and a purpose.

Cleaning up $270,000 of debt sounds scary. But with a $260,000 income and the other changes we talked about, you could put $90,000 a year toward all this and have it completely cleaned up in three years. That’s what I’d do if I woke up in your shoes. It will set you free for the rest of your lives to invest and save.

Get on it, doc. You can do this!

— Dave

TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

MARCH 2024

— Andrew

Dear Andrew, This young man’s problem sounds as much like mismanagement of money as it is lack of money.

He seems to have an issue with lying, and possibly an addiction problem, too.

I’ve never been against helping people who have good hearts and need a break. But if someone is bold enough to ask for your money, you have every right to attach requirements to the help you give—especially when it’s for their own good. If he really needs food or household things, you can just buy them for him. That way, you’d know you were providing necessities.

But in many cases, truly helping someone means more than just giving them money. Sometimes, you have to get down in their mess, get real with them and walk with them. If you haven’t been put off by what already happened, and you still want to help, I’d suggest getting to know this young man and his situation a little better. Be straight with him. Let him know you’ve learned he wasn’t honest with you in the past. Hopefully, he’ll apologize and start making better choices. If he does, you might even offer to arrange for him to talk to a good pastor or counselor.

This situation is much bigger than helping someone with a little cash. This guy needs someone who cares enough to help him get his life back together.

— Dave 

LAUGH LINES

M

r. and Mrs. James are a couple who live in a flat. Mr. James is cool-headed and Mrs. James is hot -tempered. Any time they had a quarrel, Mr. James would run to the rooftop. Mrs. James became suspicious of him.

Today, she consciously made an argument between them and Mr. James did the usual, ran to the rooftop. A few minutes later, Mrs. James went to meet her husband. She asked him a simple question.

“What are you doing?”

He hugged her and replied, “Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, than in a house shared with a contentious woman.”

—Submitted by Victoria Ojo 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.

INDEX & WEB LISTING ACTS Retirement-Life Communities.........................................9

KMWE.......................................................................................18

Armstrong, Aaron.....................................................................32

Kregel Publications...................................................................30

B&H Publishing Group....................................................... 36-38

Kirkdale Press...........................................................................31

Baker Books...........................................................................8, 29

Our Daily Bread.........................................................................32

Christianbook.com...................................................................48

Peterson, Tom............................................................................38

David C Cook Publishing......................................................1, 29

Total Living Network................................................................47

HarperCollins Christian Publishing.............................32-35, 39

Tyndale House Publishers.........................................................13

Josh McDowell Ministry...........................................................31

Vision Video................................................................................2

www.actsretirement.org

Aaronarmstrong.co/now-what www.bhpublishinggroup.com

www.bakerpublishinggroup.com www.christianbook.com www.davidccook.org

www.harpercollinschristian.com www.josh.org

Judson Press..............................................................................31 www.judsonpress.com

www.kmwehawaii.com www.kregel.com

www.lexhampress.com www.odb.org

https://bit.ly/3OC2JPh www.tln.com

www.tyndale.com

www.visionvideo.com

Please note: The Advertisers’ Index is published as a convenience to our readers. While every effort is made to obtain accuracy and completeness, last minute changes may occasionally result in unavoidable omissions or errors.

TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

45

GRACE NOTES

By Tammy Darling

Memories Fade, Love Remains

Tammy Darling is the author of 1500 published articles and three books. She writes from her home in rural Pennsylvania.

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L

ike a sunflower bending low, worn and withered after a long, hot season, my dementiaridden mother is still beautiful. Her words are gone, along with her ability to do anything for herself. But her inner and outer beauty remain.

Christ in her still shines through.

With every lap around the sun, my mother’s memory leaves have fallen one by one, and like pieces of a shattered heart falling bit by broken bit, I feel her inner pain. After thirteen long years, that’s a lot of leaves, a lot of memories gone - just gone. And I can’t pick up a fallen leaf and reattach it to the mighty oak. Oh, if only I could!

Though my mother has not yet died, in many ways she has. I cannot communicate with her. I can’t see her smile, hear her voice, or even know if she realizes who I am. Grieving a life that’s unable to be truly lived is very real. That grief cuts deep, even while she is still alive.

I must look at my mother more closely now to understand what she is going through. I don’t want to miss a thing – the grimace that is the only indication of pain or discomfort, the slight attempt at a smile, the watery eyes that never quite release a single tear. I haven’t seen my mother cry in years.

I’m a writer by trade, but whenever I go through hard times, I also write for me. I once self-published a book meant for my eyes only. Writing it carried me through the worst pain I’ve ever faced. But with this, I delayed. I thought writing about my mother would be more than I could handle. Turns out, it’s been quite therapeutic - healing as well.

I don’t run from reality; I need to feel what is.

Burying my own emotions is a death in itself – and I want to live. Emotions are a God-given gift.

While the destruction of dementia is very real, I refuse to see only that when I look at my mother.

If all I see is the sadness, I’ll miss the joy – the joy of memories past, of the incredible softness of her 79-year-old skin as I hold her hand, of each precious remaining moment I have with her.

After all these years, my personal name for my mother has changed from “mom” to “mama.”

Mama seems more vulnerable, a reflection of how I feel, an expression of needs she can no longer fulfill. Mama is the hug I need, the reassurance

TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

MARCH 2024

I crave. Mama is my little girl self, crying out for what is no more.

Life lingers long for my mother. Thirteen years is a long time to be trapped in a mind that doesn’t work properly. My mother is a true overcomer, a fierce warrior, and an inspiration to me in so many ways – even now.

How much good from my childhood can I find?

My mother’s loss of memory initiated my own search for good memories. It’s easy to remember what was wrong with my childhood, but with my mother languishing, my priorities have shifted.

Suddenly, I’m drawn to the Philippians 4:8 aspect of my childhood – and beyond. Perhaps this is a final gift from my mother as this chapter of her life closes.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

— Philippians 4:8 I nurture my memories and hold them close. I didn’t have an ideal childhood, but I have a mother who loved the Lord and did her best. What I didn’t see as a child, I appreciate as an adult who has been through the fire herself.

Dementia is awful. But, thankfully, all this body and mind stuff is not transferable to the next reality. My mother’s true home awaits her. Jesus said so in John 14:2-3. On that day, I will rejoice because my mother will be fully alive, healed and whole.

And as she dances with Jesus, I will dance with my memories. Her life won’t end. It will only begin!

I once read that death ends a life, not a relationship. I couldn’t agree more. That brings me peace.

My mother, though alive, is not living. Still, our relationship goes on forever. Nothing – not dementia, not even death – can take that away. Memories may fade, life on earth may end, but love neither fades nor ends. *Tammy’s mother passed away in December 2023, shortly after this article was accepted for publication. 