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T H O U G H T F U L FA I T H . D E V O T E D L I V I N G .
THE FUN ISSUE

NOW
AVAILABLE IN
NIV
Between Mothers and Daughters

Meditations From the Sermons
DA I LY D EVOT I O NA LS
by Becky Stanley Brodersen

Photo by Charles F. Stanley
Heartened Toward Hope

Torres Del Paine, Chile
Contents
An Anchor of the Soul
of Charles F. Stanley
O N T H E C OV E R
SPECIAL FEATURE
A WO RD F RO M
B I B L E ST U DY
D R . STA N L EY
5 - 34
IN TOUCH
A Willing Servant
S POT L I G H T
45
37
16
3
3/4/15 10:10 AM
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2017
A BOOK FOR LIFE. ALL OF IT.

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lives take us. Now available in the accurate, readable, and clear New International Version,
The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible will help you navigate God’s Word with the same
30 principles that have guided Dr. Stanley for over 50 years.
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From the Publisher
09
17
09
17 Features
WE SHOULD PAY
ATTENTION TO THE
BLESSINGS ALL
AROUND US—LARGE
AND SMALL.
your family. Maybe your home

and belongings require unex-
pected and sometimes expen-
sive repairs, but rejoice in the
The Blessing of Happiness shelter and abundance of goods

God has bestowed.
There are always times of
COVER AND THIS PAGE, LETTERING AND ILLUSTRATION BY GEMMA O’BRIEN; PHOTOGRAPHY BY MLC
trial, tears, and heartache, but
AS CHRISTIANS , we always
hear about the importance of joy
does good to all men by pro-
viding rains and fruitful sea-
if they’re allowed to sour your
mindset, you’ll miss the simple
36 D E S I G N E D
FOR LIFE 46 E N J O Y I N G
ENJOYMENT: A
CONVERSATION
54 T H E Y W I L L
KNOW US BY
OUR LAUGHTER
in our life, but what about happi- sons that satisfy the heart with pleasures and fun God has scat- Our heavenly Father isn’t some grim WITH TRILLIA
ness? Joy is an abiding emotion abundant food and gladness. tered throughout each day. My creator or cruel taskmaster. Winsome NEWBELL Don’t just worry about the state of
of contentment and peace that Paul adds that the Lord richly prayer is that this issue of the and good-humored, He delights in all the world these days— do something
God gave us all things richly to enjoy, about it: Laugh from your gut.
God gives us when we are living supplies us with all good things magazine will help you see the He designs. Especially us.
so why do we have such a hard time by John Blase
obediently before Him. Happi- to enjoy (1 Tim. 6:17). Therefore, Lord’s wonders and blessings all by Fil Anderson
taking Him up on His offer?
ness, on the other hand, comes in light of all these blessings, around and lead you into joyful
more intermittently as a result whoever is cheerful ought to praise for His goodness.
of pleasant events. Because
facing difficulties is more chal-
sing praises to God (James 5:13).
When life seems more like Prayerfully yours,
40 T O B E B O R N
AGAIN
48 F U N -
CHALLENGED
BIBLICAL LITERACY SERIES
56 T O W H O M I T
M AY C O N C E R N
lenging, much of our instruction drudgery than pleasure, we C H A R L E S F. S TA N L E Y Jesus said childlike faith was necessary
from God’s Word involves how should pay attention to the
PHOTOGRAPH BY COREY LACK
to enter the kingdom of heaven. And If you’re lousy at having fun, don’t The epistles are marvelous letters, but
to faithfully endure and benefit blessings all around us—large though you can’t physically become worry—you’re in good company. And they’re not addressed to us. In this
from these situations. But what and small. Sure, a long day of a kid again, you can do the next best better still, it’s easier to find your segment of our series, we read between
does He say about the times work can be exhausting, but thing—spend time with one. groove than you might think. the lines of these timeless messages.
when life is good and full of fun? God has supplied the means by Chad Thomas Johnston by Michelle Van Loon by Karen H. Jobes
According to Acts 14:17, God by which you can provide for
T H O U G H T F U L FA I T H . D E V O T E D L I V I N G . 02 03 INTOUCH.ORG
Departments
09 Contributors
09 09
17 17
11
WE WERE A
HODGEPODGE
9 FA I T H | WO R K S OF THE HARDLY
This Is Your Brain on Play 9 ACQUAINTED
by Jamie A. Hughes AND BARELY
Love, Prayer, and Softball 11 COORDINATED.
by John VandenOever AND WE WERE
Dancing in His Ephod: 12 FAMILY.
A Conversation With Jeff Gregory
by Sandy Feit
12
Special Section 15
Happy Accidents
by Amy Hayes,
Jamie A. Hughes,
Stefani McDade,
Debbie Way Paulding,
Barnabas Piper,
Rachel Marie Stone,
and Matt Woodley
Fil Anderson Amy Hayes Stefani McDade Rachel Marie Stone

20 THE PULPIT Has a thing for Zorro Eats raw cookie dough Polishes off a bag of Wishes she could teleport
movies without fear salt-and-vinegar chips in (and skip traffic altogether)
With Courage and Boldness 20
27
by Charles F. Stanley one sitting
John Blase Jamie A. Hughes Michelle Van Loon
Viewfinder24 Wishes he could be inde- Actually enjoys being Debbie Way Paulding Adores 80s movies and
structible (and cranky) like rickrolled Can hula hoop until the Chicago-style hot dogs
15
27 MARGIN NOTES Wolverine cows come home
Karen H. Jobes John VandenOever
Holy Foolishness 27 Joshua Ryan Butler Twirled a mean fire baton Barnabas Piper Delights in going to
by Christie Purifoy Was run over by a VW van in high school Is great at faking accents the dentist to get his
Chapter & Verse31 and attacked by a billy goat teeth cleaned
Chad Thomas Johnston Christie Purifoy
God Likes to Party Sandy Feit Fell in love with Star Wars Loves planning parties— Matt Woodley
by Joshua Ryan Butler
Has been writing her when he was knee-high to oh so much more than Can cluck his tongue
A Closer Look 34 pen pal from French class a tauntaun going to them as loudly as a bat hitting
for 50 years a fastball
With Every Breath
by Charles F. Stanley
ILLUSTRATION BY RAMI NIEMI
64 IN FOCUS
64
Darkness Into Light 64 Contributing Illustrators ➝ Adam Cruft, Juan Díaz-Faes, Lisk Feng, Jeff Gregory,
by John VandenOever Joel Holland, MLC, Matt Johnstone, Muti, Rami Niemi, Gemma O’Brien
Contributing Photographers ➝ Jeremy Cowart, Ben Rollins, Charles F. Stanley

09
17 Digital Edition
intouch .o rg/sept2017
In Touch Magazine
G OD BREAKS THE APPARENT LOGIC
OF OUR WORLD AND PERFORMS TITANIC
WONDERS. IF WE REALLY PRESS INTO
PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER Charles F. Stanley
THESE THINGS, IF WE TAKE THEM
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER C. Phillip Bowen
SERIOUSLY, WE COME RIGHT UP AGAINST

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
AND COMMUNICATIONS
Tom Sabonis-Chafee
THE PLAIN TRUTH THAT WE ARE SMALLER
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Cameron Lawrence
THAN GOD AND NOT AS SMART.
—from Michael Morgan’s “The Case for Wonder”
MANAGING EDITOR, PRINT Jamie A. Hughes
DIGITAL EDITOR Aline Mello
SENIOR COPY EDITOR Sandy Feit DOODLE

ASSISTANT EDITOR Dallas Hazelrig
FEATURE
In Touch illustrator
Jeff Gregory: If he’s
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Kayla Yerden
Factory Fun not doodling, he’s
CREATIVE DIRECTION & DESIGN Metaleap Creative not thinking.

Our world is full of manufactured experiences
Watch a time-lapse
DIRECTOR, MARKETING Steve Chalk created for our enjoyment, but what do
video of Jeff working
those say about God? Christie Purifoy
at intouch.org/
MARKETING PROMOTIONS MANAGER Allison A. Smith struggles when choosing between man-made
illustrator.
DIRECTOR, PRODUCTION & FULFILLMENT Steve R. Lindsey and natural fun for her family.
DIRECTOR, PRINT PURCHASING David Blahnik
EXCERPT
Christ Within Reach

Windows to the Soul DALLAS HAZELRIG wants you
Because of stored traumatic responses from younger days and an overall to know that Jesus is more
In Touch Magazine®, September/October 2017, Vol. 3 No. 5 © 2017; all rights reserved. No unsolicited manuscripts accepted. Printed in the chemical propensity toward anxiety, I often experience physical reactions approachable than you think.
USA. In Touch Ministries® Inc., PO Box 7900, Atlanta, GA 30357, 1-800-980-0020; In Touch Ministries of Canada, Box 4900, Markham, to stressors that can only be described as “above and beyond” the norm.
Ontario L3R 6G9, 1-800-323-3747 (when dialing in Canada); In Touch Ministries of New Zealand, PO Box 35525, Browns Bay, Auckland
After the Whittier earthquake in 1987, for example, I convinced myself that
0753, 0800 44 68 68. All prices are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted. In Touch Magazine is neither responsible nor liable for any part
of the production or distribution of international editions, whether translated or in English, unless the edition has been licensed and autho- I’d be crushed under a building in an imminent quake at any moment. Never Anybody But Robbie
rized by the governing staff of the domestic In Touch Magazine. Scripture quotations, unless otherwise notated or quoted from a secondary mind that I had a greater chance of getting hit by a car on the way to school. In an after-school program
source, are from the New American Standard Bible, 1995 update, © Lockman Foundation, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, All day, my lanky body wanted to curl up in a fetal position, and my stomach where he tutors, TIM RHODES
1994. Quotations marked “NIV” are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used
by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. For subscription services, call 1-800-980-0020, or email partnerrelations@intouch.org
felt as if it had sunk to the bottom of a roller coaster. Even in my newfound learns that volunteering
(intouch@intouch.org.nz in New Zealand). Please include name and address. ISSN 2379-4801 (Print) ISSN 2379-4828 (Online) faith, prayers seemed to get caught in the protective netting I’d woven isn’t about him at all.
around myself—the anxiety that, strangely, made me feel more in control.
As an adult, I’ve learned that there is no contradiction between faith and Excuse My Delight
mental health diagnoses. Clinical depression, anxiety, or PTSD have nothing
KAYLA YERDEN let it get
to do with morals, unless you want to point out the strength of character it
awkward when meeting
can take to lay down one’s pride to get help.
new friends—and it
—Tania Runyan from this month’s installment of “By Rote,” a series on Scripture
transformed her faith.
memorization
Give one to a friend and use #sharedjoy on
social media to show off your design!

09
17 Faith | Works
SUMMER DAYS in my neigh-

borhood were filled with the
usual trappings of childhood:
This Is Your riding bikes, eating Popsicles,
and swimming in pools. But
Coffee dates. Bike rides. Road trips. The simple pleasures in life are even more rewarding
when they’re shared with a friend. Enjoy this free coloring bookmark featuring a quote by Brain on Play our street had something spe-
cial—a gigantic oak tree with fat
Dr. Stanley, and share one with someone who could use a little creative inspiration in their life. limbs. Each day, the gang spent
The science behind developing a sound mind hours scampering up and down
Request your two free In Touch Coloring Bookmarks today.
intouch.org/sharedjoy I 1-800-980-0020 that tree, daring each other to
BY JAMIE A. HUGHES go higher than the day before.
*Bookmarks not shown. Limit one set per household. While supplies last. ILLUSTRATION BY LISK FENG And while climbing, we wrote a
story together, each of us add-
ing details and plot Continued on pg 10
09 INTOUCH.ORG
FUN FACTS  Gelotology is the science of laughing and the study of its effects on the body. The two biggest factors that contribute to happiness around the w
o
FA I T H | W O R K S
rld
are a sense of community and frequent community celebrations.
twists as we reached for the next could be dismissed as utterly
branch. I spent many a warm, absurd, these two lovebirds LOVE, PRAYER,
dappled day in that tree, fingers lifted the spirits of those pres- AND SOFTBALL TWENTY-PLUS YEARS AGO, in my
on the rough bark and velveteen ent and brought joy to millions Having fun together is south Florida heyday, I made
leaves, enjoying what breeze online. If that’s the end result of an essential part of a sign-up sheet for co-ed
could be found, and feeling miles
removed from earth.
There’s a reason play, brother, count me in.
Think back to the story I told
building community. softball. I was an unmarried
I thought we were simply why our bodies and you, the one describing the arbo- BY JOHN
Northern transplant,
stepping into life at a new
goofing around, but something
brains flourish when real days of my youth. At the church. And it seemed the
VANDENOEVER
important was happening during time, I thought climbing that tree church singles’ ministry was
that long, lazy season. My brain
was being shaped and stim- exposed to play: accomplished nothing practical.
It was simply a fun challenge
ripe for some bonding and a little outreach.
My capability as a softball player was below average—which
 Only 10 to 20 percent of laughter follows anything joke-like, suggesting that the stimulus for laughter is another person, not a joke.
ulated in ways I’ve yet to fully
understand. Researchers at
We were made for it. that taught me to trust my body
and to take appropriate risks. I
meant I would embarrass myself only once a game. But this
team had as many “ringers” as wedding rings, so I became the
the Child and Family Develop- gained an appreciation of God’s starting shortstop. We were a hodgepodge of the hardly
ment Center at the University of world by spending time in His acquainted and barely coordinated. And we were family.
Missouri–Kansas City explain, creation. And as I added my bits On Fridays and Sundays we worshipped together, Mondays
“Many of the fundamental tasks to the narrative my friends and and Saturdays we practiced, and Thursdays we played. This
that children must achieve … I created, my storytelling skills constant togetherness was the relationship equivalent of a
can be most effectively learned improved. Playing around with long, high ball to deep center field. The author of Hebrews
through outdoor play. For words and weaving sentences might have slapped out a high-five for us “not forsaking our
example, when children move together was a joy, so I started own assembling together” (10:25).
over, under, through, beside, creating complex terminology flourish when exposed to play: keeping a journal, which I might After practice, we’d clomp dustily into a favorite chain
and near objects and others, for something the Bible makes We were made for it. Play is an never have done had I not been restaurant, all matchy in our hunter green uniform shirts.
the child better grasps the plain: We are “fearfully and won- essential way we understand exposed to creative writing in The bright gold letters on the front proclaimed that we
meaning of these prepositions derfully made” (Ps. 139:14). the world and find our place in such a positive way. All that were Angels, a little nudge to let others in on our Christian-
and geometr[ic] concepts.” What this means is that we it. Through play, relationships seemingly insignificant and ity. Yes, we’d stumbled onto a unique way “to stir up one
Likewise, when kids are given were not created for drudgery are built, love is kindled, and pointless gadding about led to another to love” (v. 24 ESV), but making our faith known in a
the opportunity to physically and adversity alone. Rather, trust is strengthened. When something rather grand. love that produces “good works” was the greater challenge.
demonstrate … descriptive our heavenly Father “richly we playfully interact with our This isn’t to say life is all sun- We prayed in our dugout before games and conducted our-
words such as strong … or enor- supplies us with all things to surroundings, we will find we’re shine and gummy bears, mind selves in a godly manner (so long as the umpire’s calls weren’t
mous, word comprehension is enjoy” (1 Tim. 6:17). Christ more joyful and creative in all you. Like every person who’s egregiously wrong). We were kind to our opponents, and
immediate and long lasting … came so we may have life “abun- we do—even the everyday tasks learning what it means to die forgave each other’s miscues just as God in Christ had forgiven
[Play] creates more neural net- dantly,” and play is one of the that might otherwise threaten to to self, my life looks much like us. Then one game we got our chance to do a little more.
works in the brain and through- things that makes the abun- wear us down. yours. It’s filled with a thousand The opposing batter hit a chopper to first, the ball was
out the body, making the entire dant life possible (John 10:10). Consider Marlow and Fran- and one undesirable things: fielded, and the lead runner got thrown out at third. For a
body a tool for learning.” In fact, according to Thomas ces Cowan, the elderly couple doctor’s visits, meal prep, yard group of ragtag athletes, this was perfection. But our third
Jaak Panskepp, a researcher Hendricks, a sociology profes- who gained internet immortal- work, science projects, baseball baseman got greedy and threw to second. The ball shot like
at Washington State University, sor at Elon University, play is “a ity a few years ago when they practice, deadlines, and end- a rocket, wide of the glove at second, and into the jaw of the
asserts that “play activates the dynamic, ever-changing process were filmed playing “Put On less hours in traffic. But play base runner. Players from both teams swept onto the field,
whole neocortex”—the top layer that is filled with ambiguity and Your Old Gray Bonnet” on a reminds us that our days aren’t concerned horror on every face. The Angels clasped hands
of the cerebral hemispheres surprise.” piano in a Mayo Clinic atrium. meant to be endured until some- and reached for the sweaty backs of the other team, and we
where higher-order brain func- We convince ourselves that The two pecked out the jaunty thing better comes along. Each prayed. It was an expression of faith easily recognized, and a
tions are carried out. Just one play is frivolous, profligate, tune, bouncing to the beat, and one holds a share of mystery rare but important win for our team.
half-hour of fun significantly perhaps even sinful, but that lovingly patted each other on and mirth, free for the taking. The tropical weather kept our softball team together for
changes about 400 genes in that couldn’t be further from the the backside when they changed Our tree-shinnying days may be consecutive seasons all year round. And the climate was
magnificent, mysterious organ. truth. There’s a reason why our parts—smiling and laughing like behind us, but that doesn’t mean conducive not only for brotherly love but also for matri-
But as interesting as these dis- bodies and brains, both crafted loons all the while. In a place it can’t always be summertime in mony. Two marriages were spawned from that team,
coveries are, scientists are only by the hand of a loving God, where illness reigns and play our souls.  including my lifelong affection for the second basegirl. 
FUN FACTS  The hippocampus is the part of the brain responsible for happiness and positive memories
.

According to researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, when you’re thankful, you are more likely to be joyful. Gratitude has been proven to generate a more optimistic outlook on life and can lower stress.
“hilarious” and “nonstop cre-
ativity.” Does it ever turn off?
“SOME THINGS ARE BETTER Some things are better as a spe-
cial moment—to live right now,
What are your dreams like? AS A SPECIAL MOMENT—TO not to be prolonged. We’ve so
LIVE RIGHT NOW, NOT TO BE lost touch with just being.
JEFF:It’s funny you mention that,
because at my daughter’s ballet
PROLONGED. WE’VE SO LOST How do your thoughts
S A NDY:
class, I saw a motivational poster TOUCH WITH JUST BEING.” about “being” and fun impact
that said, “If you can dream it, it can your parenting style?
come true.” I was like, “They’ve
never had my dreams!” I had a JEFF: One of the things that stuck
dream one time that I punched a with me even before I had kids
tornado and made it cry. I’ll often see what I want to
JEFF: was—I’m sure you’ve heard
draw on the paper before I begin it—“Nobody on his deathbed
I like watching you doodle
SANDY: drawing it. Other times, I’ll just says, ‘I wish I’d spent more time
in meetings. But does drawing start—with an eye, light bulb, at the office.’” They remember
introduce such a multi-faceted distract you? circle … Sometimes a snippet of the time spent together. God
and -talented friend, I decided a conversation gets me started. created Adam and Eve to spend
to let him introduce himself, by JEFF: Actually,
just the opposite. Or a Sunday school lesson—we time with Him—that’s import-
answering one question: “How Otherwise, that part of my brain were discussing John 14:1 and ant. I could work 80 or 90 hours
would you describe yourself in would daydream. Someone once 16:33, where Jesus basically a week and see my kids maybe on
six words?” joked to my director about me says, Look, your troubles are the weekends. But I don’t want
drawing in a meeting. And he temporary. Even with the worst them to remember just the big
*** answered, “I know Jeff’s paying thing that can happen in life, things. I want them to be able to
attention if he’s doodling. If he worrying about it is like focus- look back and go, “We had din-
JEFF: Well, oatmeal was the first stops doodling, I’ve lost him.” ing on the flat tire you got on the ner every night. He taught me
thing that came to mind. But the way to cash in your winning lot- to drive. He made me a Godzilla
real answer is, “A man dancing Has doodling ever gotten
SANDY: tery check. That perspective led costume.”
in his ephod.” It comes from you in trouble? to my “eternity goggles” doodle.
Dancing in His Ephod 2 Samuel 6:14, where David’s
bringing the ark back into Jerusa- JEFF: In high school, I once covered SANDY: You work in so many styles.
SANDY: You seem to understand joy
well. How would you define “joy
lem and God punishes Uzzah for an entire desk with a chimera— Is there one you prefer? of the Lord”?
A conversation with illustrator Jeff Gregory
simply touching it. David loses his this big fantastical beast. Not
temper and thinks, I’ll show Him. only was I stupid enough to sign Not really. Sometimes I’m
JEFF: So many places in the Bible
JEFF:
BY SANDY FEIT
I’ll just leave the ark here. Later, it; I also shellacked it. influenced by whatever is at show that fun and joy are import-
he realizes it’s not about God con- hand to make the art with. I ant. The joy of the Lord means
forming to his view of what God’s SANDY:Describe how your draw- recently made a candy-wrapper being in His will and being con-
supposed to do; it’s about David ings take shape. dragon and knight, and little tent. So today I choose to wear
“FROZEN OATMEAL DANCING ON A TRAMPOLINE.” conforming to what God wants people from the red wax off a an ephod—to live in that joy—
Why oatmeal? I wondered, though the answer shouldn’t have sur- him to be. It sounds counterintu- Babybel cheese. because I do think it’s a choice
prised me. I’ve worked with Jeff Gregory for 15 years and can’t recall itive, but there’s freedom in real- we all can make. Or, as I posted
anything he’s said—or drawn—that was predictable. A staff artist izing it’s not up to you and God’s SANDY:Are there styles you don’t recently on my blog, that could
since 1998, he’s known throughout In Touch for off-the-charts cre- really in control. As they bring in like to work in? be “Today I choose to be grun-
ativity, skill with any medium from paint to cheese wax, and the most the ark, David’s so caught up in tled.” There you go, another six
boisterous table in the lunchroom. the joy and excitement of finally I prefer not to do anything
JEFF: words to describe me! 
Wearing more hats than Bartholomew Cubbins, Jeff has always being able to relax in who God is from nature. I think it’s because,
PHOTOGRAPH BY MLC
struck me as something of a Renaissance man—he’s a master doodler, that he dances around. especially with sunsets and flow-
accomplished illustrator, animator, deacon, Sunday school teacher, ers, part of their beauty is that Read More: Find the extended
truth-seeker, and unofficial stand-up comedian, not to mention the Whenever your name
S A NDY: they’re temporary. Not every- version of this interview at
roles he values most: husband and father. So, at a loss for how to comes up, I hear words like thing is meant to be captured. intouch.org/illustrator.
BETTER TOGETHER.
YOUR FIELD GUIDE FOR
DAILY VICTORIES.
Happy FA I T H | W O R K S
Accidents
Based on the foundational teachings of Dr. Stanley’s 30 Life Principles,
this 90-day Bible study curriculum was created to help you and your
group grow closer to God together. As you apply these practical,
tried-and-true principles to your everyday life, you’ll grow closer in
your personal relationships with each other and with Jesus.
$19 USD
$90 USD set of six (ideal for group study)
Big Fish
To Order: intouch.org/store I 1-800-980-0020 BY BARNABAS PIPER
k ACCIDENTS HAPPEN every day, from
W
HEN I WAS about 10
car crashes to mishaps in the kitchen. years old, my fam-
ily drove from Min-
Most result in money spent, messes to nesota to Georgia to
visit relatives. Some-
clean, phone calls to make. But what about where in Indiana, our
when those accidents lead to something station wagon’s radiator blew
up. There we were, stranded on
unexpectedly good? Throughout history, the side of the interstate, in the
middle of nowhere. There were
humankind has stumbled along, bumping no towns nearby, no hotels,
and since it was Saturday, no
into innovation and breakthrough. Take, mechanic shops were open.
for instance, the invention of Scotchgard A few minutes later a truck
pulled over, and an elderly gen-
or Popsicles. Or consider the discovery tleman in overalls got out. He
strolled back to our car, heard
of penicillin or the Dead Sea Scrolls. Or my mom’s explanation, and said
something utterly surprising.
how the ruins of Pompeii were found. “Well, y’all can stay with my
wife and me on one condition:
¶ What do we make of this assortment You have to join us for church.”
of wrong roads, risky decisions, and In one sentence he diminished
my mom’s fears—he was a mar-
straight-up forgetfulness? Maybe we learn ried churchgoing man. So we
went to his farmhouse, where we
that sometimes life may take an unex- met his lovely wife. That evening
we found out he was a retired air-
pected turn, but it’s rarely a dead end. We line mechanic and would happily
fix our car at no cost just as soon
put together this special section in hopes as he could get the parts.
of making you smile, but also to inspire you He even gave me a fishing pole
and pointed me to the cow pond
to see your unwanted circumstances as an in the back, where I reeled in
an enormous catfish. I learned
opportunity to be creative and continue on. a lot that weekend about how
God provides in surprising ways.
Il l us t r at i on s by Juan Dí az-Faes And that catfish has only gotten
bigger over the years.
15 INTOUCH.ORG
FUN FACTS  Whether it’s through helping others or just an act of kindness, altruism makes
FA I T H | W O R K S stored my precious memories, only
us
When I tried to threaten the raccoons, they smirked
and seemed to say, “Hey, buddy, we’re eating here.”
feel good. One study found that happiness gleaned from volunteering can increase your longevity.
to grasp at air.
Sullen, I stepped off the train
k One of the oldest
copies of the
platform at my final destination.
After making my way up a cobble-
Hebrew Bible—the Dead stone street toward colorful homes
Sea Scrolls—were sniffed nestled deep into the cliffside, I
WHEN THE CAMPER COLLAPSES out by a goat. While sat on a retaining wall and looked
BY MATT WOODLEY strolling through some around. It was dusk, and the warm
hills near the Dead Sea, wind smelled of sweet earth and
I
T WAS THE WORST family camp- the goat made a break for salty ocean. Behind me was a back-
ing trip ever. When the six of us it. On reaching the yard, with a little lemon orchard
took off in a borrowed and very Qumran Caves and right next to the laundry lines. The
rusty camper, we had no idea how noticing his human had squatty trees were thick with giant,
much could go wrong. The hand- run after him, he led the perfectly shaped lemons so vibrant
cranked pop-up mechanism kept way inside. The caves they looked surreal.
popping up halfway and then crashing contained the scrolls O Mio Riomaggiore I noticed a portly Italian man
down on my head. Something in the believed to have been BY STEFANI McDADE heading up the road toward me,
food made me miserably nauseated. placed there more than carrying a large casserole dish. He
A
And just when the torrential rain and 2,000 years ago by a S OUR TRAIN pulled up to the stopped to knock on the door of a
thunder rolled through about mid- separatist Jewish group coastal village of Riomag- square pink house, where a woman
night, I started making mad dashes to the communal outhouse every 30 minutes. called the Essenes, who giore, Italy, I reached for greeted him with a bright smile. I
On one of those visits, I noticed that a gaze of raccoons (yep, that’s the word for a bunch lived and worshipped my iPhone—before my became so absorbed in watching
of them) had wandered into the extra tent we’d set up to store our food. I could see their near the Dead Sea. brain reminded me I didn’t them embrace that I didn’t notice
arrogant, beady little eyes as they carefully unwrapped and casually ate all of our s’mores have it. the smile forming on my own face.
ingredients. When I tried to threaten them, they just smirked and seemed to say, “Hey, buddy, My trip through Europe had been It was an insignificant moment,
 An industry-wide study of over 2,500 people found that 55 percent of workers would take less pay to have more fun at work.
you mind? We’re eating here.” I finally chased them away, in the pouring rain, with sticks like a poorly orchestrated symphony ill-suited for an iPhone screen—not
and stones and some bad words. My kids told me that it wasn’t very Francis of Assisi-like played without sheet music—and Instagram-worthy or eye-catch-
of me. The next day I was cold and sick and enraged at the raccoons, my head throbbed, the losing my phone in Rome was the ing—but the realness of it drew me
kids were cranky, and the camper still kept collapsing. final snap of a violin string. I had in. A scene I might have missed, had
In my mind the whole trip was a disaster, but our kids can’t stop laughing and retelling the been wandering wide-eyed and I merely been looking for the next
story of the crashing camper, the wild thunderstorm, the dashes to the outhouse, and dad’s open-mouthed towards the Fontana photo op. And though I had been to
crazy anti-raccoon rage—which is probably why every time I see a pop-up camper, I want di Trevi one day, when my hungry dozens of places on that trip, it was
to hit the road and do it all over again. hand reached for the device that the first time I arrived fully present.
T
America salty sweat from my forehead, I awaited the medal I’d imagined for my effort.
k When Dr.
Alexander Gold-Medal Finish
OW NS A L L OV E R
host Resolution Run 5Ks on After enough time for the anticipation to grow, the adrenaline to subside,
Fleming woke up that
morning in 1928, he
BY D E B B I E WAY PAU L D I N G the first day of January as
a way to start off the new
and the chill to return, the awards ceremony began. Upon hearing my name
announced as third-place finisher, I squealed, rushed to the podium—and k Popsicles wouldn’t
be a summer
retrieved the bacteria year on the right shoe. Nor- then stopped short. Looking awkwardly down at me from atop the podium staple if not for 11-year-
he’d stored the previous cross 2012 was no different. were two women in my age group. I hesitated before joining them. Like the old Frank Epperson. In
night to further study the As always, I was there and hoping delayed response after a well-executed joke, it occurred to me that the awards the middle of winter
flu. But one of his to medal. ceremony didn’t include awards. Instead of a medal, we received a “Congrat- Epperson left his drink
samples was infected Several hundred participants ulations!” from the announcer. outside. Along with a
with a fungus. Open to toed the line in an industrial com- Noticing my shrinking posture and half-opened mouth, second-place finisher probable ear-pulling from
the chance nature of plex parking lot, eager to finish, if Jodi introduced herself. We commiserated over splintered expectations, and her his mother, Epperson
discovery, he noticed a for no other reason than to get out husband kindly offered to take our photo as something of a consolation prize. woke up to frozen
ILLUSTRATION/PHOTO BY NAME HERE
ring was forming around of the bitter morning wind. I started This led to the exchange of phone numbers and the budding of a great friendship. sweetness on a stick.
the fungus: It was toxic to with the front of the pack, kept a Jodi and I have now run dozens of races together, sharing our wins and Eventually, Epperson quit
the bacteria. strong, steady pace for 3.1 miles, and losses (her father’s funeral and my melanoma scare), and the love and cama- his day job and began to
Dr. Fleming discovered sprinted the last 500 feet, passing raderie that come from years of shared experiences. In lieu of some forget- market his childhood
penicillin that day, and half a dozen runners before dash- table tin trophy, I won a gold-medal friend and confidant, a sound opinion to happy accident.
would win a Nobel Prize ing across the finish line. Bent at the challenge mine, a mirror for my complacency, and a lifetime of memories—
years later. waist in exhaustion and wiping the some yet to come.
FUN FACTS  Spending 20 minutes a day outdoors has a positive effect on mood, thinking, and memory.

The key to a quick boost of happiness may be in your diet. Nuts, chicken, and milk contain higher levels of tryptophan, which can lead to the production of serotonin, a chemical that helps induce calm and happiness.
ap p o i ntment. It w as b eau ti fu l .
It w as no thi ng w e c o u l d have
p l anned . It fel t l i ke a d i v i ne
to read. My mother and I sipped
Sing Me a Song water, and Tim called the mechanic.
BY RACHEL MARIE STONE They’d send someone to pick us up
in the late afternoon.
F
ORTY MINUTES INTO the six-hour drive north When the children began trickling
to Lake Malawi, smoke began snaking up back into the village from school,
from the engine, so my husband turned it off. they gathered around us and stared at
We coasted straight into a little village. We our boys. Our boys stared back. Then
might have broken down 15 minutes earlier someone kicked over a “ball”—a mass
or later, in an uninhabited and empty place. of plastic grocery sacks ingeniously
Or we might have simply made it to the lake with- packed and tied—and a soccer game
A Capitol Gain out incident. began. A smiling woman unrolled a
BY JAMIE A. HUGHES There in the mid-morning light was a shop by straw mat, inviting us to sit. “Tell me
the edge of the road—a little concrete box selling a story?” a boy asked me. “Sing us a The mechanic arrived. We rode
W
HEN I WAS 13,my family packed up and snacks and Coke in glass bottles. Behind that, there song?” a girl asked my mother. She back home in his truck and made
took the obligatory summer road trip were only houses, small and close to one another; sang, and then all the children sang. It the journey up to the lake a few days
to Washington, D.C. The goal? To see
as many monuments and museums
outhouses; and “gardens”—the little plots of corn
and tomatoes Malawians keep to feed themselves.
was nothing we could have planned.
It felt like a divine appointment. It
later. When we passed through the
village, we waved and called as if to k Inassistant
1952, the
to
as possible. So we trudged from one Our young boys settled on the steps of the shop was beautiful. friends old and dear. chemists Patsy Sherman
site to another in the July heat, getting and Sam Smith dropped a
crabbier with each passing minute. bottle of synthetic latex
After the second long day of sightseeing, we slogged back to the car. Dad current immediately stripped me of on white shoes. The
cranked the engine, and a loud bang rattled the hood. The pulley for the power Smooth Failing my helmet, oar, and the hope that I’d shoes, however, didn’t
change color. Not being
steering pump had snapped off, so we called for a tow. After our poor hobbled
Buick was dragged away, we headed to a rental lot to see if a new ride could be k Pompeii was an
ancient city that
BY A MY H AY E S ever breathe again.
I felt something around my ankles able to remove the clear
T
found. There were exactly three options: a box van, a dented tan subcompact, got covered by volcanic HIS WAS NOTthe peaceful that made my oxygen-deprived stain from the shoes, the
and a pearly white Chrysler LeBaron convertible. My mother, brother, and ash when Mount Vesuvius river that had lulled me to heart stop: my shorts. Pink nylon scientists considered that
I—too wrung out and sore to bicker anymore—sat in the little patch of shade erupted in A.D. 79. In 1594 sleep each night of my mis- running shorts that I’d specifically perhaps if the transpar-
the building offered and waited for Dad to come out with the keys. excavators came across sion team’s stay in Jinja, worn because they’re the kind with ent stain covered the
When he did, all three of us wordlessly headed for the beater. (We were a ancient walls, but for Uganda. built-in underwear. whole shoe, then nothing
family on a tight budget, after all.) But Dad cleared his throat, shot us a what- reasons unknown decided “When we flip, don’t try to God, You had better let me die if I else could actually
kind-of-man-do-you-take-me-for? look, and pointed to the convertible. Fatigue to cover them back up, hold on to your oar or the boat,” our lose my shorts. Because I won’t get blemish it. This led to the
and bellyaching forgotten, we jumped in the car and decided to tool around obscuring Pompeii for guide shouted over the roaring Nile. back in that boat half naked. creation of the stain
the city in our flashy new ride rather than head back to the motel. We saw all almost 200 more years. “Just try to keep your head above Impending humiliation has a way repellent Scotchgard.
the sights in our nation’s capitol—this time with the wind in our hair and The Enter Rocque Joaquín water because this rapid can put you of galvanizing one to do the impos-
Doobie Brothers on the radio. Family memories like this one aren’t on tourists’ de Alcubierre, Spanish under for awhile.” sible. Somehow, in the midst of that
maps. There’s no memorial built to commemorate such moments, and some- military engineer. While Ten seconds later, our boat flipped, Class VI rapid, I grasped my shorts
how, that makes them unforgettable. looking for the city of and I hit the water back-first. The and yanked them to my waist.
Stabiae, he found Pompeii Moments later I surfaced in calmer
instead. The excavation water where a kayaker rescued me.
and study of these As the only raft to flip in that
We trudged f rom one site to ano the r ancient cities was the rapid, we had to endure the taunts
beginning of archaeology of our drier comrades. But if success

i n the July hea t, getting crabbie r with as we know it. meant staying upright, then I’m glad
we failed. There is no narrative in
ea c h pa ssing m inute . perfection, and stories worth tell-
ing always cost us something—com-
fort, control, security. Or possibly
our shorts.
FUN FACTS  Physiological changes occur when we laugh: WebMD.com reports, “We stretch muscles throughout our face and body, our pulse and blood pressu
re
go
The Pulpit
up, and we breathe faster, sending more oxygen to our tissues”

09
17
answer to this question in the

introduction of his first letter
to the Christians in Asia Minor
(1 John 1:1-4). His life’s pur-
pose could be summed up with
these four words: “Born to pro- If I gave you a can
claim Christ.”
John was the youngest of
of spray paint and
Jesus’ disciples, possibly in his
late teens or early 20s. In his
asked you to fill in this
account of Christ’s life, John sentence, what would
 According to some researchers, as much as 40 percent of our happiness levels are within our control.
refers to himself as the “disciple
whom Jesus loved” (John 20:2). you write: “Born to …”?
When he wrote his first epistle,
about 60 years had passed since
he was in the physical presence
of the Son of God, but neither
his memory nor his passion for
Christ had faded.
In this letter, John offers
us an eyewitness account of
“what was from the beginning”
(1 John 1:1). This phrase is his
way of referring to the eternal Jesus gave His final instruc- only saw what Jesus did,
Son of God, who existed before tions to the disciples, and but he’d also physically seen
the beginning of time and cre- John heard His prayer of and touched Him. John was
ation. It’s similar to his gospel, in intercession for them to the the disciple who leaned
which he refers to Jesus as “the Father (chapters 13-17). All back on the Lord’s chest at
Word,” saying, “In the beginning this was still ringing in his the Last Supper to ask who
was the Word, and the Word was ears six decades later. the betrayer was (13:21-25).
with God, and the Word was Not only did John stand at
God” (John 1:1). “What we have seen with
 the cross while Jesus died,
John could never forget those our eyes.” John watched but he was also present in
three years spent with the Jesus turn water to wine, the room when the risen
incarnate Son of God, who lived calm a stormy sea, walk on Christ invited the disci-
AS I WAS DRIVING along the among mankind. In verse one of the water, heal lepers, raise ples to touch Him, and he
highway one day, I saw a mes- 1 John 1, he describes his expe- a dead girl, restore sight to stood watching as the Lord
sage spray-painted on the side rience in three ways: the blind and hearing to the ascended into heaven.
With Courage of a bridge. It read, “Born to
raise hell.” Whether the author “ What
 we have heard.”
deaf, make lame men walk,
and multiply food to feed The apostle’s greatest desire
and Boldness knew it or not, he made a pub-
lic confession of his reason for
John had listened to Jesus
teach, confront and con-
over 5,000 people. This was
more than enough evidence
was to proclaim what he had
seen and heard concerning
living. Now, I doubt that any found religious leaders, to convince him that Jesus Jesus so that others would
The surprising joy of being a witness for Jesus Christ of us would choose this as our comfort Mary and Martha truly was the Son of God. believe in Him. That’s why he
life’s purpose, but if I gave you in the death of their brother, wrote his epistle, which is still
BY CHARLES F. STANLEY
a can of spray paint and asked and raise him to life by com- “ What
 we have looked a witness to us today. He con-
PHOTO-ILLUSTRATION BY MLC
you to fill in this sentence, what manding, “Lazarus, come at and touched with our cludes the introduction by say-
would you write: “Born to …”? forth” (John 11:43). He was hands, concerning the ing, “These things we write, so
The apostle John wrote his in the upper room when Word of Life.” John not that our joy may be Continued on pg 22
T H E P U L P I T
made complete” (v. 4). To John,

proclaiming Christ was more
than just a privilege and respon-
sibility—it was what gave him
fullness of joy. If you’ve ever shared your
THE JOY OF SHARING CHRIST Although none
of us are eyewitnesses of Jesus’
faith with someone else,
you know exactly what H OW TO B E C O M E A C H R ISTI A N
F
life and ministry the way John
was, we too can know Him as
Peter describes in his first epistle: John is talking about when he
inding your purpose begins with the greatest
“Though you have not seen Him,
you love Him, and though you do mentions fullness of joy. decision you’ll ever make—whether or not to
not see Him now, but believe in accept Jesus’ offer of salvation. Have you given
Him, you greatly rejoice with joy
inexpressible and full of glory” Him your answer?
(1 Pet. 1:8). We can have that
same fullness of joy when Jesus The story of God and mankind began with a broken
becomes our Savior, the passion relationship. When sin entered the human race, it
of our life, and the topic of our
conversations with others. W hat
 have you seen? to salvation and eternal life. severed our communion—our unhindered connection—with holy God.
Like John, we have a testi- Although we can’t observe Once they receive Christ as Today, our personal sins continue to be a barrier between us and Him. But
mony to share with those who Jesus with our physical Savior, they’ll discover what the Bible teaches that “God is love” (1 John 4:8). In fact, He loves us so much
don’t know Jesus as Savior and eyes, if we have known Him we have—His amazing love, that He sent His Son to reconcile us to Himself (Col. 1:18-22). On the cross,
Lord. To be an effective witness for any length of time, we’ve acceptance, compassion,
for Christ doesn’t require a theo- seen how He’s worked in peace, contentment, and joy. Jesus defeated sin and then rose from the grave, triumphing over death.
logical degree or answers to all our life. We are no longer
the questions. We can simply the person we once were, We were born to tell others By choosing to live in relationship with Jesus Christ, we’re no longer
follow John’s pattern of tell- because Christ not only about Jesus. It’s not as compli- slaves to the way of life that ends in spiritual death—eternal separation
ing others what we have heard, saves us for eternity; He also cated as we sometimes make
seen, and felt concerning Christ. transforms us in this life. it, but being His witnesses does from God and His lovingkindness. Through Him alone, we can experience
And the longer we’ve walked require boldness and courage. freedom and joy. But to be saved, we must confess from our heart that
What
 have you heard? If with Him, the more we have Thankfully, God provides that Jesus is Lord and believe that He rose from the dead and is alive today
you are a Christian, you’ve to share with others. as well, and as we overcome our (Rom. 10:9).
heard and accepted the gos- fear and uncertainty and start
pel, and this is the same mes- What have you felt? Those
 telling people what He has done
sage of salvation you are to of us who have responded in our life, we’ll be filled with You can have eternal life now by asking Jesus to become your Savior. Pray
share with others. If you’ve in repentance and faith in joy—whether our message is a prayer like this or use your own words:
ever shared your faith with Christ know the freedom received or not. The more we
someone else, you know and joy that come when talk about our Savior, the easier
exactly what John is talking we believe the gospel and it will become and the more joy Lord Jesus, I believe You died so that I might be accepted as a child of
about when he mentions receive the forgiveness of we’ll have. And that will become God. Please forgive me, help me turn from my sins, and show me how
fullness of joy (John 15:11). all our sins. When we share a kind of witness itself, one that to follow You each and every day. Thank You for saving me and
There’s a thrilling sense of what we’ve experienced, it will draw others to the source— giving me eternal life. Amen.
excitement and satisfaction may open the eyes of those the Lord Jesus Christ. 
in telling others how they who don’t know Him and
too can be freed from sin and help them see that convic-
receive eternal life through tion isn’t God’s condemna- Adapted from the sermon “Joy Made Com- To take the next step, call 1-800-789-1473 or visit intouch.org to receive our free resource Now That You Believe: Beginning Your New Relationship With Jesus.
Jesus Christ. tion; rather, it’s His invitation plete” by Charles F. Stanley
T H E P U L P I T
VIEWFINDER “You have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. For, ‘All flesh is
like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls off, but the word of the Lord endures forever.’”
Field in the German Countryside—Photograph by Charles F. Stanley —1 Peter 1:23-25
NEW SET OF NOTE CARDS FROM

09
17 Margin Notes
CHARLES F. STANLEY
HOLY FOOLISHNESS
The goodness of having a good time
BY CHRISTIE PURIFOY ILLUSTRATIONS BY ADAM CRUFT
WHEN I WAS A GIRL, adults would often cast approving glances my

knock , and the door
way and remark, “What a little lady she is!” They did not say these
things about my younger sister. While I sat with ankles neatly crossed,
will be opened
Open the door to friendship with this new set of inspirational cards featuring
my sister tended to sprawl, her two French braids falling into her eyes
Dr. Stanley’s original photography. Enter His Gates: Note Cards on Gratitude & as she considered her next bouncy escapade. I don’t think anyone was
Praise showcases six unique locations from around the world, and comes
with a total of 18 cards (with plenty of room for your personal message)
surprised when she grew up to become the life of the party. Meanwhile,
and 18 envelopes. $12 USD the students at my alma mater wore t-shirts with the university’s name,
followed by “Where Fun Goes to Die.” I probably do not need to tell you that
these days my children refer to my younger sister as “the fun aunt.”
My subdued personality may earn me few points with the kids, but
I know it sometimes gives me an unfair
advantage in the eyes of others. As a teen-
ager, I was in high demand for babysit-
ting, and I was the youngest lifeguard ever
promoted to head guard at our city pool.
Today, I am often asked to serve in roles
of responsibility in church and Christian
ministry. I’d like to think these invita-
tions come my way because I am a spir-
TO ORDER:
itually mature individual, but the
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fact that my laugh is neither loud the apparently inconsequential

nor boisterous probably doesn’t aspects of human life and soci-
hurt. After all, we know that ety. He seems fully, and aston- We should embrace
Jesus wept, but did He laugh?
If Christlikeness is our shared
ishingly, human.
And what could be more fun precisely because
goal within His church, it makes
sense to ask whether or not
inconsequential than fun?
Perhaps the question of it challenges the idols
Jesus had fun, as trivial as that
question may seem. Some of
whether Jesus was a fun-loving
man is one we may never answer
we make of our
us will promptly shout, “Well,
of course He did!” Others of us
satisfactorily. Yet the Jesus we
see in the Gospels does prompt
own productivity.
might not be so sure. Perhaps me to reconsider my whole
He had fun in the days before approach to the topic. I began by
His public ministry began? But, asking whether such things as
then, that 12-year-old boy who laughter, gladness, and playful-
stayed behind in the temple ness have some particular spir-
seems awfully serious to me. itual value. But what, exactly,
The question is worth our con- do I mean by “value”? Jesus
sideration because a significant showed us in so many ways that and attentive tithing, but Jesus merely useless. Only then can
portion of our human experience our whole notion of value may be welcomed the extravagant ges- we embrace the fullness of our
seems to hang in its balance. I upside down. We value the sober ture of pricey perfume poured humanity as Jesus, God’s own
know my sister’s energy and play- experience of years, but Jesus out on His feet. Son, embraced it for our sake.
fulness have value, but do they told us we must become like Jesus overturns accepted wis- We hope the world will look
have some particular spiritual children to enter the kingdom of dom, but we do not walk His way at us and see Christ. Yet if we
value? A cursory look at Scrip-
ture isn’t very helpful. When I We know that heaven (Matt. 18:3). We admire
the respectability of wealth and
by adding “Have fun” to our daily
list of to-dos. We must not try to
pursue only the important
and serious tasks of life, we
first started asking this question,
I ran a quick computer-aided
Jesus wept, but are tempted to blame the poor
for their own poverty, yet Jesus
wedge 10 minutes of fun between
Bible reading and tooth flossing.
will never mirror Christ to the
world. We should embrace fun
Bible search for the word fun. I
didn’t really expect to find it—fun
did He laugh? told us that “it is hard for a rich
man to enter the kingdom of
Instead, we should invite Jesus
to upend our notions of what
precisely because it challenges
the idols we so often make of
seems like such a modern con- heaven” (19:23). We value thrift counts as useful and what seems our own productivity, utility,
cept—yet it still came as a shock and efficiency. Jesus had only
when the search engine spat out three years to complete His
a half-dozen mentions … of the world-changing mission, yet He
word funeral. always made time for the small
I’ve always preferred tragedies and inconsequential (children
over comedies. I choose sad songs and weep” (Luke 6:25 NIV). And melancholy. Far from it. Jesus and beggars), the pleasurable
over cheerful, and for several I know that Jesus Himself was “a is serious, certainly, but at times (celebrations and relaxing meals
years I taught a college litera- man of sorrows and acquainted He is serious in unexpected shared with friends), and many
ture class on the elegy—a form with grief ” (Isa. 53:3). I am no places and in unexpected ways. other things that can seem, at
of memorial poem. My per- longer surprised to find that He not only attends a wedding worst, useless, and at best, only
sonal bent toward the melan- I consistently feel nearest to but also performs His first pub- filler for our spare time.
choly side of life means that I Jesus in times of sadness. lic miracle there. He seems to To have fun may seem a fool-
am quite familiar with certain However, as much as I love spend a great deal of time reclin- ish priority, yet “Has not God
scriptures. I know that in Eccle- Isaiah’s depiction of a Christ ing at tables. He thinks about made foolish the wisdom of the
siastes we learn, “Sorrow is bet- who meets us in our human the details of food and sleep. He world?” (1 Cor. 1:20). Fun isn’t
ter than laughter” (7:3). I know heartaches, the Bible stories demonstrates a desire to gather simply good for you. It is, like
that Jesus said, “Woe to you who of Jesus’ ministry do not por- with others and to slip away so much of our humble human
laugh now, for you will mourn tray a one-dimensional man of on His own. He takes seriously experience, simply good. 
CHAPTER & VERSE

While we might throw shindigs
for our neighbors or friends
today, these were times for the
GOD LIKES TO PARTY whole nation to come together
and rejoice. They could also be
long. The Feast of Tabernacles,
The Israelites were commanded to celebrate— for instance, lasted seven days,
and we would be wise to follow suit. during which time the Jewish
people lived in temporary shel-
BY JOSHUA RYAN BUTLER ILLUSTRATIONS BY ADAM CRUFT
ters reminiscent of their time in
the wilderness (Deut. 16:15).
What significance might all
WHILE SOME PEOPLE MAY ENVISION GOD as a dour policeman this have for us today? God
whose primary interest is simply to keep our behavior in check, a invites us to joy—He wants us
quick peek into the Scriptures reveals quite the opposite. Instead, we to take time to celebrate who He
discover a God of celebration who loves to fire up the grill, crank up the is and what He’s done, not only
music, and invite the whole neighborhood over for a bash. as individuals and families, but
also together as the church. It’s
ISRAEL’S NATIONAL BLOCK PARTIES One
of the Hebrew words for celebration is worthy and right that we cele-
chagag, which is often associated with Israel’s national festivals. In brate the Lord together.
the Old Testament, God established seven major festivals, which are
(in calendar order): Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, the Feast A related Hebrew
TAKE JOY IN GOD
of Pentecost, the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the word—simchah, or “joy”—
Feast of Tabernacles. is often associated with the
These were like Israel’s national block parties, where the people national celebrations. Num-
all came together to celebrate who God is by remembering what He’s bers 10:10, for example, refers
done and commemorating His great acts in history. At Passover, for to the annual festivals as “times
example, God declared as He delivered His people from Egypt, “For of rejoicing” (NIV). When King
the generations to come you shall celebrate [Passover] as a festival Hezekiah restored temple wor-
to the Lord—a lasting ordinance” (Ex. 12:14 NIV). While Passover ship and festivals, the priests
celebrated God as Deliverer, other feasts, like the early-harvest obser- “sang praises [to the Lord] with
vance of Firstfruits, recognized His provision and rejoiced in His joy, and bowed down and wor-
abundance (Lev. 23:9-14). shiped” (2 Chron. 29:30). The
Not every festival was fun prophet Nahum looked forward
(Hardcover) and games, however—the Day to the day when the people would
of Atonement, for example, return from exile and again be
involved fasting as the people able to “celebrate [their] festi-
solemnly recognized their sin vals … and fulfill [their] vows”
and prepared to rejoice in God’s (Nahum 1:15 NIV). And when
ANCIENT TRUTH FOR forgiveness (Lev. 16:29-31).

But most involved fine dining,
the prophet’s hope was realized
in Nehemiah’s day, “there was
YOUR MODER N LIFE.

serving the best crops and live- great rejoicing” (Neh. 8:17) as
stock, to party it up in the Lord’s the people once again celebrated
presence. their festivals in the land.
Immerse yourself in the timeless teachings of Proverbs with this Priests were, to some extent, This joy was not only for fes-
devotional from Dr. Charles Stanley. Covering a wide range of topics, “party planners”: One of their tival times, however, but also
it will provide inspiration and guidance for your everyday life. $19 USD significant tasks was to oversee pointed Israel to year-round
the national celebrations. And delight in God. She was to serve
these festivals could be massive. Him “with joy and a Continued on pg 32
To Order: 1-800-980-0020 | intouch.org/store
31 INTOUCH.ORG
glad heart, for the abundance of

all things” (Deut. 28:47). Israel’s
national life was to be charac-
terized by continual celebration
of who God is. She rejoiced
in divine victories, as when
David returned from defeating
the Philistines (1 Sam. 18:6).
When David’s son Solomon was
anointed as king, the people
made music and celebrated with
such exuberance and “great joy …
that the earth shook at their
noise” (1 Kings 1:40).
We’re invited to take joy in God
all year as well. He encourages us
to feast and rejoice before Him,
to celebrate in His presence.
While there is a proper place for
reverence before His greatness
as Creator, this doesn’t mean we
God wants us to take
should put on a “serious face” in
His presence and wait until we
time to celebrate who
leave to have fun. Rather, the
best celebration is in the pres-
He is and what He’s done,
ence of God—our mighty Deliv- not only as individuals
erer, loving Father, and gracious
Savior. What greater cause for and families, but also
rejoicing could there be?
together as the church.
God’s
T HE K ING WA N T S HIS HOU SE FUL L A G I F T B O O K BY D R . C H A R L E S S TA N L E Y
throwing a party, and He wants So what is heaven actually like? At some point in our lives,
the world to come. In Jesus’ par-
able of the great banquet, God we’ve all had questions, and perhaps even struggled to wrap
is described as a host throwing our minds around the concept of eternity. This enlightening
a massive dinner at His home gift book by Dr. Charles Stanley will be a source of inspiration,
(Luke 14:15-24). After His Jesus’ kingdom welcomes good the front door open wide to let in knowledge, and encouragement for anyone seeking
friends make excuses to avoid folks and bad, moralists and everyone who would come. to know more.
attending the party, the host murderers, Pharisees and phi- God wants us at His party,
instructs His servant, “Go out at landerers—any who will bow and the cross reveals the extent $14 USD
once into the streets and lanes of their knee to Him and rejoice in to which He’s gone for us to be To Order: intouch.org/store
the city … into the highways and His presence. there. The question is whether
1-800-980-0020
along the hedges” to “bring in Why does God invite every- we want to be with Him. Are we
here the poor and crippled and one from everywhere into this willing to let our lives be shaped
blind and lame” (vv. 21, 23). celebration? Jesus tells us as He and formed by the beauty of His
God sends the invitation out closes His parable: “So that my kingdom? He invites the church
far and wide, and the guest list house may be filled” (v. 24). God to joy even now. So let’s bring the
for his party is filled with a lot desires a home that’s bursting best we have to give and revel in
of names you might not expect. at the seams; He longs to throw our great King! 
T H O U G H T F U L FA I T H . D E V O T E D L I V I N G . 32
EDITOR’S NOTE: We hope this brief study—taken from Dr. Stanley’s personal
notes—will help you explore and understand God’s Word more deeply.
A C L O S E R L O O K W I T H D R . S TA N L E Y  According to hymnary.org, 211

To help us gain a deeper understanding, let’s consider the following hymns use Psalm 96 as the basis for
descriptions of worship: their lyrics. Some of the best known
WITH EVERY BREATH The overflow of


a grateful heart
The outpouring

of a soul at rest in
The occupation of

the heart, not with
are “O for a Thousand Tongues to
Sing,” “All People That on Earth Do
Dwell,” and “Joy to the World!”
that is inundated the presence of its needs or even
Worship should be the foundation of our
by God’s greatness God, having the with its blessings,
life in both attitude and practice. and goodness perfect assurance but with God Him-  “We can admire without wor-
(Ps. 145). of His acceptance self (Deut. 6:5-7). shipping, but we cannot worship
through Christ without admiring, because wor-
(Phil. 4:4-7). ship is admiration carried
WORSHIP IS A BIBLICAL WORD that’s difficult to adequately define. Like the exquisite perfume of a to infinitude. In the same way,
rose or the delightful flavor of honey, it’s more easily experienced than described. Yet we can honor what we do not
the most important aspect of worship is not the human experience or expression but worship, but we cannot worship
the object. We are told in Scripture to worship God only. the one we do not honor.”
Both the Hebrew (sagad) and the creatures on earth, only mankind —A. W. Tozer
Let’s begin by reading Psalm 96:1-9. Greek (proskuneó) words for “wor- is capable of worship, because we
ship” convey reverence, homage, alone have been made in God’s  The Greek word proskuneó
adoration, and prostration. The image and designed to commune is made of two terms—prós
English translation could easily be with Him. Psalm 96 is filled with (“towards”) and kyneo (“to
pronounced “worthship,” ascribing descriptions of the Lord that kiss”)—and translates literally as
worth to one who is worthy. prompt the psalmist’s praise. Again “to kiss the ground.” It suggests
Worship is our divine purpose now we see that the focus is entirely on the willingness to make all neces-
and throughout eternity. Of all the exalting God. sary physical gestures of respect
Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. when worshipping God.
Sing to the Lord, bless His name; proclaim good tidings of His  According to Guinness World
Records, the largest gospel choir
salvation from day to day. Tell of His glory among the nations, Every experience, situation, or emotion can be turned into worship

ever assembled contained 21,262
when we have a God-ward focus. Although emotions may prompt and
people in Ciudad de Victoria,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples. For great is the Lord accompany worship, they are not the goal. A deep awareness of sin, a
humbling experience, fear and trembling, great sadness or loss, admir- Philippines, on May 22, 2016.
ing awe, overpowering love, astonishing wonder, overwhelming delight Together, they sang three hymns
and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. For all and gratitude, or simply a yearning to know God more—any of these of praise to the accompaniment
can lead us into worship. of an organ.
the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Worship is expressed in a variety of ways. In today’s Christian culture,

we sometimes define worship as music, but it’s so much more than
Splendor and majesty are before Him, strength and beauty are that. Psalm 96 mentions singing, but it also includes speech—proclaim-
ing God’s salvation, glory, and deeds—as well as bringing Him offerings. QUESTIONS
in His sanctuary. Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, The manner in which we worship can also differ. It can take place in
solitude or a group, with silence or joyful exclamations, or in service How would you define

ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the and self-sacrifice. worship? Is your worship
focused more on your
Worship is all about God. The deeper our understanding of God’s

experience or on God’s
ILLUSTRATION BY JEFF GREGORY
glory of His name; bring an offering and come into His courts. self-revelation in Scripture, the higher will be our worship. And since
character?
the Lord is holy, we must likewise worship Him in holiness. A lifestyle of
sinful practices and attitudes makes worship hypocritical and useless. What attributes of God do
Worship the Lord in holy attire; tremble before Him, all the earth. Since the goal of worship is to exalt and magnify God, we must also

you see in Psalm 96 that
have a humble, submissive attitude. could prompt your worship?
Illust rat ion by Mat t Joh n st on e
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2
1
L I F E
L I F E
F O R
F O R
If we’ ve forg ot t en
D E S I G N E D
D E S I G N E D
how t o l e t l o o se , we’ re
n ot real l y l i vi n g .
by Fil Anderson
I S S U E
I S S U E
F U N
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T H E
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WHAT WORDS ENTER YOUR MIND delight the He takes in creation. Consider Psalm 104, a celebra-
when you think about God? Cre- This is showcased on day five tion of God the Creator and Pro-
ative? Comforting? Provision? of creation in Genesis 1:20-23, vider of all things. This stirring
Protection? What about play- when both the earth and sky song takes up many of the bold
ful? At first glance, this last word began teeming and swelling with word pictures of the creation
might seem irreverent or pro- living creatures. Since then, texts. And an interesting footnote
fane. Most people tend to resist swarms of acrobatic starlings to this witness to God’s unrivaled
characterizations that restrain and pods of frolicking dolphins power is in verse 26, where “Levi-
the Creator of the universe. Yet have delighted all admirers, athan,” sometimes portrayed as
alongside the more common especially their Creator. A right a chaotic monster threatening
attributes it ascribes to God, conception of God reveals that creation, is pictured as merely a
Scripture also offers ample evi- He is the most winsome of all playful creature—perhaps even
dence of His playfulness, of the beings and inherently playful. God’s pet. Continued on pg 38
37 INTOUCH.ORG
Sometimes I’m still surprised, his eyes riveted on mine, his WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT PLAYFULNESS? We approach play as something something right and judging us he needs and let Me give you
a little stunned even, to find face burst again into a smile. Just look across the landscape that enables us to return to work when we do wrong. Jesus came what you need.” Once again, God
Scripture describing God as such For the next few days, my of our culture and you’re bound invigorated and renewed. Or to make something clear: God’s found me.
a whimsical Creator. It’s a far cry mind didn’t travel far from that to see that leisure is a major maybe work is something we do unmerited favor is more than a
from the grumpy disapproving encounter. Still, I was not cer- industry, yet most people know that enables us to return to our one-time gift that applies exclu- LIFE IN PLAY
God of my childhood. So, rather tain why it had so impacted me. very little about it. In fact, it is a diversion. Either way, this view sively to eternal security; it’s a The capacity for play seems to
than a God who is rigid, temper- Finally, a few evenings later, as concept most of us don’t easily turns fun into work, which is not daily gift that keeps on giving. be built into the basic design for
amental, and extremely hard to I sat alone in the darkness, God welcome. what God intended. What relief would it give us to our life by a creative God. What
please—who expects much and spoke to me: “Fil, that little boy Often what we refer to as play I believe that Christians know that the pressure’s off and this should indicate for us, if
excuses nothing—we’re intro- was a picture of My playfulness is loaded down with competition today are just as overwhelmed, God delights in every facet of our nothing else, is that unless we
duced to a God who delights and My wild and reckless love and compulsion. Many of us live stressed-out, and unfocused life—in our working and resting are playful, we’re not living. All
in us. A God who’s inviting us for you.” for the weekend, thinking of it as the rest of our fast-paced, and praying and playing? What of us go through periods where
to come out and have fun. And Is it any wonder I am utterly as the opposite of work—the frazzled, secularized culture. peace would it bring to under- lightheartedness is difficult.
the invitation is spoken by the convinced Jesus is the most after-hours activities we engage Lifelessness and terminal seri- stand that the inherent nature of However, if a month has passed
same voice Jesus heard at His fun-loving being in the universe? in to recover, relax, and unwind. ousness are the sins most readily God is relational and whimsical? and you have not been amused in
baptism, “You are My beloved tolerated by the church. But if God is not only present in our any significant way, you need to
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Son, in You I am well-pleased” we sincerely believe the things lives when we see clear evi- take an honest look at your life. If
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(Mark 1:11). Scripture reveals about God’s dence; He’s also there when we God’s creation is any indication,
Several years ago, while our nature and character, don’t you have reasonable doubt. He hides you may not be doing what you
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family was vacationing on the think we’d lighten up? in our disappointment, difficulty, were designed to do!
North Carolina coast, I headed The God that Jesus came to despair, and failure—in all of Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still,
L I F E
L I F E
out on a solo walk along the reveal, that we encounter in the stories of our lives. What- and know that I am God” (NIV).
crowded beach. It was one of Scripture, gives us the power to ever situation, whatever state Another translation says, “Cease
those walks to nowhere, with live, move, and be who we are; of grace or disgrace our lives are striving and know that I am God.”
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nothing particularly on my mind He is the God who is always in, God is with us—invisible and It has been suggested that both
(I’ve been told that men excel in with us, who celebrates, sings, waiting for us to discover and “be still” and “cease striving”
D E S I G N E D
D E S I G N E D
these endeavors). Eventually, I and refreshes our life with His learn from Him, in the darkness really mean “have leisure.” I think
noticed a young, darkly tanned
boy having a grand time in the
shallow surf. Guessing by his
A right love. The One who loved the
world enough to experience all
its pain and sadness—the God
as well as in the light. But God
not only hides—He also seeks.
Years ago, burdened by how
God is often saying to me, “Hey,
Fil. It’s time to relax and know
that I am God.”
size, he appeared to be about
9 years old. I stood there and conception of who loves us so much that He’d
rather His Son die for us than
little time I had spent alone
with the Lord, I decided to get
Consider the words of Jesus,
the One who stood upon the
I S S U E
I S S U E
watched him play, completely live without us. up extra early the next morning, stormy sea and stilled it: “Come
absorbed in what I thought
looked like the definition of God reveals WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT JESUS?
guaranteeing no interruptions
or distractions. Shortly after
to Me, all who are weary and
heavy-laden, and I will give you
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fun. Suddenly, he turned, and Lots of people I know have a settling into my chair, I heard rest. Take My yoke upon you and
as our eyes met, I could see
that He is the one-dimensional, words-on- feet on the stairs that signaled learn from Me, for I am gentle and
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that he had Down syndrome. At paper understanding of Jesus one of the children had awak- humble in heart, and you will find
that moment, his precious face instead of seeing Him as a ened. Frustrated and disap- rest for your souls. For My yoke
burst into a smile, and he began
to scream what must have been
the name of the person he mis-
most winsome three-dimensional Savior whose
humanity is real and whose per-
sonality is inviting. For instance,
pointed, I asked God, “What’s it
going to take for me to find some
time to be alone with You?” The
is easy and My burden is light”
(Matt. 11:28-30). When you find
the Lord who is mightier than the
took me to be. Then, with our
eyes still locked on each other,
he began running toward me
of all beings I believe Jesus was as playful
as He was prayerful. Surely
He knew how to laugh and cry
next moment the door opened
and our son Lee peeked inside
the room. Reading the disap-
stormy chaos you face, new pos-
sibilities emerge that were pre-
viously hidden from view. You
with his arms opened wide.
Without time to sort out how to and inherently from His gut—how to be seri-
ous about life but not take Him-
pointment on my face, he said,
“I just want to be with you.” In
discover that life doesn’t simply
exist; it plays beneath the sur-
best respond, I knelt and opened self too seriously. Jesus came a moment of grace, I gave up face realities of our daily exis-
my arms to him. With his arms
wrapped tightly around my
neck, he began smothering me
playful. to save us from our sin and our
legalistic, performance-based
view of God—the false picture
on my time alone with God and
chose instead to be with my son.
Settling into this tender time
tence. When you lose your fear
of the stormy sea, you may just
find that Jesus is inviting you not
with a kiss. After what felt like of a father who stands with of companionship, I believe I only to face the sea with courage,
forever, he loosened his grip, crossed arms and a disappointed heard God speaking to me: “It’s but also to walk upon it. Perhaps
tilted his head back, and with scowl, applauding when we get all right, Fil. You give him what even to dance! 
by Chad Thomas Johnston / Illustrations by Jeff Gregor y
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T H E F U N I S S U E T O B E B O R N A G A I N 3 O F 6
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INTOUCH.ORG
ITM :The first question of the
Westminster Catechism is,
“What is the chief end of man?”
And the answer is, “To glorify
God, and to enjoy him forever.”
That’s easy to say. But what
does it actually look like in real-
WHETHER IT’S PLAYING THE GUITAR, cultivating a garden, or upcy- world practice?
TRILLIA: I don’t want to just give a
cling an end table, we all have activities we enjoy. But for some reason,
we often feel a need to refrain from such pleasures or add a religious
A C o n v e r s a ti o n list of how-tos. I can’t tell you
element to justify the use of our time. However, Trillia Newbell, exactly what you must do in
Wi th Tr i l l i a N e w b e l l order to glorify God and enjoy
author of Enjoy: Finding Freedom to Delight Daily in God’s Good Gifts,
thinks we’re coming at fun the wrong way. We recently sat down with Him forever. Yes, we must accept
by In Touch Staff
her to find out more about how Christians can begin to get it right. Jesus as Lord and Savior, but
beyond that, I can’t tell anyone,
“This is what your life must look
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like,” because we’re so different!
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IN TOUCH MAGAZINE:So why write a many benefits that God has pro- ITM: Let’s talk about work, which God has given us different gifts,
2
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book about enjoyment? vided. That’s why I believe ulti- is not something a lot of people different desires, and different
TRILLIA: I wrote the book because mately our enjoyment is about call fun. But it wasn’t the result of loves because that delights Him.
I love God and love people and the Lord and remembering that the fall. God works for the joy of However, I will say that Paul’s
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E N J O Y M E N T
believe that as we learn to rightly He is good, He is gracious, and He it, and He instructed Adam and admonition to the church at
enjoy Him and all He has given to is the giver of all things. Eve to tend and make as well. Corinth is a good place to start:
us, our eyes will be fixed on eter- How do we recover that sense “Whether, then, you eat or drink
nity, where we’ll be delighting in ITM :So why do we Christians of enjoyment in our work? And or whatever you do, do all to the
Him forever. have such a hard time allowing how do we make it sustainable? glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). What-
E N J O Y I N G
E N J O Y I N G
Too often, we make God’s gifts ourselves to enjoy things? TRILLIA : The biggest problem is, ever we’re doing, we should do it
about us and not about Him. TRILLIA: I think we get tripped up we’re looking for something to with contented, restful, thankful
Focusing rightly on the gifts over language. The word fun is complete us. We’re looking for hearts. Ultimately, what it looks
as they are—gifts—helps take nowhere in Scripture, after all, so something that will be our ulti- like is fearing the Lord, worship-
our focus off what we have or it can be difficult for a lot of people mate calling. We’re always being ping Him, and walking that out in
don’t have and turns our hearts to see the word and think, Wait a told, “Follow your calling. Fol- the way that God has called us.
to the One who has given us all minute, does the Lord have fun? low your heart. Find something One day, it will all make sense,
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we need. The central message I think He does. In April, when to fulfill your every need.” Work ITM: For most people, the opposite of different ways that we can and we will be able to enjoy Him
of the book is that we have free- everyone was obsessed about will not do that. We need to of work is play or even rest. You make rest and play into idols. with a pure heart, rejoicing, ask-
dom to enjoy all that God has the giraffe that was giving birth, understand this. So we need to believe that we have a tendency Idolatry can be tough to pin- ing Him all the questions, and
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given to us—namely, Himself. I thought about God creating the re-evaluate and approach work to make an idol out those words. point until something happens being completely and totally
first giraffe. How much fun must differently. If these things are truly good, to the thing we value most or satisfied. Until that day, we must
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ITM :You’ve said, “Enjoyment it have been to think up an ani- Maybe work is hard or drain- how can they go bad so quickly? the thing we’ve placed our work out our salvation with fear
isn’t about us. It’s about God.” mal with short legs, a long body, ing. We may not necessarily want TRILLIA : We humans are pendu- hope in. For some, work is such and trembling and do our best to
Could you explain what you and a long neck! He had to have to go and sit at a computer, but lum swingers. We can make rest an idol in that it not only hin- walk—and work and rest and,
mean by that? enjoyed that immensely. are there other aspects we can an idol, and that can be part of ders the enjoyment of rest; it yes, even play—fully submitted
PHOTOGRAPH BY JEREMY COWART

TRILLIA : As we look to enjoy life, The Bible tells us God delights find that are enjoyable? Maybe the reason why we grumble at also becomes difficult to actu- to Him. 
we’re really seeking to remem- and rejoices and that when He the fact that it’s part of the way work: because we don’t want ally enjoy the blessing of work.
ber the Lord. I think we neglect created every element of our we are being provided for brings to be there. Or we can borrow God tells us to have no other
Him, and throughout our day it’s world, He called it good. What us joy. Or perhaps there are rela- money for a vacation that we god before Him. When we go Read More: For additional thoughts
easy to eat our lunch and over- fun it must have been for our tionships within our office we ought not take, because we idol- against this command, it will on enjoyment, work, and rest, visit
look the fact that it, like so many Maker to create the ocean and can develop. When ize vacations. There’s a number only take away our true joy. intouch.org/enjoyment.
things, has been provided to us by all of the amazing animals in it. we stop looking to
a loving God. In Psalm 103, David So when it comes to misunder- the labor itself to
says, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, standing fun, the fault isn’t His; be our source of
and forget none of His benefits” it’s ours. And I think it’s partly fulfillment, we are
(v. 2). Of course, he’s talking due to the fact we don’t have a free to find enjoy-
about salvation, but there are so category for it in our language. ment in it.
A G ood time is w h a t y ou ma ke of it.
by Michelle Van Loon
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“Want to try camping?” I asked my family. “It’ll be fun!” ¶ I had no first- WEEK 1, DAY 1 For years, my friend Karen was games did more than pass the
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hand experience with camping, unless you count that one time I stayed a recreation therapist—a job title time. They were meant to facili-
at a run-down motel. But other people we knew loved communing with I began my search for fun in the that sounded as if she was paid to tate reconnection to God, others,
most obvious place possible— party. She told me her job was fun and themselves.
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nature, so we borrowed some gear from them and headed to a campground
by writing a review of a theology with a purpose. She worked with I don’t live in a nursing home,
about two hours from home. The way I now remember the trip, the tem-
book. While other fun-seekers nursing home staffers to ensure but bingo! I’m starting to realize
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perature was around 127 degrees, with a humidity score to match. It took are bungee jumping, I find delight there was a broad menu of activ- there are dormant parts of my
several hours (and two rolls of duct tape) to get our tent to remain upright. in reading and writing. I won- ities, games, outings, and events soul that could use some recre-
Just as we finished, a ferocious summer storm boiled up, spawning a small der if I can log this as fun, even tailored to the residents’ social, ation, too. What will facilitate
tornado that hit a nearby town. ¶ Remarkably, our tent remained standing, but our gear got soaked. By about though it is my work. emotional, and spiritual needs. reconnection with God, oth-
8:30 p.m. all three of our young kids were begging to go home. Not even the promise of s’mores could convince Our culture’s approach to rec- Recreation made space for ers, and myself in my life here
them to stay. I didn’t argue. I was ready to call it quits the moment we broke into the first roll of duct tape. We reation had convinced me that those residents to be more than and now? I think about making
threw our wet gear in the trunk and headed home so we could camp in the comfort of our dry, air-conditioned in order to have fun, I needed to patients. Recreation, after all, is a list, but realize that on Day 1,
spend some money to purchase by definition re-creation. While I’m pretty much drawing a blank.
house. ¶ That trip has become a metaphor for my relationship with “fun” in recent years. I stink at having fun.
a kayak or join a bowling league. few nursing home residents were
I know how to strategize, schedule, and work—then work some more. I have a habit of turning vacations into
to-do lists to be conquered (duct tape optional) and allotting little time for play. ¶ So when I was tasked with
Recreation is big business in this having fun by kayaking, tapping WEEK 1, DAY 2
country. One study reported we into the relational component
keeping a diary for two weeks to capture my strained relationship with fun, I jumped at the assignment. I hoped spend more on recreation than of recreation was core to their I was a bookish, klutzy kid,
I’d discover why spontaneity and delight were MIA in my life, and maybe even have some fun in the process. on internet access. wellness. Those afternoon Bingo so I was usually Continued on pg 50
Illustrations by Joel Holland
chosen second-to-last for sports Coincidentally, I ran across since worship is a ‘religious form
teams and pick-up baseball an article in Psychology Today of play.’ Both at play and at wor-
games on our block. I didn’t grow titled “The Importance of Play: ship the Christian community
out of my clumsiness during ado- Having Fun Must Be Taken enjoys its Sabbath rest.”
lescence. Altogether, I spent Seriously.” Dr. Marc Bekoff The phrase “worship is a reli-
nearly a year on crutches during contends play is essential to gious form of play” took me
high school, the result of not healthy physical, emotional, aback initially. After all, we
one, but two separate PE acci- moral, and intellectual develop- are gathering to worship a holy
dents. At one point, Mom told ment in children. He notes soci- God—what could be more seri-
me she’d be happy if I aimed for etal changes are squeezing time ous than that? However, there
a “D” in gym class—just so long for unstructured play out of their is a different dimension to cor-
as I could avoid getting injured a schedules. Those play-deprived porate worship when genuine
third time. I didn’t have the heart children grow up to be adults friendships exist within a con-
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6
to tell her that had been my plan who aren’t able to access the gregation and extend beyond
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all along. gifts play imbues in us. Bekoff scheduled church services and
4
3
I’m usually focused on disci- notes, “Play is a banquet for the activities. We aren’t yet at the
pline and “getting things done,” brain, a smorgasbord for the “play together” level with our
but today I decided to treat that senses, providing nourishment fellow worshippers. Fun, then,
C H A L L E N G E D
C H A L L E N G E D
klutzy kid to a spontaneous bit for body and spirit: sad then that is one helpful measure as to my
of food fun—a red velvet donut. as a society we seem to be starv- level of trust and fellowship
I grew up eating 1960s processed ing ourselves of it.” with those worshipping beside
snack foods like Twinkies and Fun is serious business. me each week.
Oreos (and am still a fan of the Who knew?
latter!). A donut pit stop wasn’t WEEK 2, DAY 8
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on my day’s agenda, but I realized WEEK 1, DAY 7
the spontaneity made it taste The last decade has been filled
even better. And I didn’t trip Today begins with corporate with significant losses, includ-
once leaving the store. Maybe worship at church. My husband ing my mom’s death, a painful
I S S U E
I S S U E
at age 57, I’m finally outgrowing and I are relative newcomers in divorce within my family, the
that youthful clumsiness. our congregation, which means short sale of our home during
we’re somewhere between first- the housing market collapse,
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WEEK 1, DAY 3 time visitors and part of the fam- and, most recently, a life-altering
ily. Being “new” means people diagnosis. Ecclesiastes 7:4 says,
T H E
T H E
Tonight my husband and I binge- are starting to recognize us and “The mind of the wise is in the
watched several episodes of a greet us by name, but we’re house of mourning,” and I do
Netflix series called Abstract: The still outsiders with no substan- believe I’ve grown in wisdom as
Art Of Design. The documentary tial friendships in the group. I’ve grieved. But to be honest,
profiles the process and work of We’ve been newcomers before, I’ve neglected the Proverbs 17:22
eight innovative creators across a but it never gets easier. In other treatment that brings life in the
variety of disciplines from archi- words, church isn’t especially midst of sorrow: “A joyful heart
tecture to shoe design. I was fun right now. is good medicine, but a broken
struck by the way childlike curi- A friend recently shared this spirit dries up the bones.”
osity was at play in their work. quote from theologian Simon The tricky part of this pre-
Our world is richer because these Chan on Facebook: “Christians scription is that no one else can
adults never lost their ability to who do not play together do not tell a grieving person when it is
imagine, What if … ? worship well together either, time to cheer up Continued on pg 53
already. The mourner has to be a visit, and, as is his custom, he When we read our Bibles,
ready to laugh again. brought some of his art supplies we see those sacred black-and-
I think I am. I was not expect- so he could work on a commis- white pages. The words are
ing this journaling assignment sion. He invited my husband and eternally important and, yes,
to awaken me to the fact that I’m me to sit at the kitchen table with deadly serious. But they also
beginning to feel a new restless- him while he worked so we could remind us that life’s a gift, and
ness on this long trek through experiment with his water- enjoying life well is one way we
the Valley of the Shadow. As color paints. He offered a bit of honor the Giver. The writer of
I’ve been paying attention to instruction and then encouraged Ecclesiastes said, “Here is what
the paucity of fun in my life, I am us to experiment with pigment, I have seen to be good and fitting:
sensing that restlessness may water, and paper. Imagine that: to eat, to drink and enjoy one-
really be a mark of emerging, no lists, no expectations, no self in all one’s labor in which
maturing joy. deadlines. he toils under the sun during
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It was a sweet moment, having the few years of his life which
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WEEK 2, DAY 11 him share his space and talent God has given him; for this is his
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5
with us. (All those years of art reward” (5:18). God Himself has
I watched my grandson today. lessons paid off!) We laughed wired us to long for pleasure in
Because of heavy storms, I and made a mess together, three our earthly life. Certainly we
C H A L L E N G E D
C H A L L E N G E D
brought him to a fast-food adults at play. know this desire gets twisted in
restaurant’s indoor play area. It’s dozens of unholy directions, but
always amazed me that a child WEEK 2, DAY 14 in His goodness, the Lord gave
who doesn’t know anyone can it to us to point us toward Him.
find a new pack of best buddies I discovered today I still remem- I n a d d i t i o n , t h ose two -
at a loud, plastic playground, and ber how to skip. I haven’t used dimensional pages of our Bibles
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within minutes they get busy that skill since I was a clumsy don’t allow us to hear Jesus’
making fun together. kid, but the know-how was bur- laughter, but I believe laughter
Watching him play is pure joy ied deep in my muscle memory. marked the ordinary moments
for me, too. For a few moments, After last night’s painting ses- of His daily life. (Sorry, H. L.
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I S S U E
I put the phone away, stopped sion, I felt a new freedom to Mencken!) His delight in being
making lists, and was fully skip down the driveway, just with friends and His joy at steal-
present while some experts—a because I still could. My lungs ing away to commune with His
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bunch of little kids—reminded filled with oxygen, and a few Father both characterize the
me what having fun can look like, happy endorphins shot through abundant life He promises us.
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T H E
regardless of age. His waves and my system—an added benefit This abundance by definition
smiles involved me in the rau- of fun. contains joy and joy’s child—fun.
cous games at the top of the Journalist H. L. Mencken once So as I’ve savored the sweet-
slide. Seeing this little one I famously called Puritanism “the ness of an impromptu donut run,
love laughing and playing was haunting fear that someone, listened to the laughter of chil-
even better than being part of somewhere, may be happy.” He dren at play, drunk deeply of the
the game myself—it was fun, was describing his perception happy endorphins released after
Grandma-style. of a joyless Christianity in both a successful writing session, or
his own time and our country’s made a mess at the kitchen table,
WEEK 2, DAY 13 history. Many of us have experi- I realize maybe I’m not as awful
enced that kind of Christianity. at having fun as I thought.
My 30-year-old son is a profes- There’s no room for skipping in And thankfully, I didn’t have to
sional artist. He was in town for this sort of faith. go camping to figure it out. 
T
HE SCENE BEGINS this way: right these days” sure seems a
just a regular old bunk- winner. You can read it on peo-
house full of regular old ple’s faces, even their posture.
cowboys with names like Something just seems off. Now,
Monte, Dally, Chet, Sugar, and
Skimpy. But outside the bunk-
that scene could’ve ended in
blame or shame or any number The laugh is an outward
house, nothing is regular, for the
cowboys’ way of life is ending—
of variations on those themes.
But it didn’t. It ended boot-deep manifestation of what
the West is being fenced in. The in grace via laughter, one of
men are all on edge, so much so
that it takes only one below-the-
the most foundational shared
expressions of our humanity. The
we inwardly believe. That’s
belt comment between Monte light of laughter overshadowed why the Deceiver finds
2
2
and Dally for a fight to break the entire ruckus. The darkness
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out. And what begins between overcame it not. laughter such a threat.
2
1
two men quickly multiplies into
J
a knock-down-drag-out that OHN ORTBERG once wrote,
sweeps everyone into it. But “Sometimes the most
L A U G H T E R
L A U G H T E R
then, when all is fought and spiritual thing you can
done, something different breaks do is take a nap.” But I’m
out: laughter. At the end of this inclined to amend that slightly
scene from the 1970s western by adding “or laugh.” I’m not
Monte Walsh, we see grown men talking about softly chuckling
O U R
O U R
laughing like boys, slapping their in a dignified manner much
knees, wiping tears from their like the tepid golf-clap. No, I’m In addition to the breastplate of of the Good Father who loves us
B Y
B Y
quickly swelling eyes. Then the talking about completely losing righteousness, the shield of faith, without condition. Do you recall
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U S
boss storms in and demands to it, busting a gut, going total red- and feet shod with the prepara- the Proverbs 31 woman? All that
know what’s going on. face and possibly peeing your tion of the gospel of peace, there’s industriousness and responsi-
K N O W
K N O W
Dally: “I plum forgot.” pants. Now press the pause the ever-disarming belly laugh. bleness and smart-as-a-whip-
Monte: “Hey, what do you button a minute: How long has Unbridled laughter indicates a ness at the city gates? But if you
know? I ain’t felt this good it been since you laughed until heart full of trust. Now if I can’t read the whole description, she
W I L L
W I L L
in months.” you cried? Do you remember trust God, which has always was also in on the joke, the good
Dally: “Maybe I was wrong.” how it felt afterwards? What’s been the deceiver’s spin, then I news if you will. And it freed her
T H E Y
T H E Y
Monte: “Oh, no, Dally, you really going on there is not that have to stay on high alert 24/7 to—wait for it—“laugh at the
weren’t wrong. It’s just that far removed from taking a nap and always be serious, serious, days to come” (v. 25 NIV).
nothing’s been right these days.” because both involve a signifi- serious, and rarely, if ever, laugh
A
If we were looking for a line to cant degree of giving up control, because who knows what evil F T E R T H AT O P E N I N G
describe the way things currently letting go, of essentially saying, lurks just up ahead with my name knock-down-drag-out
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are in our world, “Nothing’s been “The universe doesn’t rest on on it? Sadly, that’s nothing but scene in Monte Walsh,
my shoulders, so I might as well a Chicken Little way to live—if the cowboys all give each
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snooze a bit, or laugh a lot.” The the sky hasn’t already fallen, it other a goofy look, and then
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laugh, like the nap, is an out- could at any moment, and when it everybody busts out laugh-
ward manifestation of what we does, brother, watch out! But you ing again. Even the boss joins
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T H E
Wh y a to o -s e r i o u s f a i th
inwardly believe. And that’s and I as believers are not called to in. Everybody knows this, but
s h o w s a l a c k o f tr u s t i n G o d exactly why the deceiver finds Chicken Little living. That is the laughter is contagious. Maybe
laughter such a threat. exact opposite of something the one of the greatest gifts we
by John Blase Whoa, whoa. Wait, you didn’t world might find as attractive as a the children of God can give
think the pieces of godly armor sweet-smelling savor. Listen how this world right now is laugh-
listed in Ephesians 6 were our the ever-hilarious Teresa of Ávila ter, the kind that erupts from a
only protective options, did you? once put it: “From silly devotions deep reservoir of trust in God.
By all means, those are definitely and sour-faced saints, good Lord, Who knows, we might plum for-
important and deliver us.” That’s a big 10-4. get some of our silly troubles,
soldierly and all, Here’s the deal. We are invited and feel better than we have in
but they’re by no to boldly, daily approach the months. So lean back and laugh
means exhaustive. throne as daughters and sons ’til it hurts so good. 
55 INTOUCH.ORG
Biblical Literacy Series illustrations by M U T I
5 of 6
1 2
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To Whom It
May Concern
If the epistles were written for us, but not
to us, then how should we read them?
T H O U G H T F U L FA I T H . D E V O T E D L I V I N G . 56 by K A R E N H . J O B E S
HE BIBLE IS SUCH A FAMILIAR and respected book have occurred to Grace, the The books of the Bible regarding the historical-cultural setting in
that it’s easy to forget it was written in an original reader for whom were written in ancient lan- which the books were written:
ancient culture. Just as modern authors are the note was intended. guages (Hebrew, Greek, and
the product of modern times, and the works This illustrates that read- a smattering of Aramaic), 1. Consider the literary genre of the
they produce assume knowledge from mod- ing and understanding in diverse places and cul- New Testament book we’re reading.
ern culture, we need to recognize the unfa- are two different things. tures of the ancient world In the case of the epistles, we’re read-
miliar genres of the biblical books. Whatever we read has Nevertheless, despite our millennia ago. And that ing written correspondence, so we don’t
3 4
8 clues within the text that trigger a reading strategy and cue incomplete knowledge, historical fact raises some expect them to contain highly structured 8
us how to understand the author’s message. Even those we get the point: Sally is interesting implications for poetic devices and imagery, as we might
biblical genres that may feel most familiar—narrative, thanking Grace for a good how we read and interpret find in prophecy or poetry. The letters
for instance—were written from an ancient perspective time together and giving the Bible today. Though the were written to instruct, encourage,
by authors who didn’t know what cultural and historical her some reassuring news. New Testament authors exhort, and edify in rather straightforward
information we would need and want to know. In the And so it is when we read knew that their words were language. While Hebrews does display a
New Testament, we find the stories of Jesus in the Gospels, the New Testament, which expressing God’s thoughts high level of Greek rhetorical skill and
the history of the expansion of the early church in Acts, often inspires questions (1 Thess. 2:13), they could 2 John employs metaphor to refer to the
in one sitting—and keep the whole in mind as we seek to understand its parts.
21 letters, and one strange book, Revelation, that is a letter, its authors never thought not have written with the recipients of the letter, the general epis-
prophecy, and apocalypse rolled into one. Here we focus would be asked. specifics of 21st-century tles are not as poetic as the Psalms or as
on eight of the 21 letters—Hebrews and the general epis- It might be unsettling readers in mind. They symbolic as the book of Revelation. Their
To understand an epistle well, we must read the entire letter—preferably

tles, so named from the Greek word for “letter” (epistolé), to realize that the epistles also had no choice but to message lies more on the surface meaning
and “general” because they appear to have been written of the New Testament are express themselves to of the words rather than on metaphorical
to a much broader audience than one designated church. God’s Word for us but they the original readers, who or symbolic meanings.
weren’t written to us. So shared the language, cul- For example, it would be incorrect to use
when we study them, we ture, and social conven- etymology to derive some deeper meaning
R E A DI NG T H E E PIST L ES can run into issues simi- tions of their day. of the name “Demetrius” in 3 John 1:12.
lar to those that arise from Furthermore, because This was not a name created by the author
I
F YOU THINK ABOUT IT, when we read the New Testa- our reading Sally’s note to we have only one side of to characterize a person, as we might find
ment letters, we’re actually reading someone else’s Grace. God’s Word didn’t the communication, read- in poetry. The name probably originally
mail. All of these books were originally written and drop out of heaven into ing these letters is similar derived from the name of the Greek god-
sent to people living in specific kinds of situations our laps but has come to us to overhearing a cell phone dess Demeter, but it would be wrong to
at the letters’ original destinations. And so imagine you through human authors. call in a public place—which therefore claim that affirming Demetrius
happened upon this handwritten note: makes us wonder what the was approving the worship of Demeter.
person on the other end is Because 3 John is a letter of introduction,
Dear Grace, saying. There’s a lot in the we should recognize that Demetrius, a
Thanks for the great time the other day! That New Testament letters we common name in the first century, is the
drive-in was super. wish we understood better. actual name of the man who carried the
After telling you about that problem I was having, I For instance, wouldn’t we letter to Gaius.
saw a doctor. Good news, everything is OK. love to know what it was
I’ll dial you up soon. Paul had previously told 2. Read an epistle in one sitting. Many
—Sally the Thessalonians about of us have the habit of reading just a few
the man of lawlessness sentences of the Bible as a thought for the
Even though we can read the words of this note easily, it (2 Thess. 2:3-5)? day, but no New Testament author intended
isn’t clear what they refer to. Was the “drive-in” a burger Although our knowledge his letter to be read in that manner. Taking
joint or an outdoor movie theater? What was Sally’s “prob- of the ancient world will verses out of their context almost guar-
lem”? What kind of doctor did she see? We might suppose probably never be as vast antees misunderstanding. For instance,
“dial you up” means Sally will call Grace, but that’s an odd as what the biblical authors we could enjoy joking that the title of the
expression. And wouldn’t a text or email make it easier and original readers knew, book of Hebrews provides biblical support
to connect, unless the note was written before that tech- we can become better stu- for the man of the house to make the cof-
nology existed? Are Sally and Grace friends? Sisters? dents of the Word by keep- fee (“He brews”). But we certainly could
Cousins? The questions that might occur to us would not ing in mind some principles not claim the authority of Continued on pg 60
God’s Word for that interpretation! This 4. Sketch out the main addressed further in the
illustrates how we must never rip a phrase flow of the argument. body of the letter. We can
of the Bible out of its historical and textual Because the epistles were clearly see the Trinitarian
context, assign meanings to the words that written to instruct and nature of the “choosing”
could never have meant that to the original persuade, they typically involving the Father, Son,
readers, or personalize it for our own use have a logical flow to their and Spirit, and we can iden-
apart from redemptive history. arguments. Make a list tify the theological theme
5 6
8 To understand an epistle well, we must of the main propositions of election as a point worth 8
The Bible is not some elusive, philosophical, or theological abstraction, but a word spoken into
read the entire letter—preferably in one by lining them up in your understanding better.
sitting—and keep the whole in mind as we mind or on the left edge of
seek to understand its parts. The longest of a piece of paper. List any 5. Check if important
the general epistles, Hebrews, takes about subordinate or modifying words recur elsewhere.
45 minutes to read. The short epistles of phrases, indented under Noting the important
2 and 3 John and Jude each take less than each proposition. Then words of the introductory
5 minutes. Read closely, not for speed, and label each main propo- verses and using a con-
watch for words, ideas, people, and places
that deserve further attention.
actual life situations to be a practical and transforming power in people’s lives. sition: Is it an assertion?
Does it state an event? Is
cordance for whatever
English translation we’re
it a command to obey, a reading, we can check to
3. Identify the purpose and main wish to share, a warning see if the same or similar
point of the letter. The apostles wrote to heed, a promise to be words occur elsewhere.
these letters to provide spiritual and pas- believed? In the case of 1 Peter 1:1
toral guidance for groups of Christians For instance, consider (NIV), we notice the word
living at a distance. Observe the tone of the assertions in the open- sprinkle in reference to
the letter. Is it consolation and encour- ing verse of 1 Peter: “Peter, Christ’s blood. A con-
agement in the face of persecution? an apostle of Jesus Christ” cordance shows us that
Rebuke and correction of heresy? Does addresses “God’s elect, the sprinkling of blood is
the writer supply instruction? Hebrews exiles scattered through- found often in the Penta-
reads like a sermon preached to persuade out the provinces of [Asia teuch as a ritual of con-
Christians to persevere in their faith in Minor] who have been secration. Exodus 24:8 6. Become aware of the historical and cultural
Jesus, because there is no other source of chosen according to the is particularly relevant, specifics of the letter. For the example listed above,
salvation—not even if it were possible to foreknowledge of God as Moses sprinkled blood we may stumble over the list of place names that are hard
go back to Judaism, the faith from which the Father, through the on the people to establish to pronounce or are unfamiliar. This should nudge us to
many of the original readers had appar- sanctifying work of the their covenant with God. consult a Bible atlas, where we find that Peter wrote to
ently converted. Spirit” and wishes them By checking forms of the Christians living in the northern region of what is now the
James instructs his readers that while grace and peace “in abun- word “chosen” elsewhere Muslim nation of Turkey. We become better Bible readers
we are saved by faith, the works produced dance” (NIV). in 1 Peter, we find that by supplementing our reading with good resources that
by that faith prove it genuine—namely, Immediately we recog- Christ also was chosen explain historical and cultural backgrounds.
how we speak, how we treat the rich and nize this is the standard (1:20; 2:4 NIV), that He References to other biblical people and events can be
the poor, and how we endure trials and format for the opening is the referent behind the more challenging to understand. For instance, Cain is
tests. First Peter is a letter of encourage- of a letter, which triggers image of the cornerstone mentioned three times in the general epistles (Heb. 11:4;
ment for those facing social ostracism and a reading strategy for (2:6 NIV), and that Peter 1 John 3:12; Jude 1:11) referring to Abel’s murderous
persecution for their Christian faith. Like- this genre. Peter identi- considers Christians to brother who is first mentioned in Genesis 4. In what way
wise, 2 Peter and Jude were sent to call fies himself as the writer be “a chosen people” (2:9; are the ungodly people Jude condemns like Cain? The
attention to and correct a heresy that was having apostolic author- 5:13 NIV). Even though answer may not be clear from simply reading Genesis 4,
infecting the church with immorality and ity and then describes his such work takes effort, it as Jude is unlikely claiming they were all murderers. Many
cheapening God’s grace. And John’s let- original readers as chosen pays off in a deeper under- centuries had passed between the writing of Genesis and
ters were written in spiritually confusing by God even though suf- standing of how the apos- the time of Jude, during which Jewish religious tradi-
times to reassure readers of eternal life fering exile, introducing tles develop and define tion came to think of Cain, the first murderer, as one who
in Christ. two themes that will be their major themes. represented the paradigmatic sinner who Continued on pg 62
scoffs at God’s judgment of sin. This sense connects Jude’s who pervert the grace of world and deemed they would speak into
warning about not taking the way of Cain with his previous God into license for sin lives in every generation—even today’s.
statement about not mocking God’s judgment and pervert- (Jude 1:4) is a clear warn- We can hear the Bible as God’s Word to
ing grace into license for immorality (Jude 1:4). Jude’s ing for believers today, us today when we put ourselves within the
warning continues through all generations and is relevant even though we don’t spiritual context of the books. The epistles
to readers today: We must not presume on God’s grace by know to whom he specifi- were written to Christian believers. While
thinking we can be saved but live like the devil. cally wrote those words or anyone today, regardless of religious belief,
7 8
8 Similarly, Jude and other New Testament writers at what specifically the here- can read the words of the New Testament, 8
times reference literature that would have been known tics were teaching. those who share the faith of the biblical
to the original readers but is either lost or known only to Similarly, we do not writer can best understand what they read.
scholars today. For instance, Jude refers to stories con- know the specifics about The apostle John explains in his gospel
Until the story of one’s own life becomes a part of [God’s] larger story, one cannot truly
understand the warnings, promises, encouragements, and exhortations of the epistles.
tained in the Testament of Moses and the Book of Enoch, the crisis in the churches that he writes the story of Jesus “so that
writings of the ancient world that were well known at that originally received you may believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the time he penned his epistle but were lost to western John’s three letters. How- the Son of God; and that believing you may
religious tradition after the second century. Archeologists ever, we do know it was have life in His name” (20:31). The premise
rediscovered texts of Enoch in the 20th century, providing precipitated by the actions of faith in Christ is the most fundamental
a better understanding of these obscure cultural refer- of particular people who assumption the biblical writers expect and
ences. Consulting study Bibles, Bible handbooks, and com- taught some brand of her- wish to share with their readers.
mentaries will provide relevant information, but Jude’s esy about Jesus Christ and When we align our assumptions about
message is clear even if we don’t possess the texts: We that was shared by writers disturbed the faith of many the New Testament with those of its
are not to assert our own autonomous spiritual authority. and their original readers. (1 John 2:18-19). What is authors, we become better Bible readers.
Jude, like Peter, James, John, the author of Hebrews, and Not only do all the epis- clear—and as important The Bible as a whole presents the sweep-
the other New Testament authors, writes to encourage and tles and other books of the today as then—is that the ing story of God’s redemption of human-
exhort all readers to follow Christ faithfully. New Testament present a apostolic teaching on the kind. The New Testament epistles give
demand for their readers significance of Jesus’ life us examples of real people who became
to respond to the gospel and death is the authorita- part of that story through their conversion
BR I DGI NG T H E DISTA NCE of Jesus Christ; they also tive source we must hold to faith in Jesus Christ, first the authors
explain how Christ informs to (1:1-4). John tells us that themselves and then the people to whom
I
S IT A PROBLEM that the New Testament was written the life situation of every the true significance of they wrote. Until the story of one’s own
so long ago in a culture so different from our own? reader, whether in ancient Jesus is found in His incar- life becomes a part of that larger story,
Does this somehow diminish the power of God’s Word or modern times. And so, nation, crucifixion, and one cannot truly understand the warnings,
in our lives? Rather than viewing the antiquity of the while we may always have resurrection and not, for promises, encouragements, and exhorta-
Bible as a problem, recognize that God chose to give us questions about the Bible, instance, in His religious tions of the epistles.
His Word in this form and manner. We must accept and such uncertainties in no and ethical teachings, as When we observe how God spoke
respect His choice. Next, the fact that the epistles spoke way impede the power of important as those may be. through inspired apostles into the lives
into real-life situations in first-century Greco-Roman God’s Word. Likewise, when James of first-century believers, the Holy Spirit
culture provides some guidelines on how to read these The specifics of the epis- teaches not to show favor- whispers the significance of God’s Word
books. We observe that the Bible is not some elusive, phil- tles’ original readers and itism for the rich in the into our hearts today. Therefore, despite
osophical, or theological abstraction, but a word spoken their situations may differ church (2:1-9) or admon- questions we might have about the lan-
into actual life situations to be a practical and transform- from those in our times ishes employers to deal guage, history, culture, and geography of
ing power in people’s lives. That gives us confidence to and culture, but human justly with hired work- the first century, the New Testament con-
turn to the Bible for relevant guidance as we face similar nature, our relationship ers (5:1-6), it isn’t hard to tains all we need to understand the message
situations today. to God and to others, the apply the thought today. of God’s love for us in Christ. It is sufficient
Recall that when we read Sally’s note to Grace, we got reality of sin, and the gift of So, instead of seeing the in every generation. We are not the peo-
the message, even with only a general understanding of forgiveness provide a sta- specificity of the epistles ple to whom the epistles were first sent,
its details. The same is true with Bible reading because of ble continuity in which to as a problem, we can be but when we identify ourselves with those
what theologians call the perspicuity of Scripture. That is, witness the power of the thankful God showed us original readers by sharing their same
the message of Scripture is clear enough to communicate Word. For instance, Jude’s His thoughts about actual faith in Jesus Christ, God’s Word written
to us even though we lack the same degree of knowledge scathing judgment of those life situations in the ancient to them is His Word written to us. 
In Focus
09
17
“I knew I had to believe.

Darkness I had to go on. I told God,
Into Light ‘It doesn’t matter. These
next years, I want to live
Tibor Miklós lost his sight, but he gained
a vision to reach Hungary for Christ. for Your glory. I don’t
BY JOHN VANDENOEVER understand, but here I am.’”
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
BEN ROLLINS
THE FOUR-FLIGHT STAIRWAY

of this Gothic-inspired church
is steep and winding—to peer
over the edge into its coiling
descent is enough to make any- blind and disabled, the under- de copii, or “children’s house,”
one grab hold of the banister and educated and the marginalized. where in 1990, after the fall of
proceed slowly. But though he’s The Son of God had compas- Nicolae Ceausescu, British offi-
blind, Tibor Miklós takes each sion on these, and now, through cials discovered toddlers tied to
step quickly, with one hand on Tibor, the church in Hungary is urine-soaked beds. Tibor lived
his guide’s forearm and the other turning its face to them with a in one of its buildings from the
holding his white cane. renewed focus. late 1960s until 1983. He had his
The hall below is brimming But it is only the beginning. sight then, but saw only squalor
with people, most of them blind. There are outcasts from within and hopelessness.
They’ve come to this church the church, and then there are His one respite was the sum-
in Szeged, Hungary, a city just outcasts from without. Before mer, when the farmers would
north of Serbia, to receive a his travels are complete, Tibor come to select an orphan for
Bible they can finally “read” on will go to the ones on the out- their heavy work. “They treated
their own—the In Touch Mes- side—the Roma people—who me like a slave,” remembers
senger in Hungarian. have often given up hope that Tibor. “They did not let me sleep
For two weeks Tibor has been they will ever be let in. in their home. I couldn’t eat at
bumping over the highways of the same table with them.” Still,
Hungary, sharing Messengers ISOLATED AND FORGOTTEN his summers were better than
and uniting Baptist, Lutheran, Tibor navigates his way through a shopping district in Budapest. being in the orphanage, where
Methodist, Pentecostal, and
Reformed believers. They have
joined Tibor in his mission to
A s a young boy, Tibor
was surrendered by his
parents to Orphanage
his only hope was to run away.
He had no one to tell him about
God, no evidence of the Bible
reach the forgotten ones—the One—Romania’s infamous casa in a Communist Continued on pg 66
I N F O C U S
state—with the exception of one

farmer’s family. They took Tibor BLIND, BUT SEEING
to a confirmation class, perhaps
as a salve for their conscience.
And though he passed the exam,
he comprehended none of it.
O ne day some Chris-
tians came knocking at
the door, and Tibor let
As a teenager, he started to them in, interested to see what
lose his sight. The diagnosis was kind of God they had. He wasn’t
retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic completely blind but told them he
eye disease that gradually dimin- could no longer see well enough
ishes one’s vision until all that to read. He thought one visit was
remains is the smallest speck of enough for the missionaries—
light. Eventually even that light that maybe his disability would
gives way to darkness. But even keep them away. Instead, they
as Tibor’s sight began to fail him, offered to record the gospel of
he was not to be deterred. John for him on a cassette tape.
Once he was free of the “That was the first time in my life
orphanage, he entered college I read and heard about the Bible,”
and began earning money as a he says. He listened to the tape
physical therapist in nearby and challenged the Christians to
Hungary. Now I have money, explain how a good God could put
he thought. Let’s see how I can him in an orphanage and allow
be happy. But he made poor him to go blind.
choices that only increased his But the Lord would have His
sorrow. The emptiness he felt man. “God just opened my spir-
seemed worse than being in the itual eyes, and I understood,”
orphanage. remembers Tibor. “I knew I
Then he became close with was empty and sad. I knew
Márta, a girl he’d known since I wanted to get rid of that.”
primary school. The two of Christ came in, and Tibor and
them shared this genetic eye Márta were changed.
disease—and knew they would LIFE WITH TIBOR First, Tibor began refusing
(clockwise from top left)
eventually go blind together. the customary—and unethi-
The Hungarian
When Tibor proposed mar- Parliament Building; cal—tips that came to him as
riage, Márta accepted with one Tibor fellowshipping in a a perk in his profession. Then
condition: They would not have Roma home; a Messen- he began to stop people in the
a child. “When you are young,” ger distribution in streets, asking, “Do you know
Székesfehérvár; the
laughs Tibor, “you just want to Christ personally?” Márta
Messenger presented in
have that woman.” a Roma tent meeting feared for his safety. With the
After the wedding, Márta’s recent demise of the Hungar-
remaining vision went quickly. ian Socialist Workers’ Party, his
Hit hard by the finality of her uncommon boldness was risky
blindness, she grew bitter. It was in the current political climate.
a challenging time that almost Still, they enrolled in Bible study
destroyed their relationship and classes with Campus Crusade
left Tibor wondering if marriage for Christ—the same organiza-
to Márta had been the right deci- tion that had sent those Chris-
sion. He was prepared to give up tians to their door.
on her. It was during a Continued on pg 68
I N F O C U S
Thanks to your support, the

In Touch devotional reaches
28,296 inmates every
The Miklós family enjoying a brisk walk along the Danube River
month with the good news of
freedom and forgiveness.
house church gathering one day in John 9. After explaining the had initially consumed Márta
that a little girl about 2 years old disciples’ question about why also weighed heavily on him. He
jumped into Tibor’s arms. Oh my the man had been born blind, he was pastoring a church, dealing
gosh, he thought, I want a child quoted Christ’s response: “It was with the aftershocks of a suicide
of my own. So he prayed, and five so that the works of God might in the congregation, and taking a
years later, Márta realized she be displayed in him” (v. 3). On stand for integrity, which would
wanted a child, too. hearing himself pronounce these ultimately cost him his govern-
That was when God gave words, Tibor realized that this ment job. Discouraged and over-
them Noémi. was God’s desire for his life: whelmed, he wallowed in his
A few months before their to let Jesus’ name be glorified pain, tempted to give up. Again
daughter’s first birthday, Márta through his blindness. he remembered John 9. When
and Tibor had doctors test her God had called Tibor Miklós Jesus revealed Himself as the
for their disease. And there were into ministry. And Noémi did not Son of God, the man healed of
many doctors—all very curi- have retinitis pigmentosa. blindness said, “Lord, I believe”
ous about what they’d find. Yet and worshipped Him (v. 38). “I
throughout the tests and the wait CALLED TO THE FORGOTTEN knew I had to believe,” Tibor
for results, Tibor kept smiling. says. “I had to go on. I told God,
The physicians thought he was
crazy to have joy at such a time,
so he shared the gospel with
A few years ago Tibor
lost the rest of his
vision. And at first, the
‘It doesn’t matter. These next
years, I want to live for Your
glory. I don’t understand, but
them, describing the healing depression and bitterness that here I am.’” Continued on pg 70
I N T O U C H . O R G / G E T- I N V O LV E D
T H O U G H T F U L FA I T H . D E V O T E D L I V I N G . 68
I N F O C U S
Today is another stop in this

long journey across Hungary,
and now Noémi is at her father’s
arm. She’s 19 and enrolled in
Bible school, her decision to pur-
sue ministry a sweet surprise to
her parents. She guides Tibor
under a clothesline and up a step, “People [in Hungary]
into a home with a plastic sheet
for a door. It’s a meager dwelling, are excited. They want to
made worse by the absence of
electricity, water, and plumbing. have God’s Word.”
These were disconnected long
ago for insufficient funds.
Nineteen Roma people live
together under its roof, and many
others fill the homes along this
rural street. A Messenger can do
wonders in such an environment,
where years of prejudice and
hardship have left generations
in seemingly hopeless circum-
stances. It’s an encouragement
to the Roma parents who are A DAWNING LIGHT difficult, he is ever expectant and
trying to change the future for always encouraged. “My help
their children, and it offers true
hope in Jesus Christ. For Tibor,
the Messenger provides an open
I t’s 6:30 on Monday morn-
ing. This is Tibor’s first
day off after covering so
comes from God,” he says. “I am
ready, and I would like to do my
best to help Hungary.”
door to relationship with those much of the country—providing Sometimes, when the sun
who have been betrayed and for- Messengers to church assem- meets the horizon, for just a few
gotten. “I think I am giving the blies, to dormitories for the moments Tibor can see again.
most valuable treasure into peo- blind, and to several households It’s but a glimmer, the enchanted
ple’s hands,” he says. of marginalized Roma people. light somehow working with his
Tibor’s ministry to the blind It was a trip six months in the brain to create a faint image of
and disabled is growing and will making. But that doesn’t prevent a tree or the elusive features of
continue, but for the Roma, he his phone from ringing. his wife and daughter in soft-
is just getting started. Com- He sits up in bed and answers. focus. Like time, these moments
monly referred to as Gypsies— There’s a woman’s voice in his ear: are fleeting. Tibor can’t predict
now thought to be a derogatory “Sir, I cannot turn on this Messen- when they’ll come, but he can
term—the Roma share a long ger. I cannot have my quiet time.” sense the dawning light for Hun-
history of migration and rejec- Tibor troubleshoots the problem, gary. It’s in the churches as they
tion wherever they settle. The going over the buttons, reminding unite, in the crowds that gather,
families Tibor visits today face her to let the solar panels charge and in the joy of so many grate-
many obstacles, but they have in the sun. “You might imagine ful voices. 
rejected the path of crime others A Roma woman in the village of Szentpéterúr, Hungary that I was angry,” he says, “but I
have followed. And though there was so happy. People are excited.
are thousands of Roma homes They want to have God’s Word.” Long View: Experience more of
to enter, Tibor desires to reach Tibor has a calling, and though Tibor’s ministry with extended
all he can. it can seem unending and beyond content at intouch.org/hungary.
BENEDICTION
SAME LIE DIFFERENT

DAY
FOR WHAT DOES A MAN GETin all his labor and in his
striving with which he labors under the sun?
Because all his days his task is painful and griev-
ous; even at night his mind does not rest. This too
is vanity. There is nothing better for a man than
to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is
good. This also I have seen that it is from the
Since the fall of Adam, man has battled against the
devil’s lies. In Guidance From the Garden, Dr. Stanley hand of God. For who can eat and who can have
teaches how to recognize the age-old tactics of
the deceiver. Learn how to use your authority in
enjoyment without Him?
Christ to stand firm against temptation in this
four-part series.
$14 USD CD
$18 USD DVD
GUIDANCE FROM
THE GARDEN
A SERIES FROM
D R . C H A R L E S S TA N L E Y
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two men quickly multiplies into

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“I knew I had to believe.

THE FOUR-FLIGHT STAIRWAY

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state—with the exception of one

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Today is another stop in this

SAME LIE DIFFERENT

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