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page 4 Marriage Builder Marriage Killer: The Deceitfulness of Riches West Michigan Christian News | AUGUST 2010 WMCN Needs Help! the decision that she would be a stay-athome mom. Our total income that year ards, it’s never enough. That’s the deceitfulness of wealth. Their lives never bear We need your help. We are looking for stories of simple, unique activites that local churches or individuals are doing to minister to others in their lo- was $7,000, but we made the decision give fruit because they are always believing cal community, often with little fan- Jimmy Evans MarriageToday In the parable of the sower, Jesus says some people do not bear fruit because when they hear the Word of God, it never takes root because it is choked out by to the church. Both of those decisions were big sacrifices for us, but I believe that was when God really began to bless us. Today I thank God that we made those two decisions. The deceitfulness of riches tells you money can solve all your problems. But that lie. Do you want to be blessed beyond measure? Don’t seek riches. Seek God. Jimmy Evans is Teaching Pastor at Trinity Fellowship in Amarillo, Texas. He and his wife Karen are the founders fare or notice. Key words here are unique and simple. We want our readers to think, “Why, I could do that!” and then begin such a ministry, or find one of their own. Here’s an example: Bob frequently the cares of this world, the deceitfulness money can’t buy back a child who hates and hosts of MarriageToday, a marriage purchases gift cards for $5.00 to Big- of riches, and the desire for other things. (Mark 4:1-20) Marriages bear fruit, too. Some men and women love God, but their marriages are unfruitful for the same reasons Jesus gave. One thing that chokes out marital fruit is the second killer Jesus mentioned: money. “The deceitfulness of riches” is a marriagekiller . A lot of people believe money can solve you because you were never there. Nothing you give your children materially will make up for their loss of you. I can tell you that with absolute certainty. Money can’t cure the diseases that have been created because of the way you abused your body. It’s ironic how we ruin our health trying to earn money…so we can have enough money to buy our health back. ministry and an award-winning television program. Evans has authored several books focused on strengthening marriage. He and Karen have been married for over 35 years and have two adult children. Visit the MarriageToday website at www.marriagetoday.com. gby Coffee and, along with an oversized Hershey bar, gift wraps them, attaches a thank you note, and gives them to greeters and parking lot attendants on cold winter days. Please contact us at WMCN@com- Donate cast.net If desired, Your no Vehicle. names will be used. Change A Life! their problems, so they make sacrifices to And money can’t save your marriage get it. Couples end up running in opposite when your marriage is going downhill. It directions and never spending time together. Their relationship suffers as a result. But they believe these sacrifices are jus- doesn’t matter how big your house is or how nice your cars are. Money is a blessing, but the blessing of Donate Your Vehicle. Change A Life! tified because they can earn more money. God comes not from our frantic attempts We are doing this for our children, they tell themselves. But in reality, they are wasting today buying time for the future. Proverbs 10:22 says “The blessing of the Lord makes one rich and he adds no sorry to it.” to earn money, but from our commitment to doing the right thing. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus said “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” The deceitfulness of riches distracts Your donated vehicle to Volunteers In Service Your donated changes vehicle lives. to Donate Your Vehicle. 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westmichiganchristian.com page 5 'Experiencing God': 20 years, 45 languages by Sam House/Baptist Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Join God where He is working. That simple premise hasn’t changed during the two-decade history of “Experiencing God,” an interactive Bible study first published in 1990 that taught a radically God-centered way of life. Initially written by Henry Blackaby and Claude King, the material was revised and expanded in 2007 by Richard Blackaby, Henry Blackaby’s son. Now, 20 years since its debut, the workbook is available in more than 45 languages and has sold 7 million copies. Internationally, reader testimonials describe deeper and more intimate understandings of God’s desire for relationships with them that will change their lives forever. On a larger scale, Experiencing God has affected entire organizations, many of which credit the study with helping turn bad situations into good and bringing hope to tragic circumstances. IN PRISON In 1995, Burl Cain became the new warden at Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, arguably the most violent and dangerous prison in America. Knowing how God had used Experiencing God in his own life and believing that real change takes place in the heart, Cain soon introduced the workbook to the 5,200 inmates at Angola prison. Over time, more and more inmates responded to the message. Some felt called to serve as Christian ministers and began meeting with other inmates for worship and prayer. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary later opened an extension center at the prison, and more than 150 men have earned bachelor’s or associate’s degrees. Inmate volunteers built chapels on the prison grounds. To this day, inmate congregations continue to use Experiencing God to lead others to deeper relationships with Christ. Cain said that since inmates began studying Experiencing God, acts of violence have dropped 70 percent. Inmates have requested to be sent to other prisons where they can begin new ministries. Each year, 500 children get to spend a day with their incarcerated dads at a carnival, and an annual rodeo and craft show draws 15,000 people from the community to spend time with the inmates. Hospice care is available for dying inmates, and cardboard coffins have been replaced with polished wooden ones built by inmate carpenters. A sign at the prison gate paraphrases Philippians 3:13 and summarizes the thoughts of Cain and the men who have experienced God: “I don’t look to the past, I press on to the future.” IN HOSPITALS A January 2007 news story about an 18-year-old patient at Wolfson’s Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, Fla., led business- Euthanasia weighs evenly on U.S. morality scale by Charlie Butts - OneNewsNow Gallup’s most recent “Values and Beliefs” survey shows an even split among Americans on the issue of doctor-assisted suicide. While Americans find abortion morally wrong by a 50-to-38 percent margin, the poll shows they are split evenly (46% to 46%) when it comes to euthanasia. Rita Marker, president of the International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide (ITF), explains that does not mean more people are siding with proponents of assisted suicide. “Two years ago, 51 percent found it to be morally acceptable. It’s gone down five percentage points,” she reports. “The same way in 2008: 44 percent thought it was wrong; now 46 percent think it’s wrong. So since 2003, it has not been this much of a drop.” That means that over the past seven years, fewer people are finding the practice acceptable. Marker points out that there were higher rates for doctor-assisted suicide in previous polls when the question was acceptability on the basis of pain when nothing further could be done for a terminal illness. “But...none of the proposals that have been presented ever have said people have to be in pain,” she points out. “When people begin to recognize...that it’s just a diagnosis -- or as I say, misdiagnosis -- of a prediction on how long they have to live, that’s the only thing that’s required. It doesn’t have anything to do with pain.” So she concludes that this “misdiagnosis” has led people down a slippery slope to suicide for no legitimate reason. For example, people in Europe obtain help to end their lives for depression, which can be treated. Likewise, a spouse choosing to die at the same time their ailing mate commits suicide may seek assisted suicide. But realizing the divide among Americans on pro-life issues, advocates are working to change the hearts and minds by insisting that issues be framed properly. man Carldon Lahey to make a contribution to the hospital. His step led to the start of Christ’s Starfish Foundation, a program committed to helping non-cancer patients in pediatric hospitals and their families. Lahey traces the inspiration for the foundation to his Sunday School class’ study of Experiencing God. For him, the study became a spiritual marker -- a time of transition, decision or direction -- to which God had clearly guided him. “I learned that God initiates everything and everything came from Him,” Lahey said, noting that the concept changed his life. “I know that when God puts something in your hand, you run with it.” The program has expanded to children’s hospitals in other Florida cities. “We are trying to make a difference, one hurting family at a time, helping hurting children and their families in the name of Jesus Christ,” Lahey said. JOIN GOD WHERE HE IS WORKING Since its beginning in 1956, Emmanuel Baptist Church in Farmington, N.M., has been known as a church with a heart for missions. When Emmanuel studied Experiencing God as a congregation, one line in the material -- “You cannot be in relationship with God and not be on mission” -- convinced church members they should determine where God is working and join Him. Emmanuel supports a school, the local crisis pregnancy center and the crisis clos- (EP News)--The nation’s largest adoption agency reports that adoptions – international and domestic – have increased by 26 percent over last year. Bethany Christian Services has also seen a 19 percent increase in families stepping forward to begin the adoption process this year. Marc Andreas, vice president of marketing for Bethany, said, “People have been really touched by the tragedy in Haiti and witnessing the reality of the orphan crisis.” Bethany has partnered with many organizations to promote adoption, including Focus on the Family and the MTV reality show “16 and Pregnant.” In fact, one episode featured a Bethany birth mother who decided to place her baby with a family in North Carolina. “It was one of the most watched shows in all of MTV, on their network in et of the San Juan Baptist Association. The church also is known for helping people with their utility and rent bills, giving aid to victims of Hurricane Katrina and ministering to AIDS orphans and prisoners. The congregation has started five mission churches, one of which has grown to start a mission of its own. “There is just a lot our members are involved in, and they want to be,” Kirby Kennedy, a former pastor, said. “They want to give -- of their finances, of their gifts, of themselves -- because God is the greatest giver.” REVISED BUT UNCHANGED Through the years, LifeWay Christian Resources has published an entire family of Experiencing God resources, including an Experiencing the Word New Testament and the Experiencing God musical. The 2007 revision, adding Richard Blackaby as a co-author, offers DVD messages and new applications and stories. The vehicles carrying the message have changed, but the message remains the same. Experiencing God leads believers to know God intimately and encourages them to faithfully step out and join Him in His work -- with miraculous results. Sam House writes for LifeWay Christian Resources. For more information on “Experiencing God” materials, go to www.lifeway.com/experiencinggod. Adoptions increase 26 percent worldwide 2009,” Andreas said. Bill Blacquiere, president and CEO of Bethany, said while the numbers are encouraging, there’s more work to be done. “The figures Bethany released show strong improvement as we confront the global orphan crisis,” he said, “but the need still remains as there are still an incredible number of orphaned children who wait for their ‘forever family.’ “It is our vision that every child has a loving family, so we are working to find new families and identify supportive local communities. We all must contribute to take measurable and immediate action in order to find more families who can provide loving homes.” Join our e-news today! 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