Seeing the World as God Does - 20/20 Vision

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Treasure ISSN# 8960038) Volume 10 • Number 3

EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-chief Elizabeth Hodges Managing editor / Circulation Phyllis York

Does It Really Matter

How I View the World?

WNAC Board Amy Johnson, Illinois Pam Hackett, South Carolina Jonda Patton, Kentucky Sarah Sargent, Ohio Tracy Payne, Oklahoma LeeAnn Wilfong, Missouri Khristi Shores, Oklahoma Jessica Edwards, Tennessee Katie Postlewaite, South Carolina

Contributors Amy Johnson, Illinois Sarah Sargent, Ohio Elizabeth Hodges, Tennessee Dari Goodfellow, Arizona Neil Gilliland, Tennessee Carol Reid, Tennessee Glenda Fulcher, North Carolina

Studies July Blended Vision

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August Does It Really Matter How I View The World

19 September Dinner Is Served

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TREASURE (ISSN# 8960038) is produced quarterly by Women Nationally Active for Christ of the National Association of Free Will Baptists, Inc. 5233 Mount View Road, Antioch, TN 370132306. Copyright privileges reserved.

2021 Member of the Evangelical Press Association.

Feature Articles Convention Highlights

5

Barbara Hansen: A Woman With

True 20/20 Vision 10

Inquiries Mail questions or comments to Treasure, P.O Box 5002, Antioch, TN 370115002; treasure@wnac.org or online at wnac.org and through Facebook: Women Nationally Active for Christ.

In Every Issue 4 8 36 37

Amy’s Tidbits Behind the Scenes Thirtysomethings Vision JUL-SEPT 2021

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Life is a continual process of focus and balance. What we choose to focus on has a direct effect on how balanced we feel. I am in the process of adjusting my focus. As I write this, the days of having a child in high school are coming to a close, and an empty nest is on the horizon.

I keep hearing questions of “are you okay with this?” and “what are you going to do when she’s gone?” If I only focus on the fact that our daughter will no longer be living under our roof 24/7, my vision is clouded and unbalanced. I must also focus on this as natural—it's time for her to spread her wings and fly. I remember when I left Michigan headed to Nashville, Tennessee, my mom told others, “I put her in God’s hands long ago, and as she leaves for college that fact remains the same. I must trust Him to hold her tight.” This is now coming full circle in my own life.

Will there be days when I experience blurred vision as tears come, and it is hard to embrace this as normal for her to leave the nest? Yes. However, I cannot stay focused there. I must remember there will be days when I’m overjoyed as she reaches a milestone on her own. It will be a continual process of focus and balance.

The key to living a balanced life is to keep our focus on God. Dictionary.com describes balanced as being "in harmonious or proper arrangement or adjustment, proportion, etc." It defines focus as a "central point, as of attraction, attention, or activity." Our central point must be God. Our attraction and attention must be on God. Will there be days when other things distract causing us to lose focus? Sure. But we cannot stay distracted. We must live a life of focus and balance with our center always being on God.

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with Allison I open my eyes and look out my window to see the Eiffel Tower surrounded by warm sunshine. I can smell strong coffee and freshly baked pastries and hear soft accordion music. I step out of bed, throw open my window, and think to myself, “This is the dream” … because it’s just that—only a dream.

The reality is, I live on the opposite side of France from Paris, so no Eiffel Tower views for me. If I smell strong coffee and freshly baked pastries, it’s because I got up, dressed, and took the 10-minute bus ride to buy them. And I often wake to the sound of a leaf blower as the gardeners tend to the courtyard of my apartment complex. Although I am blessed to live in a beautiful country, I still live my life much the same as I did in Kentucky. Now, I just live it on the other side of the world.

Every day I still have chores around the house, errands to run, and students to teach. I still have to remind myself to slow down and spend time with the Lord. I still have to push myself to leave my introverted comfort zone, (where I just want to stay home or avoid talking to people). These things I’ve done my entire adult life, and I’m sure you do much the same.

I’ve come to realize that daily life is similar no matter where you live. The key is to remember that no matter where we are, God still calls us to His service and gives us opportunities to make His name known, whether that’s in a place with an Eiffel Tower view or not.

About the Writers: Allison and Jacob serve in restricted areas with

The Hanna Project.

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with Jacob There is no such thing as a 'normal' day with THP in southern France. I wake up before 7 AM, make coffee, listen to worship music, and read my Bible. Most mornings a friend picks me up, or I ride the bus, or walk to Le Projet Hanna Center.

At the center, I either observe an English class, help with a computer class, or tutor an Algerian man in English. Once or twice a week I go to our Tunisian friend’s snack shop and get a kebab sandwich. It is one of the few spicy things I’ve been able to find in France!

In the afternoon I usually buy groceries, get bread from the boulangerie (bakery), or grab a coffee from the church-operated café. Toward the weekend, I work on my French Food Friday video.

Wednesday and Thursday evenings I teach an English conversation class on Zoom. Other evenings might find me talking with my language partner Tim, attending a young adult Bible study, or playing spikeball in the park with friends. Dinner is around 8 PM (typical for France) and I go to bed around midnight.

This has been my schedule for the past month, but it’s quite different from my 18-class-hours-a-week university schedule. That changes in June when I start my summer French intensives, then again in the fall when I’m teaching more English classes plus back in university.

It’s hard to describe a 'normal' day because the 'laid-backness' of southern France makes changing plans pretty standard. The “quart d'heure aixoise” is a stereotype which means someone in Aix can be a quarter hour late for something and no one will ask questions. While I still try to be on time and punctual, the southern part of France values the person in front of you more than the schedule in your pocket. That is what it looks like to go behind the scenes with me and THP in southern France.

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My good friend, Barbara, was born blind with nystagmus and retinal degeneration. She spent the first years of her life in an orphanage then to foster care at age three. When Barbara was six, a social worker took her to The School for The Blind in Raleigh, North Carolina, and at age 12 dedicated Christians adopted her. At age 13, her mother led her to the Lord.

After graduation from high school, she became the first blind student to attend Mount Olive College in North Carolina. Later, she transferred to East Carolina University, majoring in social work.

Upon graduation, she faced the challenge of finding employment.

After a very discouraging year and a half, Barbara was hired as a social worker for the blind in New Bern, North Carolina. She rented an apartment and hired dependable people for drivers. In God’s providence, one driver was a Free Will Baptist lady. Barbara ended up marrying her son, Jerry.

It is impressive to see all that Barbara can do. She is a highly intelligent and musically talented woman with an amazing Christian testimony. For her church Barbara plays the piano, the organ, and often, the violin. She has perfect pitch and sings alto in the choir and ensembles, which means spending hours transferring words and notes to Braille. For years Barbara served on the board of directors and later became board chairman and director of the Radio Reading Service of Eastern North Carolina. Always active in WAC, she served as program director in her local church and district coordinator. Barbara's blindness has not hindered her from being at woman with true 20/20 spiritual vision!

About the Writer: Glenda Fulcher, former missionary to Panama and Uruguay.

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JULY STUDY

Blended Vision

I scratched my glasses.

I’m not talking about a little scratch. I’m talking about rubbing against the can of spray-on sunscreen in my backpack while I walked for an hour on the beach carving a really big gash right in the middle of the (formerly) no-line bifocal.

At first, I tried to clean that annoying spot—I even took soap and water and tried to wash it away. No luck. When I realized it was indeed a bad scratch and my glasses were not wearable (unless I kept one eye closed), I was in a fix.

We went straight to Dollar Tree and bought three pairs of reading glasses (one for the computer, one for books, and one spare).

Then I spent the next six weeks pulling them on and off, trying to adjust, trying to keep up with the ones I needed, trying to focus on the person in my office then back to the computer screen or page we were discussing.

After I finally saw the eye doctor for a new prescription and waited for the lens replacement in my frames, I was so thankful when my new glasses were back, and I could see again. Yes, those Verilux progressive lens no-line bifocals cost an arm and a leg, but I believe they are worth it. Vision is so important to us! If you don’t (yet) depend on a pair of bifocals like I do, you should thank the Lord for good eyes! We are blessed to live in the twenty-first century when modern healthcare enables us to read or drive or see the screen even when our natural eyes are less than perfect. Some people have the “far and near” contact lenses—where one eye adjusts for distance vision and the other for closeup views. Friends say it takes time to master, but

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soon they see clearly.

We expect to do it automatically—to see without effort or concentration. We expect to see near and far—all at once.

In our lives as believers, that is God’s expectation for us, too—to see the needs of others, near and far away, all at once.

FOCUS God wants our focus to be first on Him.

• Even when we are overwhelmed and do not know what to do, we can be centered in God’s presence and assured of His help. What declaration in 2 Chronicles 20:12 is a be- ginning point for our spiritual vision?

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In the race of life, where are we looking, according to Hebrews 12:1-2? If our eyes are “on the prize,” we have direction and motivation for the race (Philippians 3:14).

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What should we follow, and where should our thoughts and affections be focused, according to Colossians 3:1-2?

Let’s set our sights on those things!

FIRST STEP When Jesus is in His appropriate place, we then must turn to the work He has given us to do. We are attentive to His direction and the clear plan He has for sharing the gospel. Acts 1:8 records some of Christ’s last instructions to His disciples before He ascended into Heaven. Turn there to review some of the elements of His plan The first and essential step of His plan was the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. What disaster we have without tapping into this resource! The third Person of the Trinity is the electricity in the wire, the turbo in the charger, the juice in the battery! Without His intervention, strength, and help, our efforts are for nothing.

God’s Word describes the ministry of the Holy Spirit, both in who He is and in what He does.

• He is a __________ of the Father (Luke 11:13 and Acts 5:32).

• He is our _____________ and our ______________ (John 14:26).

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JULY STUDY • He is ________________________________________ (1 John 5:6).

• He is ______________________ (2 Corinthians 3:17).

• He is _______________________ (Romans 8:10).

• He _________________________ of Jesus (John 15:26).

• He will _______________ us in _______________ (John 16:13).

• He ________________________ for us (Romans 8:26).

What are other roles of the Holy Spirit meaningful for you?

What does the Holy Spirit do in your own life?

Acts 4:31 reminds us that when the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, they spoke the good news of salvation with boldness.

In our lives, too, we must rely on the Spirit’s power to boldly share the gospel—nearby and far away.

JERUSALEM Start at home.

That was the instruction of Jesus Christ when He commissioned the disciples in Acts 1:8. There in Jerusalem, their own city and community, they would begin to share the message. This strategy accomplishes several things.

First, every believer is involved. Location does not limit anyone!

Also, this base of believers encourages teamwork, idea generation, and financial resources permitting the gospel to go beyond our local area. The supply line of funding and volunteers enables a believer, a family, a church, or a group of churches to reach further than they could alone.

As part of our everyday lifestyle, we are witnesses of the gospel.

It’s not about going to church. Yes, we regularly gather together to worship and learn. But sharing the good news with our local community isn’t about what happens in our church building.

Buying groceries or gas, clocking in at work, attending the PTA meeting, or working out at the gym—those are opportunities to shine like lights in a dark world. How does that look?

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It looks like courtesy and patience.

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It looks like joy and peace.

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It looks like endurance in hard times.

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It looks like thoughtfulness and kindness.

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It looks like unselfishness.

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It looks like dependability.

Admit it. Those characteristics will make you stand out from the crowd! You give witness to the gospel by the relationships you build and your daily conduct in the workplace and marketplace of daily living. Your community should recognize that you belong to Christ.

What does Acts 4:13 say about what others noticed about Peter and John?

There’s a place, though, that should see your testimony of the gospel even before the community sees it. (Watch your toes!)

That’s your home.

Often it is easier to bear witness to Christ on the job or out in public than with our own families. The people who know us best sometimes see us at our worst—our most crabby, selfish, moody, inconsistent selves. And it ain’t pretty.

In fact, our families may be turned off to the gospel when we act one way in public and another way at home. They tune in to the hypocrisy and false front. We not only fail to share the good news, but we build barriers to it by our actions at home.

What do Deuteronomy 6:5-7 and the echo of that passage in Deuteronomy 11:18-21 instruct parents to do?

Read about the covenant between God and His people that focused on families staying true to the Lord in Deuteronomy 14 treasure

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JULY STUDY 29:10-19. Can you echo the prayer for your family in verse 18?

What was Noah’s purpose for building the ark, according to Hebrews 11:7?

When the Philippian jailer came to Christ in Acts 16, who came with him (according to verses 31 and 34)? Is this true for your household, too?

As you follow Christ’s command to start at Jerusalem, draw your circle very small and begin by sharing the gospel in your own home. Use every opportunity to authentically show the difference knowing Jesus makes, even in your own family.

JUDEA Reach beyond your community. We are often nearsighted, seeing the needs in our neighborhood or church but forgetting those that extend beyond our comfort zone. Our Lazy Boy recliners are rubbing off on us.

We need to ask the Lord to help us see others as He sees them, to be sensitive to their needs, to reach out to rescue them in their distress.

What did Jesus teach about reaching out to the imprisoned, hungry, needy, and sick in Matthew 25:31-46?

We have examples in Acts of disciples who stepped out of their comfort zones to minister to others.

In Acts 8, Philip was commanded to go away from the powerful revival in Jerusalem to the desert in Gaza. There he met a man unlike himself—a different background, probably a different skin color, and other notable differences. What do we know about their interaction? One thing we know for sure is that God set up the JUL-SEPT 2021

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meeting, prepared the Ethiopian’s seeking heart, and enabled Philip to introduce him to Jesus. It made all the difference for the Ethiopian, and undoubtedly for his community, as the gospel continued to spread.

In Acts 17, Paul was the one given unusual opportunities when he visited Athens. He stood up with philosophers and testified of “the unknown God,” the creator and judge of the world.

What were the responses of the philosophers in Athens?

(See verses 32-34.)

Could Philip and Paul have backed away from these 'uncomfortable' opportunities to share the gospel outside their communities? What would the results have been? What opportunities is God setting up for you?

THE ENDS OF THE EARTH Think of God’s plan as a target or series of concentric circles. As the message continues to expand, ring after ring, the gospel travels further. The ultimate goal is for every people group to hear the good news of Jesus Christ and find forgiveness of sin.There is no other plan.

You’ve worked a crossword or jigsaw puzzle before when you’ve gotten stumped in a section of the puzzle. Nothing seems to be working—so you start another section of the puzzle and kind of work backward to fill in some of those missing letters or pieces.

The gospel has traveled in the same way. When some believers fail to continue to the next circle with the message of redemption, God starts another path, a new route. He is intentional about every tribe and every nation. We need to share His heart and get busy doing our part.

How is the end of the age dependent on reaching the ends of the earth? Read Jesus’ own words in Matthew 24:14 and explain.

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JULY STUDY When the end has come, and we are all gathered to worship the Lamb, how will we know that God’s plan worked, according to Revelation 5:9?

PROGRESSIVE LENSES We are talking about progressive lenses here—not having to put on and pull off two or three pairs of glasses to see clearly. That means you wear them all at once—seeing up close and far away through the same pair of glasses or contacts with automatic adjustments.

Let’s apply that to God’s Acts 1:8 plan. Don’t see these circles of outreach as sequential. Instead, see them as simultaneous, concurrent—both near and far, both close and distant. And the wonderful thing is they inform and extend one another. Our families are stronger when we help them see the needs of others around the world. Our churches are stronger when we unite to reach the community or support the work of cross-cultural ministry. Our impact on the world is better when we provide models of strong homes and healthy churches. Each circle feeds the others as we follow God’s plan to share the gospel with all people. Ask Him today to give you a vision of your next step.

Bottom line: I believe the Lord would have me respond today to His commission in Acts 1:8 by:

About the Writer: Carol Reid is the senior editor for FUSION Family and FUSION Next devotional magazines at Randall House Publications.

She and her husband Garnett worship at The Donelson Fellowship (Nashville) and have two great sons, two wonderful daughters-in-law, and four marvellous grandchildren.

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Mother's Day Emphasis Offering Contributors Pine Level FWBC, Georgia Pam Hackett, South Carolina Jean McCraney, Alabama Arkansas WAC Georgia WAC Ohio WAC South Carolina WAC Unity Church, Greenville, NC Sarah Sargent, Ohio Jeannie Sargent, Ohio Elizabeth Hodges, Tennessee Garner WAC, North Carolina

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Jonda Patton, Kentucky Amy Johnson, Illinois Chesapeake First, West Virginia Calvary WAC, North Carolina Pam Cordial, Ohio Katie Postlewaite, South Carolina Marchelle Foshee, Arkansas Lee Ann Wilfong, Missouri Sue MacGill, California Wendy Briscoe, Mississippi Jessica Edwards, Tennessee Geri Baker, Ohio Linda Cook, Illinois

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Does It Really Matter

How I View the World?

I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.

Psalm 101:3 For many years psychologists have used projective assessments to try to understand people’s problems. Perhaps the most famous one is the Rorschach inkblot test.

The therapist shows a series of ink blotches and asks the client what they see. The theory is that what they see is something that comes from the unconscious and will help the therapist understand what the underlying cause of the issue(s) is the client presents.

There is also the TAT (Thematic Apperception Test) in which the therapist shows a series of pictures and asks the client what is happening in the picture. Again, the theory is what they see are reflections of what is inside them. Well, as a student of psychology, I don’t place a lot of capital in projective techniques to reveal hidden issues, but it does remind me that we all view life and our world in a particular way.

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That is, we all have a lens through which we look and interpret life and our world. We call it our worldview. Whether we recognize and acknowledge it or not, we all have a worldview. There have always been several differing worldviews. However, with modern technology and media, secular worldviews are rapidly changing the American cultural landscape.

Christ compels us to have a Christian worldview, or perhaps better stated, a Biblical worldview. That is, we view all of life through the lens of Scripture. Have you ever been frustrated in church or Sunday School when you hear a speaker begin by saying, “I think…”? I always want to scream, “I don’t care what you think. What does the Bible say?” I restrain my oft wayward tongue, because I realize I say the same thing far more often than I wish.

Regardless of what we think or feel, the bottom line is what does God say.

Maybe an example will be helpful. One of the “hot” issues today is the realities of immigration in America. Most of us will have certain opinions or ways of looking at the issue. Some will look at it from a geopolitical view, others a social view, or even an anthropological view. But what does the Bible say about immigration? If you want to do an interesting study, go to a good concordance or a Bible app and search “strangers in our land.” I will let you draw your own conclusions.

So, what is a worldview and does it really matter? Worldview in its basic form answers three critical questions:

Where did we come from, and why are we here?

What went wrong with the world?

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How can we fix it?

AUGUST STUDY The non-Biblical worldview most often espoused today is naturalism. Naturalism answers the three questions like this: • Where we came from is simply a product of random acts of nature. There is no real underlying purpose for us.

• What went wrong…we do not respect nature as we ought.

• We can fix it by giving widespread attention to ecological and conservation issues.

A naturalistic worldview gives birth to other common philosophies such as moral relativism, existentialism, pragmatism, and utopianism.

However, a Christian or biblical worldview answers the same three basic questions: • Where did we come from? We are created by God and uniquely designed to govern the world and fellowship with Him (Genesis 1:27-28; 2:15).

• What went wrong? We sinned against a holy God and subjected all of mankind to a curse (Genesis 3).

• The fix is God Himself, who redeemed the world through the atoning sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ (Genesis 3:15; Luke 19:10), and will one day restore creation to the perfect form in which it was designed (Isaiah 65:17-25).

A biblical worldview will give rise to a belief in moral absolutes, human dignity, and the possibility of redemption.

Our worldview is not simply a religious concept but governs our entire life and how we think about who we are and what we do.

Colson and Pearcy, in their book, How Shall We Now Live, describe the Christian worldview, Genuine Christianity is more than a relationship with Jesus, as expressed in personal piety, church attendance, Bible study, and works of charity. It is more than discipleship, more than believing a system of doctrines about God. Genuine Christianity is a way of seeing and comprehending all of reality. It is a worldview.

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Let’s stop here for a moment and ask a few honest questions:

Application: How would you describe your worldview in a few brief sentences?

What are some other Scriptures that might answer the three basic questions other than the ones listed previously?

In what area of your life do you struggle the most while maintaining a biblical worldview?

If we are not intentional and observant, everyday culture that is progressively moving away from biblical foundations will reshape our worldview. The media has become the preachers and teachers of our day.

Culture is dynamic; that is, it is constantly changing. Culture and change are not bad in and of themselves, but they need to be moored in Biblical truth. A couple of my friends often say, “We want to be biblically accurate but culturally relevant.”

There are two dangers. One is that we will isolate ourselves from culture to the extent of 22 treasure

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paralyzing our effectiveness to reach that culture for the glory of Christ. We are not to isolate ourselves but to be agents of change in a fallen world.

We are to be peculiar people—not weird (1 Peter 2:9; Titus 2:14). Have you ever been with followers of Christ who were so culturally maladapted they were more of a repellent than attractant? "Peculiar" suggests we are different in a way that would make people curious. That curiosity is a product of a different worldview. They are curious because we are different than them. We are differ-

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A second danger is that we will sit passively by and allow the culture to shape our worldview, rather than using it as a springboard to present the gospel. We simply complain that it isn’t like it was in the old days. Do you know what they complained about in the old

days? They would say, “It isn’t like it was in the old days.” Just a reminder, these are someone’s “old days.” Unfortunately for many who name the name of Christ, we sit idly by and are not keen observers of what is transpiring around us. In Acts 17, Paul was very observant of the culture around him in Athens. Read what he says:

“For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you” (Acts 17:23).

Paul made keen observations about the cultural landscape where he found himself and used it to confront the culture, not isolate himself from it.

If you visit or talk to missionaries from Africa and other parts of the world, you will discover that the evil one and his demonic forces often use incredibly open and blatant spiritual encounters that would make the latest horror movies seem tame. They rarely talk about them because those living in a post-modern culture would struggle with the integrity of the stories.

But as Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus, the evil one uses various “schemes” (plural).

Here his attacks are far subtler.

Have you noticed that everyday adults and teenagers watch TV shows and movies that, as a teenager, I could not go to the theater to watch because they would have been R-rated? Yet, Christian homes view them every day. The evil one is alive and on the prowl.

To understand what God wants, it is important to understand the cultural milieu (setting) in which we live and in which our worldview is shaped.

Clint Morgan, General Director at IM, defines culture as "the sum of all learned behavior."

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Behaviors come from our VALUES and our values are based on what we BELIEVE. Kwast model, let’s us look at culture, regardless of where the culture is located—in the savannah lands of Africa, the Appalachian, the suburbs of Paris, or downtown Manhattan.

So, if I dropped you into a culture outside your own, the first thing you observe is their behavior. What and how do they eat? How do they greet each other? How do genders interact with each other? How do they dress? You are just making observations about behaviors.

But no behavior happens in a vacuum. There are reasons why people do what they do.

When we probe a little deeper, we develop an understanding of the reasons for the culture’s behavior. Kwast’s model answers the why questions–the second step in understanding culture. Behaviors are a product of our values, that is, what is good or best. Kwast notes that “values are pre-set decisions that culture makes between choices commonly faced. It helps those who live within the culture to know what ‘should’ or ‘ought’ to be done to 24 treasure

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‘fit’ in or conform to a pattern of life.” Should I work overtime or attend my child’s ballgame or recital? What ought to be my work ethic? Am I intentional about relationships?

But values are not snatched out of the air. Our values, Kwast argues, are birthed in our beliefs, that is, what is true.

As Christ-followers, we hold the Scriptures to be true. It is imperative then that we become students of the Word. We must commit ourselves to the systematic study of the Bible. If you are in culture for very long, you will notice there will be those whose behaviors and values appear opposite of what they say they believe. Kwast makes an interesting observation, “The problem arises from the confusion within the culture between operating beliefs (the belief that affects values and behavior) and theoretical beliefs (stated creeds which have little or no practical impact on values and behavior).”

Behaviors come from our values, and our values are based on what we believe, but Kwast suggests that we go one step further. Our beliefs are based on our worldview or what is real.

What is real returns to our three basic questions, where did we come from and why are we here?

What went wrong with the world?

AUGUST STUDY How can we fix it? Is there more to life than what we gather from our senses, or is there something more?

Does your worldview matter? Yes! Absolutely! The psalmist’s words echo as true today as they did when he wrote it long ago.

“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me” (Psalm 101:3).

Application: How does understanding Kwast’s model inform your faith journey?

How do you think this framework helps you understand the cultural context of the culture you are in?

Watch one of the TV shows or movies you enjoy and look at it through the lens of the Kwast model (WARNING, it may change your viewing habits!)

Notes Colson, C. & Pearcy, N. (1999). How shall we now live. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishing.

Scripture is from the KJV. Kwast, L. (2009). Understanding culture. In R.D. Winter. & S.C. Hawthorne, S.C. (Eds.) Perspective on the world Christian movement: A reader. (pp.397-399). Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.

About the Writer: Neil Gilliland is the director of member care, mobilization, and the candidate shepherd at IM, Inc. He also serves as adjunct professor at Liberty University. Neil and his wife, Sheila, have one married daughter and one grandson. In his free time, Neil is an avid sports fan (especially Ohio State football), fishes every moment he can, and listens to bluegrass music.

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From My Perspective

by Keith Burden

Their husbands take front and center stage. By contrast, they serve in virtual anonymity—and that’s how most prefer it. I’m talking, of course, about Free Will Baptist pastors’ wives. They are, in my estimation, among the key unsung heroes in our denomination.

Generally, the expectation level for the average pastor falls within the unrealistic category. Frankly, most of our pastors could not carry out their ministry without the assistance and support of their wives. If I had to identify a singular contribution these women make, it would be maintaining balance.

An out-of-balance life has the potential to prematurely end a pastor’s ministry. His health and his family can be adversely affected. He might experience burnout. Notorious for overestimating their own ability and underestimating a task, men (especially pastors) need help maintaining balance.

That’s where the pastor’s wife comes in. God has gifted most of them with the uncanny ability to bring order out of chaos. Her sense of objectivity helps her husband keep things in perspective when he encounters criticism or comes under attack. Her welltimed words of praise keep him encouraged. Her honesty keeps him humble.

Unfortunately, these unsung heroes often go unnoticed. It isn’t intentional or deliberate; it just happens. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. This situation is one hundred percent correctable.

Each year, many Free Will Baptist churches set aside a special day when they honor their pastor (i.e., Pastor Appreciation Sunday). Every congregation should consider doing something similar for the pastor’s wife. A gift card to a shopping mall or spa, dinner at a nice restaurant with her husband (with childcare provided), flowers, an all-expense-paid trip to a Christian women’s conference are just a few of the many possibilities.

These are more than just good ideas. These things are an investment that will pay long-term dividends for your pastor and your church. So, take care of the person who takes care of your pastor.

It could be the most significant step you take in helping him keep his balance.

Adapted by permission from Together With God, 2007 26 treasure

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SEPTEMBER STUDY

A One-Act Biblical Drama What happens when our eyes get out of sync? We can’t see clearly. Everything is out of focus.

The ophthalmologist might prescribe monovision therapy where a single contact lens is worn in one eye for near vision, and the other eye wears a lens for seeing distance. The result is ‘balanced vision.’

Balance is an even distribution—not too much or too little of anything in all aspects of our lives. Think about all the things we try to balance—God, fam-

ily, church, work, play, rest, and that is only a partial list. Finding balance in our living is a continual process, and, yes, it is complicated.

It takes a deliberate effort to control and conserve our time and attention. Scripture includes an event where Jesus addresses the issue of focus and balance.

(Read Luke 10:38-42.)

Scene I Our story opens as Jesus and His disciples are making the journey to Jerusalem.

Narrator: “Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village:” (Luke 10:38a) John 11:1 tells us this village was Bethany, a small town about two miles from Jerusalem.

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Narrator: (Luke 10:38b) “…and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.”

In those days, hospitality was important. Guests were welcomed with a kiss, sandals removed, feet washed, and heads greased with refreshing, perfumed oil. Martha, who obviously possessed the gift of hospitality, and also a deep love for Jesus, “received him into her house,” without hesitation.

Head of her household, Martha was an influential citizen of Bethany and a devoted follower of Jesus. She was probably a widow, living in the house inherited from her husband, and, as the oldest child, she had opened her home to siblings,

Mary and Lazarus. She was personable, capable, and responsible—and bold as demonstrated when she later speaks her mind.

Jesus and this family were very dear friends. Needing to find rest, Jesus knew this home would welcome Him. It is important to stop and consider that Jesus’ entourage could easily total 13 people (Jesus + 12 disciples), plus any interested stragglers who were following along.

Thirteen people (to welcome in the traditional way), plus Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, totalled at least 16+ people to host and feed.

Narrator: “And she had a sister called Mary,” (Luke 10:39a) Mary, Martha’s younger sister, was characteristically passive and quiet. In John 12:3, Mary demonstrated her deep love for Jesus by pouring expensive per-

fume over His feet.

Though definitely opposites in personality, these two sisters loved Jesus and served Him faithfully.

Narrator: “...which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word” (Luke 10:39c).

Many commentators believe Mary possibly entered the house with Jesus and the 28 treasure

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disciples, for Jesus had many women followers. When Jesus sat down, Mary, eager to listen

SEPTEMBER STUDY and learn, immediately sat down at his feet, the position of a student. Other commentators interpret this phrase to mean Martha sat down at Jesus’ feet and Mary “also sat.” Martha desired to sit and listen, too, but her mind was reeling—she had guests! She could not sit long.

Application: Do you have the gift of hospitality? How would you react if your pastor and the 15-member church board showed up for dinner unannounced?

Are you a ‘Martha’ in personality? Does being a Martha often throw you out of balance? If so, how do you get back in balance?

Who was more spiritual, Mary or Martha? Explain your answer.

Scene 2 Martha left Jesus and busied herself taking care of feeding her numerous guests. The passage does not say, but Mary probably helped briefly. (It is

hard to believe she shirked the obvious responsibilities.) But her heart was not in it. She longed to be back with Jesus, so she abandoned Martha.

Narrator: “But Martha was cumbered about much serving,” (Luke 10:40a).

Let’s change a word: “Martha was burdened about much serving.” Consider that Martha’s meal preparation ceased to be a joy and turned into a burden.

What kind of menu had her tied up in knots? A festive menu in those days might look like this: Main entrée: Roasted lamb with mint sauce (1½-2 hours to roast).

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Side dishes: Chard salad with lentils and beans, mustard greens, artichokes Bread: Homemade Dessert: Pear compote (made with dried pears boiled in wine and water together with honey) Her supper mushroomed into a feast and caused her much stress and anxiety. Yes, her heart desired to serve her absolute best to the Savior, but her service as a way of ‘worship’ turned idolatrous. Distracted by her labors, she lost her focus; a perfect meal occupied her mind and heart more than Jesus did.

She wasn’t seeing 20/20 anymore; she was out of balance.

Have you ever been in the kitchen preparing your elaborate meal and the conversation from the living room sounded so inviting? You could not cancel the meal, nor could you jump ship. Martha’s feelings exactly! And besides, how often would she have the opportunity to entertain the Savior of the world? She decided this meal had to be perfect, even if it killed her! And it looked like it might. She needed help and resolutely went to get it.

Narrator: “and came to him, and said,” (Luke 10:40b) Martha: (pitiful, frustrated, bold, demanding) “Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?

Bid her therefore that she help me” (Luke 10:40).

Martha understood that Jesus was comfortably approachable.

They were dear friends. She could ask Him anything. “Lord, dost thou not care?” Martha’s self-pity moved her to try to guilt Jesus. And she was so selffocused. ”… MY sister hath left ME … Bid her therefore that she help ME.” She clearly resented

Mary’s decision to sit with Jesus.

Was Martha trying to say: “I love you, too. I want to be sitting with you, too. But someone has to feed this crowd. In this moment, isn’t this what I am supposed to do?” Martha compared her circumstances to Mary’s, and she felt mistreated. That comparison stole her joy in serving.

Application: What is wrong with wanting to make an impressive meal? Have you ever done something to win someone’s approval?

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SEPTEMBER STUDY Motivation is the key. Right down several Scripture passages on pride.

How do you keep your service to God in balance—making it truly an act of worship? (Matthew 22:37; Colossians 3:23; Deuteronomy 10:20)

Can the routine (cooking for your family, washing dishes) be transformed into something holy? Read Colossians 3:17. Find other Scriptures that support this idea.

Scene 3 Narrator: “And Jesus answered and said unto her,” (Luke 10:41a) Before she ever approached Him, Jesus already knew Martha’s anxiety and her loss of

focus. Despite her demanding complaint, He knew her heart and He loved her.

Jesus: (the God-man, Savior of the world, Teacher, omniscient, omnipotent, Miracle-Worker, the One Who loves deeply and unconditionally, spoke to His dear friend with tenderness and compassion): “Martha, Martha,” (Luke 10:41b) Jesus was neither angry nor frustrated with her. Frazzled, distracted, maybe a trifle mad and definitely out of balance, Martha came to Jesus, and He

accepted her ‘just as she was.’

Yes, He was disappointed in her sin, but listen to the intimacy and tenderness as He repeats her name, “Martha, Martha.”

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Maybe He reached out and touched her. His presence en-

veloped her with such deep love that His rebuke had no sting.

Jesus: “thou art careful and troubled about many things:” (Luke 10:41c) Notice Jesus did not say, “You have it all wrong, Martha!”

Because she did not have it ALL wrong. He recognized this elaborate meal preparation was all done for Him—this was Martha’s act of worship; thus, the tenderness in His response.

Martha’s meal had grown into a banquet to impress. She slipped past her act of service and worship and slipped into sin. Losing her focus on the One

for Whom she was serving, she became self-serving.

Jesus did not say, “Martha, you should not have fixed this meal.”(Although had she asked, Jesus could have easily fed this crowd.) He did not condemn her for her activity but used the moment to point out that her motives were hindering her spiritually. Serving Jesus should not cause anxiety and stress.

Serving Him should bring joy.

Application: Like Martha, are you worried and anxious about many things? Read Psalm 46:10. Meditate on Who God really is.

How can this verse help you?

What advice would you give Martha about achieving balance in her life?

Jesus: “But one thing is needful:” (Luke 10:42a)

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that needs our focus is Jesus and His Gospel. To learn more about Him and to love Him more deeply, full immersion into

SEPTEMBER STUDY His Presence and His Word is imperative. With Jesus as our

priority, He will bring balance to every aspect of our lives.

Jesus: “…and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42b).

Mary knew a meal needed to be prepared, but she also realized the significance of Jesus’ visit. Even though it angered her sister, Mary rightfully chose the ‘good part.’

In those days learning about Jesus and knowing Him better required spending time with Him. Mary understood that Jesus spoke the words of salvation and eternal life—intan-

gibles that could not be taken from her.

(Jesus’ response to Martha was not exactly what she wanted to hear, but His words did not fall on deaf ears. John 12:2 finds Martha serving supper to Jesus again with no complaints.

She had learned how to stay balanced.)

And abruptly, the story is over—The End.

Application: What did Mary have that Martha needed?

What was the “good part” that Mary chose?

How do you make Jesus your number one priority? Proverbs 16:3; Psalm 37:5; Matthew 22:27

Scripture does not give Martha’s response. But what could have happened next?

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Released from the stress that held her captive, Martha replied, “Yes, Lord.” Lovingly chastised, she felt no ill-will towards Jesus or Mary. Instead, she felt totally and completely loved. Going back to the kitchen, she quickly changed the menu to roasted lamb sandwiches and salad and immediately served the meal. (Those are my thoughts, what are yours?)

If Jesus has sanctioned both work and worship, how do busy women find the needed balance? Here is a list that might help you.

1—Give everything in your life to God. 2—Ask Him to set your priorities.

3—Limit distractors. Set your time with God first, then add service and activities back carefully and prayerfully.

4—Focus on what God leads you to do.

5—Ask God to direct each day; allow the Holy Spirit to set limits to keep you in balance.

God calls us to love and to serve. If He calls us to do both, then certainly He will help us balance both. Martha was not wrong to serve; she was wrong when her serving caused her to lose focus on the One she was serving, and it threw her out of balance. God wants us to be productive, but He also wants us to rest and enjoy times of fellowship with Him, too (Matthew 11:28-30). Never try to work for Christ without taking time to commune with Him. A living, personal relationship with Him is just too important to ignore.

We might say, hey, if Jesus were here in person, I would definitely stop what I was doing and sit and listen to Him! Well, think about it—He IS here—living in our hearts and speaking to us through His Word and our prayers. Don’t waste the blessing of His Presence; make Him your priority.

In Gilbert, Arizona, Redemption Church embraces this precept: “ALL OF LIFE IS ALL FOR JESUS.” A simple statement, but if we genuinely believe it and live by it, Jesus will keep us balanced and focused on the “good part,” Himself.

Charles Wesley beautifully captures the meaning of Luke 10:3834 treasure

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SEPTEMBER STUDY 42 in his hymn, “Lo! I Come with Joy.” Lo! I come with joy to do The Master’s blessed will, Him in outward works pursue, And serve His pleasure still; Faithful to my Lord’s commands, I still would choose the better part: Serve with careful Martha’s hand, And loving Mary’s heart.

About the Writer: Dari Goodfellow and her husband, Sandy, live with their daughter and family in Gilbert, Arizona. They are daily enjoying four (out of nine) wonderful grandchildren.

Have you read the recent article in the June/July issue of www.onemag.org (page 14-18)?

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thirtysomethings

by Sarah Sargent

I wore glasses for six years before I was finally able to wear contacts.

Throughout those six years, I “tried” contacts multiple times. The first time I couldn’t grasp the concept of putting the lens in my eye properly. In the morning if I managed to get them in, at night I struggled relentlessly to get them out. That was not going to work, so I went back to glasses. A couple of years later, I decided to try contacts again. That challenge was finding contacts that worked with my extremely dry eyes. One time when I was driving, I blinked and one lense popped out like a popcorn kernel in the microwave—obviously a sign to go back to glasses.

Six years ago, I tried Acuvue Oasys contacts and finally said goodbye to glasses.

Have you ever seen contacts after they have been out of your eye or contact solution for a while? They start to dry out and turn to hard, little pieces of plastic. In that state you would never try to wear them. It would be unbearably painful and ridiculously hard to correctly rest against your cornea. This reminds me of Jesus and us. If we try to interact with the world on our own, we are like wearing a dried-out contact lens. We rub people the wrong way.

We say and do painful things. We rarely fit seamlessly. We need solution. Our solution is Jesus Christ. When we commit our lives to Christ and allow Him to permeate every part of us, we can make a difference in the world. We can help those around us see their need for THE SOLUTION. So, the next time you see contacts, lens solution, or even eye drops, remember this analogy and allow God to flood your interactions with the world.

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).

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W

VISION by Elizabeth Hodges

Paul challenges us in Philippians 2:5 to “let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” Matthew sheds light on the mind of Christ when he penned, “the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (20:28). How do we measure up? Do we see the world as He does?

Or does our 'entitled bent' get in the way?

Ladies, we have been placed where we are at this specific time in history to be His hands and feet. God designed this before we were formed in our mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5). Our lives may be the only light to those around us. Are we reflecting Him? Can these people see, feel, and discern a difference? Are we peaceful in the midst of chaos? Do we serve expecting nothing in return?

Do we give sacrificially of our time, talents, and treasures? What a blessing that God allows ordinary people, you and me, to accomplish His Kingdom’s work.

Thanks so much for the privilege of serving as your director for the past 11 years. I have learned so much, seen God at work around the world, and loved being “part” of your lives. I have been richly blessed and do not take this for granted. Thanks for sharing your retreats, state meetings, and other crossing of paths with me.

You helped make this job enjoyable and fulfilling.

Now it is time for me to join ranks with you as we come alongside the seventh director of Free Will Baptist Women’s Ministries.

May she feel as loved and supported as I have. May God use her to lead us to broader impact and outreach. “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

Elizabeth Hodges has served as the director of WNAC since 2010.

She and her husband, Eddie, live in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and have three children and eight grandchildren. Elizabeth is ready to begin a new adventure when she retires from WNAC. You have served us well—Thank You! JUL-SEPT 2021

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P. O. Box 5002 Antioch, TN 37011-5002

www.wnac.org 877-767-7662

Institutional Investing The Board of Retirement’s institutional investing program partners with churches and other church organizations to help manage their assets to provide a greater return for funds they are holding for future long-term projects and growth that are meant for Kingdom work.

Free Will Baptist Board of Retirement 38 treasure

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PO Box 5002 Antioch, TN 37011-5002 1.877.767.7738 www.boardofretirement.com boardofretirement@nafwb.org