The Flame

The Flame
THE MAGAZINE OF CHRIST CHURCH

FALL | 2015
CONTENTS
4 DEVOTIONAL LIFE
by Rev. Shane Bishop
19 DEVOTION FROM YOUNG TO

OLD
5 WHERE DID YOU LEARN THAT

FROM?
by Becky Olroyd
6 RAISE THE ROOF UPDATE
21 NEW HOPE AND RENEWED

FAITH
by Rev. Michael Wooton

by Carrie Gaxiola
20 FIRM FOUNDATION
by Shelley Baty
7 CAN I AFFORD TO TITHE?
by Shannon Peiffer
8 GODS PROVISION FOR HONDURAS...
by Zack Dunlap
9 LIVING INTO EXCELLENCE
24 WAITING FOR THE HARVEST
10 THE DAILY DEVOTIONAL ACTS...
25 THE ZONE
by Dave Merrill
by Bonnie Fahrner
by Dr. Steve Heitkamp

by Rev. Don Frazure
22 GODS PROVIDED BEFORE

23 NEW IMPACT
by Brend Alexander & Robb Hass

by Kevin Siddle
by Kelli Tobin & Lyndsay Croxford
11 COULD YOU DO BETTER?

by Matthew J. Lafrance
12 REPRESENTING YOUR FAITH...

by Jeffery M. Bishop
13 WHEN HE ISNT IN THE WIND...

by Shannon Durio
14 STONES AND ECHOES

by Matthew Denny
15 STRONGLY AGREE
by Wendy Smith
16 YOU CANT BEAT GOD GIVING

by Brenne M. Issa
17 WHEN DAD FEARS

by Will Howell
18 THE BEAUTY OF THE SECRET...

by Ashley Waters
The Flame Magazine is a quarterly magazine published by Christ Church.

2015 Christ Church. Learn more about Christ Church at MyChristChurch.com.
EDITOR: Carrie Gaxiola DESIGN: Justin Aymer COVER: Mike Creagh
SENIOR PASTOR
Rev. Shane Bishop
ASSOCIATE PASTOR
Rev. Michael Wooton
For a complete listing of the
Christ Church Staff visit:
www.MyChristChurch.com/staff.
WORSHIP TIMES
Fairview Heights Campus
Sunday - 9am, 11am,& 6pm
Saturday - 5pm
Wednesday - 6:30pm
Collinsville/Maryville Campus
Sunday - 10am
Millstadt Campus
Sunday - 10am
Scott Campus
Sunday - 10am
FROM THE EDITOR

Summer has officially drawn to a close!
Schools in session, its time to break out
the sweaters, find the pumpkin everything recipes and plant colorful mums.
Its also a wonderful time of year to reflect on Gods goodness and provision.
The Bible says Blessed be the Lord, who
daily loads us with benefits, even the God
of our salvation. Selah. (Psalm 68:19)
When we devote our lives to Him, we are
blessed with all that we need!
This issue of The Flame presents a dual-theme: Devotional Life and Gods
Provision. You see, I truly believe the two
go hand-in-hand for Christ followers.
Knowing someone will provide for you
takes trust, and trust comes from having
a growing relationship. I find the more
time I spend with the Lord in talking
with Him, listening to Him and studying His word, the more my trust grows
in who God is in my life. As I spend the
intentional time with my Heavenly Father that causes my heart to grow fonder
Mission Of The Flame
Be inspirational through biblical articles

and devotions. Be informative in the
announcement of future events that
connect people in ministry.
of Him, my eyes are open to see His hand

of provision in every area of my life. (See
Philippians 4:19) It is a discipline in the
Christian life that is challenging but without regret as we pursue Him diligently!
May your hearts be changed as you read
the words our writers have penned, and
may you connect to Jesus Christ in a
deeper way.
II Chronicles 6:14 O Lord, God of Israel,
there is no God like you in all of heaven
and earth. You keep your covenant and
show your unfailing love to all who walk
before you in wholehearted devotion.
With devotion,
--- CARRIE GAXIOLA ---
The Flame Online:
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Questions about the Flame?
Contact the Editor, Carrie Gaxiola, at:

CarrieGaxiola@MyChristChurch.com
THE FLAME // FALL 2015
DEVOTIONAL LIFE,
TRUTH AND THE BIBLE
BY REV. SHANE L BISHOP
I am the way, the truth and the life.

No one can come to the Father except through me.
- John 14:6
The central feature of any devotional life
must be the Bible. It just HAS to be! Devotionals and books are fine, but they
must not be allowed to replace the central
role of the Bible in the life of the disciple.
The Bible is the most reliable testimony to the truth of God revealed in Jesus
Christ. Period.
On July 4, 1776 a Declaration of Independence was ratified that included these
words written by Thomas Jefferson: We
hold these truths to be self-evident, that
all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable rights, that among these are
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. These words changed the world
and were based upon a single assumption: There is such a thing as universal truth.
The Gospel of John really likes the concept of truth. In John 8:32 Jesus told his
disciples, You will know the truth and
the truth shall set you free. When Jesus
was talking about the work and role of
the Holy Spirit in John 16:13, Jesus said,
The Spirit will guide you into all truth.
And then there is the trial scene in John
18. Pilate replied, Are you a king then?
You say I am a king and you are right,
Jesus said. I was born for that purpose.
And I came to bring truth to the world.
All who love truth recognize what I say
is true. What is truth? Pilate asked.
What is truth is a salient question in
our world today. Is there such a thing as
Rev. Shane Bishop, Senior Pastor

facebook.com/revshane
@RevShaneBishop
4
FALL 2015 // THE FLAME
universal truth or is there not? Jesus said

in John 14:6, I am the way, the truth and
the life. No one can come to the Father
except through me. Lets dig into this
claim of Christ.
I am the way. The Greek word odos

here, means a road, so Jesus is literally
saying, I am the road to God. They said
in antiquity, All roads lead to Rome, but
Jesus is claiming here that only one road
leads to Godhim! He does not know
the road; he IS the road.
The truth. The Greek word translated
truth, Al-E-the-ia denotes the genuine
article, the real thing. Jesus does not just
know the truth; he is the truth!
And the life. ZoE refers to that vibrant part of God that he bestowed to
Jesus and Jesus bestows to us. In John
10:10 Jesus said, I have come that you
might have life and life abundantly, and
in John 3:16 Jesus promised eternal life.
Jesus does not just deliver a life of passion, purpose and power, but Jesus is that
very life himself! Jesus does not just connect us with life; he is life!
No one comes to the Father but by
me. Jesus claims that he is the only way
to God. Our culture wants to widen this
sentence into, I am a way, a truth and a
life. I am a way to God. Jesus does give
us that latitude.
Christian thinker C. S. Lewis wrote this
in Mere Christianity, A man who was
merely a man and said the sort of things
Jesus said would not be a great moral
teacher. He would either be a lunatic--on
the level with a man who says he is a
poached egg--or he would be the devil

of hell. You must take your choice. Either
this was, and is, the Son of God, or else
a madman or something worse. You can
shut him up for a fool or you can fall at
his feet and call him Lord and God. But
let us not come with any patronizing
nonsense about his being a great human
teacher. He has not left that open to us.
We either have to drink the blood of Jesus straight or not drink it at all, but we
dont get to water it down. Jesus claim
leaves us with a simple question, Are we
going to take the claims of Jesus at face
value or are we not? Are the clear and
consistent teachings of the Bible authoritative in our lives or are they not? Are we
going to adjust our value systems to the
truths communicated in the Bible or are
we going to try to adjust the Bible to suit
our sensibilities and understandings?
Let me share with you where I have posited on the matter of truth. I dont believe
that God speaks today in ways that contradict the teachings of the Bible. I believe the Bible to be a constant in a world
of variables. It does not change, it does
not ask for our approval and will be shining like a new dime when the sensibilities
of our culture are buried in the annals
of history. The bottom line is this: Any
purported truth based upon anything other than the Word of God
revealed to us in Jesus Christ is intrinsically unreliable. And that is why
the Bible MUST be the center of our devotional lives.
WHO DID YOU

LEARN THAT FROM?
BY REV. MICHAEL WOOTON
When I was in 6th grade I had a best
friend named Eli. We would spend hours
together laughing, talking, listening to
music, and causing a ruckus. There was
nothing more I looked forward to than
spending time with my best friend Eli.
One day my mother picked me up from
Elis house and within two minutes down
the road Mom said to me, Youre picking
up Elis bad habits. Like any good twelve
year old I denied it and thought my mom
out of her mind. However, I remember
thinking to myself that my mother was
right, I had taken on some of Elis bad
habits.
When we spend concentrated time with
others we begin to take on their character, mannerisms, worldviews, axioms,
and much more. Our relationship with
God is the same way. Just as I took on
Elis bad characteristics as we spent time
together, we take on Gods good characteristics when we spend time with him.
In order for us to be everything God has
called us to be we must spend individual
time with God and form a devotional life.
A devotional life is a daily concentrated,
one on one time with God, where one
seeks to worship God and be transformed
by God. A devotional life is Christianity
101, a basic course. If you have not developed a devotional life, you have not
graduated to being a follower of Jesus. Or,
as the Bible puts it, you are on milk not
solid food.
A devotional life is one of the most important ways we engage with the will of
God. The Bible says that God has a plan
for our lives and in order for us to decipher that plan we have to spend time
with the One who created the plan.
Imagine this; youre a talented football
player that just got signed to your dream
team. You know with your talent and the
teams players and coaches, this year you
will be in the playoffs for sure! There is
one problem; every day at practice you
dont talk to or listen to the coaches. The
coaches talk about the Xs and Os during
meetings and on the field and youre daydreaming about being in the playoffs.
When games day rolls around, you have
no idea what you are doing because you
have been out of the game plan the entire time. You were too busy daydreaming about the future to listen to the
coaches who could get you to the future
you wanted. It didnt matter how talented, smart or skilled you were because
you did not allow the coach to pour the
game plan into your mind. It is the exact
same with knowing Gods will. Until you
spend devotional time with God on a daily basis you will have no idea what Gods
plan is even if it is staring you square in
the face. Romans 12:2 shows that once we
allow God to change the way we think we
will know Gods plan for our lives,
Dont copy the behavior and customs
of this world, but let God transform you
into a new person by changing the way
you think. Then you will learn to know
Gods will for you, which is good and
pleasing and perfect.
In order for God to change the way we
think we must have a consistent devotional life. I have two methods on how
to incorporate devotional time in our everyday lives. First, find a consistent time
that works into your schedule; I call this
the conventional devotional method.
The idea is once you put a devotional
time into your daily life it will be as routine as brushing your teeth. Some people
stick with this method their entire Christian journey and I would especially recommend this method for new Christians.
The second method I call the floating
devotional method. This is used when
ones schedule fluctuates and makes a
set devotional time difficult to maintain.
The floating is being open to spending
time with God during the free time of the
day; break time, waiting to pick up the
kids from school, before a meeting, after
a class, etc. This is a wonderful method
for busy people, but it can be dangerous

because it allows your day to dictate important time with God. Some of you may
find that going with one method for a
time then switching to the other will keep
your relationship with God fresh.
My time with Eli taught me that I was
more impressionable than I knew. Who
is leaving their impression on your life?
Spend daily time with God, youll love
the habits you form.
In order
for us to be
everything
God has called
us to be we
must spend
individual
time with God
and form a
devotional life.
Rev. Michael Wooton

Associate Pastor
RAISE THE ROOF

UPDATE
INTERVIEW BY CARRIE GAXIOLA
complish Gods vision.
Alan Prass, Executive Director
How many campaigns have you

seen the church through?
This is the fourth major capital campaign
that Christ Church has seen since 1999.
The first campaign helped pay for the
gym and what is now Kids Connection.
The second campaign in 2005 raised
enough money for the banks to loan us
the money to build the sanctuary. By
2008 we needed nursery space and our
third campaign paid for Creation Corner.
What are the biggest challenges
with a capital campaign?
Communication is the biggest challenge
in a large campaign. It is very important that people know why the church is
embarking on a campaign. They need
to clearly understand the vision of the
church and how the project is going to
help fulfill the vision. The larger the
church the harder it is to reach everyone.
We discovered that satellite campuses add
even more challenges not in just communication, but also in the way you manage
and track commitments and donations of
all of the different campuses.
In thinking about Gods provision, in
what ways have you seen God provide, particularly for this campaign?
This campaign was a total team effort.
We had a strong team of staff and lay volunteers working behind the scenes to ac-
Carrie Gaxiola
Flame Editor
Would you care to tell us what challenges were presented recently and
you saw God move in a big way?
This project was approved by the city of
Fairview Heights in 2005 when it was a
rectangular 3-story building and then
again in 2009 when we changed the shape
to add more square footage. In the spring
we submitted the paperwork because we
needed the city to approve the addition
to the west side of the sanctuary and was
surprised when the city told us that we
would have to get the 2nd and 3rd floor
approved for the third time.
This approval was exasperated when our
neighbors, whom had recently moved
into their homes a few years ago, produced a petition with 161 signatures
against the 2nd and 3rd floor. Their main
objective of the project was privacy. After three rounds of meetings the city
approved the building, but not until we
agreed to place a luminescent film on the
east facing windows of the second and
third floors.
As a result of these meetings we were able
to get the building approved and continue to be good neighbors.
When is the projected groundbreaking to Raise the Roof?

We are going to have a formal groundbreaking ceremony on Sunday, October
18th at 3:00pm.
How can the congregation continue
to pray?
Please pray for the safety of the construction crew, a good economy and continued growth of our childrens ministry.
Where are we in terms of financial
goals? Have the goals been met?
Are the funds coming in already?
We have been blessed here at Christ
Church. The total amount pledged to
Raise the Roof is just over $2.9M. By the

time this magazine goes to print we will
have exceeded $500,000 in money received for the Raise the Roof campaign.
To reinstate the goal for our newest

campaign, what do see as the biggest asset of this endeavor?
This building will enable us to achieve the
5 goals for our children that Rev Shane
spelled out last year at this time. They
are:
Every child will come to know Jesus
as Savior
Every child will be Biblically literate
Every child will develop self-respect
and respect for others
Every child will reach their full potential
Every child will discover Gods plan
for their lives
It is important to understand that this
campaign will also provide a space for
our worship team to build worship sets,
store equipment and allow staff to have
office space.
Each campus has pledged over $150,000
for their own capital needs. The C/M
campus will use their pledges to move to
a 24/7 location which will allow growth
and be available for small groups and
other events throughout the week. The
Scott Campus is looking at expanding
their parking space and the Millstadt
Campus is discussing future capital investments that will help their site grow.
Can people still pledge even though

the actual campaign was accomplished earlier in the summer?
Yes, people can still make a pledge. The
pledge period will not be 3 years, but it
will be from the date on the commitment
card to the end of the campaign in May
2018.
CAN I AFFORD
TO TITHE?
BY DAVE MERRILL
Before I bring a tithe of my wealth to the
church, I should first consider all that
God has provided me. I better begin at
the moment of my conception. Jeremiah 1:5 reminds me, Before I formed you
in the womb I knew you, and before you
were born I consecrated you. The LORD
has breathed life into me. I am blessed with sight, with hearing, with taste,
touch, and smell. The LORD makes me
aware of my surroundings and brings
me into loving relationships with others. He has given me language, thought,
feeling, and emotions. He connects with
my spirit and He guides my path. He has
equipped me with unique skills, talents,
abilities, and experiences. He gives me
thought, knowledge, wisdom, strength,
and fills me with new ideas. I am fed by
the bounty of His provision; the fruit of
the trees, the produce of the fields, and
the dairy, meat, and eggs from his creation. Come to think of it, everything I
have, He has provided.
The writers of the Gospels knew all that
God has provided. Matthew tells us, Do
not be anxious, saying, What shall we
eat? or What shall we drink? or What
shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek after
all these things, and your heavenly Father
knows that you need them all. Matthew
6:31-32
The apostle Paul reports, My God will
supply every need of yours according to
his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19) John jogs our memories of
Jesuss words, Whatever you ask in my
name, this I will do, that the Father may
be glorified in the Son. If you ask me
anything in my name, I will do it. (John
14:13-14) Dr. Luke asks us to Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap,
they have neither storehouse nor barn,
and yet God feeds them. Of how much
more value are you than the birds! (Luke
12:24) We have a Holy and loving God
who joyfully pours out all he has for our
benefit.
After all God has done for me, how can

I not share at least a tithe of this joyful
overabundance with others? We seem
stubbornly willing to give two or three
tithes of our income to the federal and
state government. (Note: we government
employees say, Thank you!) Of course,
we pay that to avoid legal action and potential incarceration. That leaves the rest
of our income to pay for housing, clothing, food, transportation, indebtedness,
and entertainment. We tend to put our
leftover scraps into the church offering
basket last.
What if we thought differently and were
obedient to God with a tithe? What
would life look like if we joyfully offered
our tithes and offerings first? Lets generously give 10% up front to the LORD.
Guess what; all of a sudden weve done
good work down the hall, around the
corner, and around the world with that
investment. We have created a secure
charitable giving deduction from our tax
burden. If I next pay myself another tithe
(10%) investing wisely in savings, retirement, debt relief, and emergency funds,
I am able to draw interest on that investment as a good steward of what God has
provided and my money goes even further. Im left with 80% to pay the bills
AND I am in a position to receive Gods
blessing on my gift.
The prophet Malachi delivers this promise from God (Malachi 3:10), Bring the
full tithe into the storehouse, that there
may be food in my house. And thereby
put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts,
if I will not open the windows of heaven
for you and pour down for you a blessing
until there is no more need.
Can you think of a better investment
than to connect people to Jesus Christ?
When we invest in Christ Church we give
to make room for our children, we support ministries around the globe, and we
provide for the needs of those less fortunate than ourselves. We enjoy an abundance of comfort, shelter, transportation,
clothing, food, electricity, hot and cold
running water, and communications gear.
The greatest percentage of the world has
none of these luxuries. Its time to share
10% of that blessing.
Proverbs 19:17 says, Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he
will repay him for his deed. Can you afford not to tithe?
Whoever is
generous to
the poor lends
to the Lord,
and he will
repay him for
his deed.
- Proverbs 19:17
Dave Merrill
facebook.com/davemerrill819
Ministry Spotlight
GODS PROVISION FOR HONDURAS

THROUGH CHRIST CHURCH
BY BONNIE FAHRNER
One day, I had a vision and saw a rock

fall from heaven. It hit the water and the
ripples went around the world. I was impressed that the rock was Jesus, the water
was Honduras, and the Lord was going
to pour out the Holy Spirit on San Pedro
Sula. - Rev. Fred Bishop
This vision carried the seeds of evangelism and service that would grow
through Rev. Fred Bishop, No Greater
Love Ministries, Feed My Sheep Ministry,
Bibles for Honduras, Christ Church, and
the United Methodist Church to become
a part of Gods provision for Honduras.
At first, we didnt know the people; we
didnt know the needs; we didnt know
how to meet those needs; but God said
Go.
Just look at Gods amazing provision for
Honduras in the last year by the Holy
Spirits work through Feed My Sheep
Ministry, Bibles for Honduras, Christ
Church including Christ Church Sight
Ministries, New Horizon UM Church, IL
Great Rivers Conference, and Iglesia de
Cristo in Honduras:
1,941 people received free medical

examinations and medications
1,570 people received free vision
care and glasses
145,000 multiple vitamins were
distributed among 1,120 children
and 1,264 adults
305 children received Awana workbooks, supplies, and shirts so they
Bonnie Fahrner
Flame Volunteer Writer
could participate in the Awana program
335 children received school uniforms and supplies so they could attend school. (Children cannot attend
public school in Honduras unless
they have their own school supplies
and uniforms.)
9 homes that had been destroyed by
fire were rebuilt
428 mothers received baby layettes
for their newborns
7,896 people received free Spanish
Bibles distributed by mission team
members. Bibles for Honduras delivered over 10,000 Spanish Bibles
overall in the last year with more
than 50,000 Bibles provided since
2007.
Our sister church in Honduras, Iglesia de
Cristo, started with 26 people in one location in 2012, has grown by 1400% over
the past two years, and now has 3 locations: San Pedro Sula, Choloma, and Villa Nueva.
While numbers might show the scope
of Gods provision, personal stories tell
more about the impact of Gods provision
through our Honduran ministries.
One 15-year-old girl came to our clinic holding onto her grandmothers skirt
because the teenager could not see well
enough to walk on her own. The grandmother said through an interpreter that
the girl had never been to school and
stayed at home because she was blind.
The grandmother and her granddaughter had walked a long distance to our free
clinic with the hope that the eye doctor
could do something. Dr. Tinge examined
the girl and found that she was not blind
but was extremely nearsighted. Kim
fitted the girl with glasses, resulting in
amazing improvement in her sight. What
a change and a blessing! The girl and her
grandmother left the clinic with joy, excited about the new life awaiting the girl,
and thankful for Gods provision.
Would you like to know how you can be
a part of Gods provision for Honduras?
Connect with Feed My Sheep Ministry
through Marvin Steinke, 618-779-3337,
or Bonnie Fahrner,
618-660-9749;
Bibles for Honduras through Brian Safarian, 618-541-0559; and Christ Church
Sight Ministries through Dr. Kim Tinge,
618-972-6039. We will be glad to share
options for your role in Honduran ministries, here or in Honduras. Above all,
please pray for our October 10-17 mission trip to Honduras.
LIVING INTO
EXCELLENCE
BY DR. STEVE HEITKAMP
When I was a boy, there were two men

that taught me about excellence. It was
a lesson that has since proved invaluable.
The first time Scott Loeffler came to my
neighborhood, he said he recognized the
yard, not the house, that he knew belonged to Steve. This is not incidental or
an accident. My life has been formed and
shaped to grow with excellence. It is an
interest that I have had since I was a boy.
This interest came through my grandfather. He was an uneducated railroad
forklift driver, and his yard was saturated by all the colors imaginable. It was
breathtaking, and as I child I imagined
his yard was a Garden of Eden. Paradise.
I was raised learning from him the passion for growing with excellence.
The second man who taught me about
this excellence was a neighbor, named
David. He was older than my grandfather but had a similar passion for apples.
David was a man of education, learning
and skill. He had degrees in horticulture
and the experience to match; he taught
me to graft fruit trees. I still remember
the day he gave me a fruit tree that he
had grafted seven kinds of apple trees on
one root stock. I thought I had discovered the tree that was in the garden that
my grandfather had replicated.
Two men, one educated and one not,
both taught me about excellence in growing things. I even say that I was grown
to grow things. I continue the tradition
in my yard today. I discovered excellence
yields results.
We are called to Excellence

If there is any excellence and if anything
worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on
these things Philippians 4:8b
You and I are children of the Most High

God, and we are called to this high calling to be lived out in discipleship. I take
this passion to the work I do as a therapist, as a pastor and all I say and do. I am
relentless about learning to be more like
Jesus. I find the following to be true:

Movement toward deepened discipleship has no short cuts. It takes

the complete priority of my time, energy, and resources.
Growing to be like Jesus takes a lifetime of small steps and large leaps
stepping out in faith and vulnerability.
God prunes and redirects my plans

at His will, not mine.
Growth has many obstacles, but God

will complete His task to perfection
when we yield to Him.
I never grow alone, but am thankful

for all the people who have poured
into me over the years.
When we crave to grow, God will

bring resources and just the right
people to help you reach that place
of excellence. II Peter 3:18 tells us:
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus
then believe and grow to maturity.
God compels me to move others to

excellence, which deepens my maturity through this means.
outstanding example of a particular quality. Psychologist Joanne Ruthsatz and

her colleagues sought to shed light on the
mind of these young people who excelled
above the others (Scientific American
Mind; February 2014). Interestingly, not
all of them had a high IQ. The range of
IQ was 108-147. There was in fact one
with a visual spatial IQ of 71, which was
97 % worse than the general population.
What the study found is that every single
prodigy scored off the charts in working
memory, better than 99 % of the general
population. Listen to what that means:
Working memory isnt solely the ability to memorize a string of digits. Thats
short-term memory. Instead, working
memory involved the ability to hold information in memory while being able to
manipulate and process other incoming
information. Isnt it wonderful when we
do this in our spiritual life? Take in the
information of Scripture and then at the
same time excel in our ability to apply it
as new and different information and experiences enter. Live into excellence as a
prodigy of God.
Lord, show me how this day to live into
your excellent will and plan for my life.
I commit myself to excellence through
Study and Devotion.
A prodigy is someone who dazzles us

with excellence and ability at a young
age. Sometimes this is music, math, or
art. Prodigy also means an impressive or
Dr. Steve Heitkamp

drsteve@horizonhope.org
www.horizonhope.org
THE DAILY DEVOTIONAL

ACTS OF WORSHIP
BY REV. DON FRAZURE
When thinking about worship, our
minds immediately go to what we normally experience during a corporate
worship service. Within the context of
a service there are several sacred acts of
worship that we dont bother giving a
second thought to because they are traditional practices that we include -- and
even expect -- in worship. We sing songs
of praise and thanksgiving. We pray together. We listen to the Word of God being read and hear a sermon on that text.
We join together in Communion through
the observance of the Lords Supper. We
give our tithes and offerings and leave to
carry out the mission of connecting people with Jesus Christ. But have we ever
stopped to consider the acts of worship
that happen outside of a worship service?
The Greek word for worship that is used
throughout the Bible is proskuneo. It is
a compound word with first part (pro)
meaning to turn toward, and the second
part (kuneo) meaning as to kiss. This
kiss would be along the lines of showing reverence to ones master and lord
rather than in a romantic sense of the the
word. In our case, the kiss is showing
reverence to our Lord God. In corporate
worship, we collectively turn to God and
show him reverence and praise in the
actions of worship listed above. However, we can also do the same individually
through daily devotional acts of worship.
Prayer is the first daily devotional act of
worship. We wouldnt consider a corporate worship service to be complete without time devoted to prayer, so the same
should go for our personal devotional
time. To me, reading the Word gets my
heart in the right place for God to speak
to me and begin to change me through
Rev. Don Frazure

Pastor of Worship Arts
DonFrazure@mychristchurch.com
10 FALL 2015 // THE FLAME
prayer. It is in prayer that we truly kiss

the hand of our loving Father.
Now, believe it or not, I dont normally sing in my devotional time; however,
there are times when the presence of the
Holy Spirit is so powerful that I give in to
it because, as the hymn writer says, How
can I keep from singing? Those are the
times when I am in complete abandon in
worship, and I truly dont care what others might think. Im alone with God, in
his presence and nothing can hold me
back.
Reading and studying the Word of God is
another daily devotional act of worship.
We want people to be in a small group
or Bible study so they can love God by
knowing more about him. In reading the
Word, the Holy Spirit speaks to us, in effect preaching to us what he wants us to
understand from that text. We are choosing to turn our minds and hearts away
from other things and focus on Gods
Word. We do the same in a worship service, but this time, its just us and God.
The Word tells us to, Love the Lord
your God with all your heart, mind and
strength, and to love your neighbor as
yourself. We are called to serve one another, and when we serve one another in
Jesus name, it is an act of worship. We
are not only called to serve each other
during corporate worship, but also as a
daily devotional act of worship. By putting the needs of others above our own
we are showing Christs sacrificial love
for each other. This act of turning away
from ourselves and focusing on others is
worship through obedience. This can be
accomplished through our church ministries, or individually as we interact with
and minister to people each day.

What we do together in our corporate
worship services is mirrored in our daily personal worship. Take some time to
think about your daily devotional actions
of worship. In the end, when we turn
away from everything else and focus on
God, through reading the Word, singing
songs of praise, praying and serving our
neighbors, whether in a group or individually, it is all worship!
Those are the

times when I
am in complete
abandon in
worship, and I
truly dont care
what others
might think. Im
alone with God,
in his presence
and nothing can
hold me back.
COULD YOU
DO BETTER?
BY MATTHEW J. LAFRANCE
I was pretty young when I accepted Jesus
into my life. I couldnt tell you too much
about it, if only because not too much
happened after my conversion. I prayed
the prayer, considered myself saved, and
never really did anything to grow my
faith in Jesus. I grew up hearing many
pastors preach on the need to have time
set aside daily for devotion, but I
didnt want to. Simple as that.
My faith, I feel, didnt actually start to
grow until about five years ago, and even
then that growth was miniscule. Id started attending a Bible study and found myself a little bit more involved in the word
of the Lord. Still, I felt I didnt need to
read my Bible regularly. I prayed every
day, went to church on Sundays and attended Bible study whenever we had it;
that should be enough. I could feel this
growing my faith, and I was better able to
communicate about my faith with both
believers and nonbelievers. With that going for me, did I need to read the Bible
every day?
According to numerous sermons Id
heard over the years, yes. But, why? If
Im doing well enough just studying
Gods word twice a week, why should I
be reading it the other five days? If I feel
competent speaking about my faith to a
nonbeliever, do I need to have a daily devotional?
Yes, a voice told me once. Because you
could do better.
This realization came almost a year ago.
Convicted by the Holy Spirit, I decided
to see if it really made that big of a difference in my life. I set a Bible app plan on
my phone and took off with it -- if for no
other reason than to prove to myself that
it wouldnt change anything in my walk
with Christ.
So, every morning, as Id wait in my car
for my co-workers to arrive, Id read
whatever passage was designated for that
day. The first month or so nothing outstanding occurred in my spirit, but then
something really cool started happening.
I was uncovering all these little verses
that Id never heard before. You know, the
ones not quite impactful enough to be
part of a sermon, but hit your heart like
adrenaline right when you need it? All
these passages, both well-known and obscure, started flying at me; striking negative parts of my being. And then the passages began applying to my life; not just
on the whole, but that day specifically. Id
read a passage, and then four hours later
stuff would happen at work, and Id be
like, Whoa; God was totally preparing
us for this earlier.
Riding a cyclothon immediately after

learning to ride a bike is foolishness. And
being in a relationship with God without
exercising that relationship is likewise.
Sure, you may feel as though your relationship with Christ is fine. And maybe it
is. But allow me to ask you the question
I had to face; could you be doing better
than you are?
Schedule the time. Pick up the Book.
Youll be glad that you did.
That plan I set up on my Bible app

was ninety days long. Ninety days of
mind-blowing, life-changing passages.
Even if Id read the verse before, its coinciding with my life at the time I read it
gave it new meaning. It was incredible!
My relationship with Christ was reaching
an all-time high!
But, I think most notable about the experience was how I was better able to communicate Christ to people. The added
knowledge I gained from that study gave
me more to say on the topic of my faith
than I thought possible. I realized that
convicting voice was right: I could do
better, and now I was.
The thing about relationships is that they
require attention. They need to be given
care and nurtured. We, as a society, seem
to remember this in regards to our relationships with people, but when it comes
to our relationship with God, we treat
it like riding a bike; once you learn, you
never forget. The fact is, we need to treat
it like its a cyclothon. One component
of it is knowing how to ride the bike, but
youve also got to train for the race. You
need to dedicate time to strengthening
your muscles, pacing yourself, and working on breathing technique.
Did you know there

is a free bible app?
Visit bible.com/app to get
this great resource for your
devotional life.
Matthew J. Lafrance
THE FLAME // FALL 2015 11
REPRESENTING YOUR FAITH LIFE

WITH A LIFE VERSE
BY JEFFERY M. BISHOP
Whats your life verse?

For many Christians, whether they happen upon one, one happens upon them,
or they intentionally scour their Bibles
to find the just right expression, a life
verse is the faith-driven equivalent to selecting a song lyric, a poetry verse or a
pithy quote that deeply and uniquely represents you.
Similarly then, a life verse is often used
in an email signature, put in vinyl letters
on a wall at home, or, more permanently,
tattooed onto a shoulder, arm, leg or back
and in that respect, sharing the verse is
part of the experience of having one.
As I reflect on my Christian faith, Ive
come to realize that Ive relied upon not
one, but a number of life verses, in keeping with lifes transitions a series of life
verses that speak to my walk with Christ.
Mile markers along my journey deeper
into my faith.
An early life verse that resonated with
me was found in Joshua 24:15: But as
for me and my household, we will serve
the Lord. This affirmation of faith, spoken by a patriarch to cover the entirety
of his family and of his home, spoke to
me when my wife and I were first establishing our home and starting our family.
Not unlike the Give us today our daily
bread, carved wood platters adorning
our parents walls (Matthew 6:9-13), we
christened our home with a cherry wood
plaque, laser-etched with Joshuas words
and the wisdom. It was important and
meaningful for me to overtly establish
this value and direction for our family; to
put into words a solid faith-based guide
for our forward motion together.
Jeffery M. Bishop
At a much later stage of my life, we were

compelled to contemplate a rather difficult decision: whether or not to leave the
Air Force after 12 years of active service.
There were many positive and negative
factors on each side of the scale, and the
decision seemed to hinge mostly on our
familys economic security in unsure
times. For the first time, we were tested
to put our faith in our finances fully in
the hands of the Lord our father, and not
also in those of a seemingly maternal Air
Force. We weighed and prayed our decision a lot for months and in doing so,
soon enough had a God-honoring decision, and with it a profound sense of calm
and faith and peace in a new life verse:
... Look at the birds of the air; they do
not sow or reap or store away in barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not much more valuable than
they? ... do not worry, saying What shall
we eat? or What shall we drink? or
What shall we wear? Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these
things will be given to you as well, (Matthew 6:25-34).
It was more than coincidence indeed,
it was Providence! that I was able to
find a good job here in St. Louis; a job
that started the Monday after my military
service ended, providing me with continuous employment across the transition
that Ive been blessed to have ever since.
Theres nothing in the Bible that says a
person has to find a life verse. But unless one tries to encapsulate their entire
faith experience into 5-7 words, theres no
harm in it either. On balance, choosing
one is probably good. Indeed, for many
contemporary Christians, having a life

verse might be the sole scripture they
ever commit to memory, providing an
ever-present help needed in hard times
or that a friend or loved one needs to
hear in witness.
While the passing of time through life is
bittersweet, its humbling to look back at
what Ive gone through. With the benefit
of hindsight, its cheering to look ahead,
knowing there will be more, different
milestones ahead. And knowing that my
Lord and His Word will be there with
me, to guide and comfort along the way.
*All verses New International Version
As I reflect on
my Christian
faith, Ive come
to realize that
Ive relied upon
not one, but
a number of
life verses, in
keeping with
lifes transition
WHEN HE ISNT IN
THE WIND AND THE FIRE
BY SHANNON DURIO
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before
the Lord but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the
Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in
the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. - 1 Kings 19
Last month, my husband and I lost a legal battle that meant a lot to us. It was a
tough blow, because this was something
we had been praying over for years. I felt
defeated. I had focused all of my efforts
for so long on doing things right and
trusting that God would bless those efforts. I was ready to give up - why had He
abandoned us? As I tried to dig myself
out of discouragement, I came across this
passage in 1 Kings 19 about Elijah waiting on the Lord.
Then a great and powerful wind tore the
mountains apart and shattered the rocks
before the Lord but the Lord was not in
the wind. After the wind there was an
earthquake, but the Lord was not in the
earthquake. After the earthquake came a
fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And
after the fire came a gentle whisper.
I had been looking for Him to show up
in a big way with this court case. I was
looking for Him in the wind and the fire.
But He provides for us in ways that we
might miss if we are only looking for the
obvious. This process has drawn me closer to Him because I dont understand it.
I am questioning, challenging, clinging
to Him. (The great thing about talking
to Jesus is that He listens, whether I am
whispering or ranting!) I am discovering
a new depth to my relationship with Him
that I might have missed, had He been in
the wind and the fire.
Have you ever felt like you needed God

to spiritually provide - to resuscitate you?
When I think of Gods provision, my
mind usually goes immediately to money. Honestly, even when I pray for Gods
provision, most of the time it is related
to finances. But Gods covenant extends
beyond our physical needs, and includes
our spiritual, mental and emotional
needs as well.
Who in the Bible had those types of
needs met?
Hannah longed to be a mother, but was
barren. Her heart cried out before the
Lord, and He heard her. She then bore a
son, whom she named Samuel (meaning
asked of God.) As the queen, Esther
lived in luxury, but what she desperately
needed was favor with the king, in order
to save her people. The Lord met this
need. Naomi lost her husband and both
of her sons. As she mourned, God provided her with a companion - Ruth.
After Ziklag was destroyed, the Bible tells
us that King David found courage and inward strength from the Lord. Gideon was
given the courage to fight the Midianites.
God provided Stephen the emotional
strength he needed to face martyrdom.
They all had circumstances working
against them, but God intervened. He
met their needs in ways that were specific
and sufficient. Gods provision is rooted

in His Word. He promises to sustain us,
to uphold us.
Romans 8:28 says, We know that in all
things God works for the good of those
who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
Note that it says that we have been called
according to His purpose - not our own.
The problem isnt that we dont trust God
to provide. Its that we expect Him to provide in the way we think is best. Do you
think Naomi thought it was best to lose
her husband and sons? But during that
season, God provided Ruth to her, whose
legacy included the lineage of David, and
ultimately, Jesus.
It is sometimes terrifying to let go of
fear and trust that God will meet our
needs. But when we begin to see Him as
the Good Shepherd who can see far beyond our tiny pasture, we can be thankful for Isaiah 55:8, which states, For my
thoughts are not your thoughts, neither
are your ways my ways.
Although hard to admit at times, Id
rather have an omniscient God charting
my course than be forced to rely on my
own limited perspective. I am so thankful
for His consistent provision and that He
wants what is good for His children.
Shannon Durio
STONES AND
ECHOES
BY MATTHEW DENNY
My sister and her husband just had their

first child. He is beautiful. We visited
them at the hospital, where they shared
some of the details of the birth. The delivery was complication free and successful,
although a nurse shortage on their floor
and an emergency procedure in another
room meant they received less attention
from the staff than they had hoped to receive.
On our way home, my wife and I began
to reminisce about the births of our own
children. My wife has had some difficult
times in the delivery room, the worst of
which involved our youngest. He was
not breathing when he came out of the
womb. While the OB worked to stabilize
my wife, the nurses seemed frozen. They
were not helping my son, nor were they
trying to find someone who could. The
OB finally shouted for them to get help.
A few tense seconds later, a familiar face
entered the delivery room. Our familys pediatrician had been making his
morning rounds when one of the nurses
brought him to our son. He performed
CPR, and our child eventually began
breathing on his own. A half-hour later,
everyone was fine and our family had one
more beautiful member.
The next week my wife took our new son
in for his first scheduled pediatric visit.
During the exam our doctor shared some
details of that fateful morning, and my
wife and I still marvel. He had not been
scheduled to make rounds at the hospital that morning. He was called in when
someone else could not make it. On top
of that, he had just completed a refresher
course on infant CPR a week or so before
he had to perform it on our son. If he had
Matthew Denny
Scott Campus Worship Leader
MatthewDenny@mychristchurch.com
not been there that morning, or if he had

not taken the CPR class when he did, our
son might not be here today.
By nature I am a pretty rational guy. (This
tends to help me as a science teacher.) I
am usually slow to attribute an unexpected positive happening to divine intervention. When I think about the birth of my
baby boy, however, I have no doubt that
God was at work. He provided exactly
what we needed exactly when we needed
it.
My wife and I will never forget what God
did that morning, and I think thats part
of the reason the whole episode happened. One of my favorite Old Testament stories comes from Joshua 4. In that
chapter, the Israelites finish crossing the
Jordan River the same way their parents
crossed the Red Sea: they walk across
dry land provided miraculously by God.
Before the river returns to normal, God
commands Joshua to have 12 men each
remove a large stone from the middle of
the river bed. Joshua used the stones to
build a memorial pile on the banks of the
Jordan. God told His people that the pile
was to serve as a reminder to them. Every
time they and their children saw it, they
would remember the miracle that God
had performed bringing them across the
Jordan. Each one of those stones would
continuously testify to the miracle God
had done.
I love that story and how it applies to us
as modern-day Christians. From time to
time, we all go through crises which can
cause us to doubt Gods goodness, power, or existence. Whether it be a divorce,
death, or even a dream deferred, diffi-
cult circumstances have the potential to

wreck our faith. In times like these I have
to remember the stones God has provided in my own life. When my present
circumstances try to convince me that
God is not on my side, I can look at the
memorial pile God has built through the
events of my own life and remember that
He is in control. Ironically, once those
crises resolve, their memories often wind
up being added to that same pile.
Rev. Troy used to tell us that we need to
learn to trust Him where we cant trace
Him. We all know this is a hard thing to
do. When you cant trace God, it is easiest to assume He has left you. It is in
those times that your own memorial pile
is most important. Gods provision does
not aid us only in the moment. His gifts
echo on throughout our lives, continually
feeding our faith.
Each one
of those
stones would
continuously
testify to the
miracle God had
done.
STRONGLY
AGREE
WENDY SMITH
When I travel, airplane time becomes an

opportunity to escape, so I actually read
one of the magazines to which I subscribe. One particular article contained
one of those annoying self-help quizzes,
but one of those questions caught my eye.
Do I know I will always have everything
I will need?
Im happy to say there was no hesitation
in circling number five: Strongly Agree.
After all, I am confident that my Lord
and Savior will provide all my needs just
like He promised He would.
What an incredible gift it is to be confident in knowing that even in a season of
unemployment and uncertainty, we can
trust Gods promises.
I am particularly pleased to be able to
strongly agree that I will always have everything I need, because even though
this is an extremely challenging season
in my familys life, God has asked us to
help another family in need. We are not
even sure we have the means to take care
of our own circumstances in the manner
to which we are usually accustomed. And
we have no way of knowing the outcome
of our help for our family or for theirs.
So, let yourself rest in my shoes for a moment. How would you respond? If it is
with the same five, you are blessed indeed!
Matthew 7:9-11 tells us, This, then, is
how you should pray: Our Father in
heaven hallowed be Your name, Your
kingdom come, Your will be done on
earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our
daily bread.
Often we are delivered what we need,
not what we want or desire. Desires are
strong feelings of want wistful and
sometimes powerful cravings, while need
is manifested from something which is
essential.
The struggle between need and want exists for all of us and can make it difficult
to see that God, our Father, has provided
for all of our needs; not our wants, but
our needs. God is not in the business of
granting our every wish and whim; but
because He knows what is best for us, we
must learn to be content in all things.
As a parent it is sometimes difficult to
share this view of Gods love and wisdom
with our children. Part of parenting is
teaching children the differences between
wants and needs. I am not sure about
your house, but in the house of Smith we
may have fallen a bit short of what God
would have us do in this area.
Teaching our children that God will meet
our daily needs and not our greeds can
be challenging. Is playing on a $500 select sports team a need or a want? How
about a cell phone for a third grader? Or
an iPad for pre-kindergarten?
I am not going to argue the pros and
cons; that is definitely between you and
God. But the topic of need vs. greed
provides an opportunity for a lively discussion with both your family and your
friends.
to him, we can lean on His promises to

meet the needs of His people, according
to His word and His riches.
Will you join the Smith family in the
challenge to have the discussion in your
house this week? Helping our children to
understand they are children of God, and
that He will faithfully provide for their
needs while discussing the differences
between needs and desires is a powerful,
faith building activity.
Each of us is a child of God, and His desires for us are not dissimilar to the desires we have for our own children or
nieces, nephews or grandchildren. We
want what is best for them. We want
them to become functional, contributing
members of the church and society. None
of that happens by accident, it must be
done by lovingly teaching lessons like this
one.
Our God is faithful to provide. When we
follow His teaching, absorb and strive to
live out His Word, then we can claim His
blessings. My prayer for you this day is
Philippians 4:19. And my God will meet
all your needs according to the riches of
His glory in Christ Jesus.
Now, back to the original question. Do I
know I will always have everything I will
need?
I hope you can strongly agree.
What I know to be true is if we believe

Gods promises, and faithfully commit
Wendy Smith
YOU CANT BEAT

GOD GIVING
BY BRENNE M. ISSA
From the very beginning, God was our

provider. Genesis tells us that God created, and therefore provided, everything
for us. A partial list of His provision includes: heaven and earth; water; day
and night; the sky and ground; assorted
vegetation; lights in the sky for day and
night; and animals to inhabit the land,
sky and sea. He made humans for Himself and provided the way for us to have
a relationship with Him. He also provided things like knowledge, wisdom, understanding, gifts of the Spirit, faith, the
Messiah, and fruits of the Spirit. In short,
He provides everything because it is His
to give. God proclaims in Psalm 50:12
for the whole is mine, and all that is
in it.
I grew up in a middle-class Christian
family with my parents and two siblings.
My parents were excellent providers and I
looked to them for everything. Thanks to
thema, I had a very comfortable upbringing. In college, I declared my independence from my parents (so dumb!) and
lived away from the comfort and assurance of their provision. I was not alone!
College campuses were full of penniless
people, who barely got by. After all, we
romantically thought we were paying our
dues for a future of glorious prosperity.
After college, at my first real job, I had a
life-changing epiphany. I was broke, had
an overwhelming new job I had to learn,
drove a hoopty-mobile that might stop
abruptly at any moment, and lived in a
grimy little furnished apartment. I started crying in my office about my depressing, seemingly hopeless situation. The
tears turned into a prayer/ crying combo,
meshed with a pity-party. As I gave God
Brenne M Issa
a recap of my pitiful life and what I didnt

have (as if He didnt know), for some reason, I ended my prayer with, I want a
cup of coffee and I cant even afford a cup
of (pre-Starbucks and really cheap!) coffee. I just want one cup!
As my prayer of desperation ended with
a hearty Amen!, there was a knock at
my office door. A co-worker from another department swung the door open. I
was going downstairs to the cafeteria and
wondered if you wanted a cup of coffee?
he asked. My teary eyes almost bugged
out of my head! My look startled him as
much as his question startled me, Do
you want a cup of coffee? he repeated
as I was still dumb stricken. Yes, I said,
as I tried to figure out what had just happened. I immediately realized that God
had just revealed Himself to me.
God used that season in my young life
to reveal to me that I had transitioned
from my earthly fathers house of provision; failed at my attempt at self-provision without God all throughout college;
to God taking the reins again as my sole/
soul provider. In that instance, He also
showed me that He often manifests His
plan of provision through the obedience
of others. More importantly, He showed
me that prayer unlocked the door between need/want and provision.
I am reminded of Matthew 7:7-8 that
says, Ask, and it will be given to you;
seek, and you will find; knock, and it will
be opened to you. For everyone who asks
receives, and he who seeks finds, and to
him who knocks it will be opened.
sons about His provision. I kept suffering

from delusions of grandeur, as if I was really running things, in control of my life
and the things God had made me steward over. Like Adam and Eve in the fall,
we often take God out of the equation
and make a bid for our own independence, power, control and destiny. All of
that belongs to God.
The title of this piece, You Cant Beat
God Giving, was a saying of my grandmother, Lucinda McCray. Of course as
a kid I didnt have a clue what it meant,
perhaps because it was a sentence fragment or just another ol folks tale. I knew
it was profound in its simplicity, but I assumed that I had neither the knowledge,
wisdom nor understanding to get it. It
would not be until decades later when
I knocked at Gods door of provision
that He opened the door to reveal those
words to me and the true meaning of His
provision.
for the
whole is mine,
and all that is in
it.
Psalm 50:12
Over the years I learned many more lesPsalm 50:12 for the whole is mine,
and all that is in it.
WHEN DAD
FEARS
BY WILL HOWELL
In 2012, we had the worst year on record

for our family. According to Murphys
Law, if it could go wrong, it wouldwe
were Murphy. I am sure that you know
how that feels. By October, our van had
blown a head gasket, and I had totaled
my car. I wasnt making a lot of money at
the time; Sara was a stay-at-home mom
with three girls under 5, and I was struggling at my job. I remember it like it was
yesterday. There was an evening when I
came home with Sara on the couch folding laundry and crying. I was totally exhausted from all the mess that we had
gone through. I had just met with the
guy who was fixing our van (I should say
the second guy who fixed our van). At
this point, I completely felt useless as a
husband and a father.
Most fathers can somehow relate to the
feeling of failure. You are the provider of
the family, and it rests on your shoulders.
But when you cant provide the necessities of life, you are attacked by those fears.
It was at this point that I had to fight the
spirit of fear and inadequacy. I seriously
began to wonder if I had missed God
in what we were doing in our lives. God
really began to minister to me during
this time. It was a great thing that He
provided a wonderful woman who was
my support because I dont know how I
would have managed to get through this
without her. God started showing me in
His word that Hes the One that I have to
trust and not the money or the job.
My prayer to the Lord at the time was I
just dont understand followed by the
usual rant about how we were givers and
tithers, etc. I remember clearly the Lord
speaking into my heart and reminding
me of this scripture.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and
do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and
He will make straight your paths.
Proverbs 3:56 ESV
And without missing a beat, I heard in
my heart, I have not called you to understand, but I have called you to trust.
That spoke volumes to me as a father .
The ultimate Godly Father asked me to
trust Him. Last year, we took the girls
roller skating with the church. None
of our kids had ever done this, and we
thought it would be great for them to
interact with other kids their age. I took
Maleah and Joanna out onto the rink
and, without missing a beat, they fell
down. Joanna was instantly not thrilled
with it. Maleah, on the other hand, being
the type who loves to learn, wanted to go
out and try more. All the way, my hands
were in front of her to keep her from falling. I told her that, if she fell, she should
grab me, and she would be fine. She fell at
least a dozen times. But she never forgot
that I was there waiting to catch her.
By the end of the night, she was skating
on her own, not like Tonya Harding, but
skating nonetheless. Joanna, on the other
hand, was afraid to do it. We found out
that they have special skating shoes for
kids her age, and we got her a pair. I remember the look on her face when I first
put her down. At first, she wasnt going
to do it. With instruction, the fear began to leave her face as she realized that
with help she could in fact do it. For the
next two hours, Joanna was on her own
skating with these special skates. I could

only imagine what would have happened
if Joanna had decided that, because of her
first experience, she would never skate
again.
Dad, I see you out there concerned about
how things are going to work out in your
circumstance. Theres a wolf at the door,
and you see no way to defeat it. I want
to encourage you to trust in the Lord.
I want to encourage you to reach out
and let the Father catch you. I want to
encourage you to lean on Him for your
strength. You Godly daddy can do it.
Trust in the Lord

with all your
heart and do not
lean on your own
understanding.
In all your ways
acknowledge
Him, and He will
make straight your
paths.
Proverbs 3:56 ESV
Will Howell
THE BEAUTY OF
THE SECRET PLACE
BY ASHLEY WATERS
Ps 27:4 (MSG) Im asking God for one

thing, only one thing: To live with him in
his house my whole life long. Ill contemplate his beauty; Ill study at his feet.
Welcome
Congregational Care Nurse

Carman Wuebbels
Carman has been in healthcare for over 30 years, 24 years
as a Registered Nurse. She has
been in a variety of areas of
nursing to include Pediatrics,
Trauma, Critical Care, Risk
Management, Quality Management and Administration.
She has been married to her
friend and husband, Gary, for
29 years this Nov 1st. They do
not have children other than
the four-legged kind. Maggie
is their miniature dachshund,
and she is the house princess.
The Wuebbels consider it a
blessing to be a part of Christ
Church and all that God is
doing here! Welcome to the
team, Carman!
I knew that taking time to be alone with

God was important, yet I had difficulty
connecting with Him outside of church.
My personal devotion time with God
seemed awkward and forced. Id sit down
with my devotional book and my crisp,
unweathered Bible. I would set my mental timer for 30 minutes and proceed
in an organized manner. Id pray the
prompted scripture and answer all the
suggested questions. The 30 minutes I put
in felt good and I had knowledge of God
but what had my soul truly gained?
My time spent had been out of obligation
rather than a supplication of my soul. I
had sought God for what He could offer
me. Through my discouragement, I was
honest with God about feeling disconnected. I remained open to Him beckoning me into a deeper relationship. I felt
God draw nearer as He wanted to show
me more. He led me to the secret place.
In the secret place we learn not only who
God is, but who we are in God. We learn
who He says we are and how to hear His
voice. He begins to weave who He is into
our being. We shed the layers of what the
world has made us and we become the
children of God we were meant to be.
We learn His character and come into
likeness with Him. This likeness then
spills over into our everyday life and everyday relationships. We begin to speak,
act, and do as He does.
We begin to experience His promises

and recognize His timing. We start to see
beauty emerge from the gritty parts of
our lives. We recognize that God is using
past hurt for our good and His glory. It is
only here in this place that we can thank
God for that hurt because we know His
best interest is us. It is here that we can
find inner joy, peace, and stillness despite
the surrounding chaos.
A time of devotion that leads to this secret place can take many forms. God
longs to speak to us continually and we
should not limit His interaction to a set
time or place. He is already there waiting
in the secret, we just need to remain open
to how He wants to connect with us.
Sitting still with a quiet mind only to seek
His presence can teach discipline. Feeling the warmth of the sun brings you face
to face with your Creator. Meditating and
praying over a verse plants a promise.
Playing worship music with eyes closed
and a voice lifted high brings a deeper
element to personal worship. Voicing a
simple prayer as you wake saying this
day is yours Lord can confirm your surrender. Journaling your hearts desire
can document Gods promise in your
life. Speaking aloud to Him transforms
your daily commute and intensifies your
prayer life.
For when our hearts emerge from the secret place, we stand in assurance of who
He is in us and who we are in Him. We
begin to take the beauty of this secret
place with us where ever we go. The confidence in this beauty is not limited to
our understanding and we are able to live
a life of devotion outside of ourselves.
Ashley Waters
DEVOTION FROM
YOUNG TO OLD
BY BECKY OLROYD
For Christmas, 2013, I was presented

with a Bible from my brother and sister-in-law. The Everyday Matters Bible
for Women (NLT) offers extended devotional aids geared to the lives of the
modern woman. I was intimidated by
the prospect of conquering the contents.
Many times in my life, I have endeavored
to read the leather-bound Bible given to
me in 1955 when I was confirmed into
the Methodist faith in Hillsboro, Illinois.
But the thou shaltsand the begats
would always bog me down, and I would
abandon my efforts.
As 2014 dawned, I was committed to
honor the intent of the gift I had received.
My sister-in-law is a woman of interminable faith and Godliness. She challenged
me to, . Affirm my faith journey, comfort me and guide my way through troubled waters while drawing me close to
still ones. And so my quest began from
Genesis to Revelation.
I have always gone to God as the joys of
morning came and again as the nighttime
fell. But now I found a new connection
that came from the anticipation of my
quiet time each day as I delved into the
Word. Whether sitting in my back yard
swing, on my front porch rocker, or in
my recliner as the brilliant sun shone in
from the west, I connected with Abraham, Jacob, Rachel, Peter, Paul, and Jesus
Christ until the final verse was read.
While I cherish the time I devoted during
my eighteen month journey through the
Bible, and as I ponder the intended focus of the fall issue of The Flame, I realize that, for me, devotion comes in many
forms. As important to me as bended
knee prayers and morning scripture and

Upper Room passages or quiet moments
spent in the Memorial Hospital Chapel are evening bike rides and neighborhood walks, stepping out my front door
to gaze at a brilliant full moon or watching the setting suns rays turn the treetops
orange. I seek God in the music of Enya
or Vivaldis Four Seasons, belting out
Amazing Grace to Joy FM or from the
introspection that accompanies a yoga
session.
But while all of that defines devotion for
me, I want to look further at the simple
nature of the devotion of a child my
granddaughter, Claire. Claire is ten years
old and in her short lifetime, sadness,
loneliness, and emotional and psychological frailties have left her and her family
frustrated and scarred.
I had the privilege of accompanying my
sons family on vacation into the Smoky
Mountains last week. Following a particularly busy day of zip lining, swimming and several trips up and down the
mountains to and from our vacation cabin, Claires wits were frayed, and she was
curled into a ball on her pull-out bed in
tears. As I crossed the room to attempt
to soothe her, she reached for a Bible that
lay on a nearby coffee table.
genuine and lovingly simple prayer of

thanksgiving before she calmed herself to
sleep.
Our next days highlighted adventure was
the Mountain Coaster. Claire was my
partner, and we strapped ourselves into
the low slung cars and ascended into
the trees to the summit at which time I
released the brakes, and we sailed down
the track at seemingly breakneck speed
while Claire continually screamed, Oh
God, Oh God! While normally I would
admonish such exclamation as blasphemous, I smiled at her seeking Him for
reassurance from her fear. And as we
approached our final ninety-degree turn
she pleaded, Oh God, please keep us
safe!
So while my devotion can be as complex
as trying to comprehend the magnitude
of the Bible, the devotion of a troubled
child can come in the form of a scream
for mercy, the contemplation of the mysteries of faith, or a loving bedtime prayer.
Our methods of devotion are individual,
yet both are real. We seek Him in our
own ways. We yearn for His love, His
strength and His promise. And in so doing we are sustained.
Claire had just completed a week-long

vacation Bible school, and her dad had
shared with me her confusion and confliction regarding faith as it pertains to
her and her struggles. As she clutched
that Bible to her chest she cried, I need
to read the Bible. I need the Bible to
help me. I want to understand Jesus and
God. And then she uttered the most
Becky Olroyd
FIRM
FOUNDATION
BY SHELLEY BATY
How do you begin your day? Maybe you

start each morning with a mug of coffee and your Bible. Perhaps your morning looks more like a scrambled rush to
get out the door on time. Many of us are
somewhere in the middle trying to find
time to spend with God, but not quite
sure how.
When you hear someone refer to devotional time, what comes to mind? What
does time with God look like? Is it time
spent thinking about God? Reading a
devotional book that has a verse from
Scripture and a paragraph of explanation? Is it reading a prayer or singing a
hymn? Do you really need a devotional
time every day? Why?
As Christians, we are to be the salt and
light in the world. When people spend
time with us they should recognize that
we are not the same as others. The word
devotion means the act of setting apart;
to give up wholly. If I have devoted my
life to baseball, my career, or a favorite
charity, people will notice. They will see
it in the way I dress, what I discuss, and
where I spend my time and money. If I
am devoted to Christ, that too should
be evident. I cannot just attend a service
once a week and quickly read a Bible
verse each morning and claim devotion
to Christ.
Luke 6:47-49 compares our relationship
with Christ to a foundation for a home. A
home built without a proper foundation
will fall apart when strong winds come. A
builder who takes the time to dig a deep
foundation is protected from storms. The
home without a foundation will be built
faster. Both homes will look beautiful;
Shelley Baty
however, when the storm comes, only

one will stand.
Our spiritual lives are the same way. We
can go to church regularly and maybe even read a devotional book or a Bible passage a few days during the week.
Are we building a foundation of sand or
a firm foundation? To become strong,
we must actively build our relationship
with Christ. If I am building quickly, I
will read my devotion, skim a familiar
Bible passage or listen to an online sermon while I surf social media. I will have
checked time with God off my to-do
list and I feel good about myself. What
if I take time to ask God to speak to me
through His word before I read? I can
select a verse or two to consider as I go
through my day, asking God to use His
word to bring correction, direction, or
encouragement in my life. Building the
foundation as I walk through each day,
I ask myself if I am interacting with coworkers and fellow commuters as Christ
would. Am I relating to my children and
spouse in a way that reflects Christ? How
do I handle everyday joys and struggles?
Do I lean on Him for what I consider to
be the small things? Do I thank Him for
the little ways He shows His care?
This foundation that is built day by day
will be tested when the storms come.
What happens when serious illness
touches someone close to me? What
about death, financial hardship, an unexpected move, or betrayal by a friend
or family member? How have I used the
time He has given me? What have I been
building? A firm foundation allows me to
respond to everything from minor inconveniences to major crises in a way that
glorifies God and directs others to Him.

A weak foundation leaves me with the
opportunity to build again.
Lets consider the purpose behind our
daily devotions and commit to building a
strong foundation so that others may see
Christ in us.
Perhaps your
morning looks
more like a
scrambled rush to
get out the door on
time. Many of us
are somewhere in
the middle trying
to find time to
spend with God,
but not quite sure
how.
NEW HOPE
AND RENEWED FAITH
BY SHANNON PEIFFER
I had always heard of Gods provision.

Id seen it happen for so many, but never really experienced it first hand. Even
knowing that scripture tells me differently, Consider the ravens: they neither
sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them.
Of how much more value are you than
the birds! Luke 12:24; Bible, NIV, in the
back of my mind, I thought, why would
He do that for me?
One year I asked God if I could see a
miracle. At the time, it never occurred
to me that to be able to receive a miracle, you have to be in the position to need
one. The lesson I learned from that little
prayer was far beyond my expectation.
In December, 2008 God set a miracle in
motion.
On his way to work, my husband, Adam,
was in a car accident. He hit a patch of
black ice that swerved his tail end into
the way of oncoming traffic. The hit spun
him into the path of a large company van
that t-boned him on the drivers side. He
was transported to two different hospitals for his care. He had sustained some
cracked ribs and had a bleeding spleen.
His condition was critical, and he was
placed in ICU.
The doctor said his spleen may need removed; apparently, there was not much
else they could do. I had heard of a
spleen, but I had no idea of its bodily
function. I discovered that it fights off infectious diseases; you can live without it,
but you dont want to. If it was removed,
we were looking at living in a bubble. I
had two sons, whom I knew carried
all kinds of germs. Living in a bubble
seemed impossible. Would he ever be

able to hold his kids again?
Our pastor came to visit and the prayer
chain was initiated. A miracle was in the
making.
They kept an eye on his blood cell count,
which apparently told them whether or
not his spleen was bleeding. They wanted to wait and see if it would stop on its
own, but according to my friend who is
a doctor, that was not something that
usually happens. However, God was in
control! Within two days the flow had
subsided; he was taken out of ICU, and
sent home! Psalm 30:2, Lord, my God,
I called to You for help and You healed
me!

Yet God did not stop there! This unexpected incident had put us in financial
strain. It was the end of the year and my
husband had no vacation time left, so his
time off to heal was completely unpaid.
I was working part-time evenings, but
took a leave of absence to stay home to
care for him and look after my children.
Like many young families, we were living
paycheck to paycheck and couldnt afford
to lose this much. However, God was in
control!
As the Lord promises in Philippians 4:19,
And my God will meet all your needs
according to the riches of His glory in
Christ Jesus, the second part of our miracle was the richness of His provision.
A woman I worked with gave me groceries and the amount of money I would
have made, had I worked those two
weeks, from her own pay. My parents
brought us a car so that my husband

could return to work when he got back
on his feet, as his was totaled. Gods
timing is perfect in that this happened
during the Christmas season and people
gave to us generously, knowing our circumstances. We were able to pay all our
bills on time.
I thank God for giving me many things
at the end of that year: new friends, new
hope, and renewed faith. Above all he
gave me my husband and a new appreciation for him. These scriptures now have
new meaning, Keep your life free from
love of money, and be content with what
you have, for He said, I will never leave
you, nor forsake you, Hebrews 13:5.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and
do not lean on your own understanding,
Proverbs 3:5
And my God
will meet all your
needs according
to the riches of
His glory in Christ
Jesus, the second
part of our miracle
was the richness of
His provision.
Philippians 4:19
Shannon Peiffer
GODS PROVIDED BEFORE,

HE CAN DO IT AGAIN
BY REV. ZACK DUNLAP
I was 22, newly married, and going to

seminary when Rachael got pregnant
with twins. Rachael was the primary
breadwinner at this point, with me making a whopping $9,600 a year doing parttime youth ministry. And then Rachael
was put on bedrest.
How were we going to make it much
less raise two kids? Well, you do what
you have to do. I picked up extra work
substitute teaching, selling antiques, and
working as a groundskeeper. Picking up
dog poop and cigarette butts at a college
apartment complex might not have been
the most glorious work, but it helped us
make ends meet.
I was doing all I could, but it still wasnt
enough. And then God stepped in. We
qualified for government programs that
covered Rachaels medical bills and put
$50-60 worth of food on the table each
month. Family helped us out. As I continued in seminary, I got a $10,000 scholarship that I didnt even apply for and
it was renewed for a second year. Now
youve got to remember, that was more
than my annual salary!
After our twins were born, Rachael returned to work and I was able to quit my
extra jobs and focus on seminary and
ministry. I was also the one home with
the kids most of the time. Fast forward
a couple of years: I had graduated, was
pastoring a church full-time, and now it
was Rachaels turn to stay home with our
2, then 3, then 4 children.
Now, my wife has also responded to a call
to pastoral ministry. By Gods grace, we
are debt free, but we dont have the means
to fund another $50,000 degree. Yet God
has provided before, and God is doing it
again. A new partnership program was
started up at Asbury Theological Seminary, and through seminary scholarships

and the gifts of friends and family, it
looks like year one of her training is already covered.
This much I know: If God is calling you
to do something, He will make it possible. Dont get me wrong: youre going to
have to work hard, but God will do the
rest. Hes not intimidated by barriers financial or otherwise. He owns the cattle
on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10). God
is simply looking for faithful people, who
will put their trust in Him and do what
Hes calling them to do. Are you such a
person?
Rev. Zack Dunlap

Resident Pastor
ZackDunlap@mychristchurch.com
couple! Not only did they have a strong faithful marriage, they had been tested
and found strength in their relationship with God. Both had great skills to share,
were strong in their knowledge of the Bible and were experienced in leading adult
Bible studies in the community and their former church.
In Memory of Our Friend

Jerry Dortch 07/08/52 - 08/01/15
Five years ago Jerry Dortch and his
wife, Becky, came to our church to
visit and soon became members.
At that time, anyone wishing to join
the church met with one of the staff
members for an interview. The Dortches showed up in my office at the
appointed time and began to share
their spiritual journey with me. Immediately I could see this was a special
Jerry was a well respected dentist in our local community and was an integral part
of the Christ Church family, often leading studies for our adults. He became our
go-to guy for large group church-wide studies and eventually became Coordinator of Adult Discipleship for the church. Jerry and Rev. Shane co-wrote the Lenten
Study, Lukenomics, this past spring. He was working on another study on Ecclesiastes this summer. Jerry developed and implemented a Bible 101 class that was
piloted this past fall. The plan was for Jerry to eventually cut back from his dental
practice and assume more responsibility for adult classes at Christ Church. Jerry
was someone that was trusted to give good counsel on leading adults, often training others to lead groups. Jerry was also a frequent writer for The Flame magazine.
Jerry succumbed to a battle with cancer this past August. Becky lost a husband,
Jerry and Beckys children and grandchildren lost a father and grandfather, and
Christ Church lost a staff member, great teacher and friend. RIP in the arms of the
Heavenly Father, Dr. Jerry Dortch. You are missed here on earth but we are so excited to know we will see you again!
- Larry Weber
Student Connection
NEW
IMPACT
BY BRENT ALEXANDER & ROBB HASS
to take a larger step in their faith walk,

where everyone prioritized attendance,
and the students could honestly connect
with Jesus in a real and meaningful way.
We recognized a need for transformation
on multiple levels as we all draw nearer to
Christ and strive to be more Christ-like
in our daily lives.
Not long ago, the leadership team for

Youth Ministry gathered to plan the fall
events calendar and discuss the details of
the upcoming year. As the three of us sat
in the lounge area in the Christ Church
Coffee Caf, we opened our meeting with
prayer, and honestly and openly sought
Gods divine inspiration for direction and
plans for the new school year. I think we
all felt His presence in our midst, as the
creative ideas were flowing that night and
our conversation was enjoyable, productive and blessed.
Zack Funk, our new student director,
had asked if there was some type of acronym that we could rally around to
provide inspiration and solidarity within
the ministry. Ideally, this mantra would
be something to inspire our numerous
adult leaders, as well as the junior and
senior high students, but it would also
be something simple to remember that
everyone might relate to easily. We were
praying for our leaders and students
After some discussion, the letters A, C, T

popped into our minds, with the letters
representing Attendance, Connection
and Transformation. However, we recognized that true transformation from God
would have to begin with prayer. When
we added prayer to our acronym, we
realized it spelled PACT Within a few
seconds, we all realized, almost simultaneously, that God wanted us to make a
new covenant or pact with Him.
What could happen if all of us began
to really pray and seek true transformation? God also revealed to us that
this PACT would need to start with
each of us first. We would need to
commit to praying more for each student and each member of our leadership teams.
We would all need to prioritize attendance but also attending to one another for both physical and spiritual
needs.
We realized that connection held a
deeper meaning as well. We needed
to not only connect with Jesus in a
real, meaningful way but to connect
with those whom we minister to and
alongside beyond our Wednesday
night gathering.
ation in Christ would be the end result of this new covenant we each
agreed to make.
Once we committed to the PACT concept, we realized that it truly applied to
our leadership team, the students and
their parents. We realized that the parents
should also commit to the PACT, as they
pray for us, the ministry and their own
students, as well as their students friends
who need connection and transformation
as well.
This simple but deeply spiritual inspiration provided that night was truly a gift
from God. We have shared with many
of you how this concept came about that
night, and are encouraging our leadership teams as well as our students to
commit to making this PACT idea a reality this year. If everyone is praying for
one another and the ministry, as well as
attending to each other and focusing on
real discipleship and transformation,
God has us exactly where we need to be!
We know great things will come out of
this.
We are very excited about Gods provision this year. The leadership team senses
a great harvest is coming for the youth of
the Metro-East, and God has already sent
additional and unexpected volunteers
(harvesters) as we begin this new season.
We are incredibly grateful for Gods provision of Zack Funk, our Youth Ministry
Director, who has just joined our staff
this fall. God is providing new energy,
leadership and everything we need in His
timing and for His glory!
The transformation into a new cre-
Robb Hass
Senior High Student Ministries Coordinator
RobbHass@mychristchurch.com
Brent Alexander
Junior High Student Ministries Coordinator
BrentAlexander@mychristchurch.com
WAITING FOR
THE HARVEST
BY KEVIN SIDDLE
I love this time of year. When the dog

days of summer start to fade, and the
cool breeze takes over the evenings.
When all of St. Louis focuses on post-season baseball and the beginning of football season. We start thinking about
pumpkin pies and Thanksgiving dinners.
More than anything, though, I love looking around at all the farmers harvesting
the crops. Growing up in a small farming
town, I have fond memories of watching my grandfather and uncle out on the
tractors and combines, finally reaping the
benefits of their hard work.
Our spiritual lives and ministries follow a
similar path to that of the farmer. There
are those times where we are planting,
the times that we are tending to our crops
and finally the time of harvest. When we
are planting the crops, it is an exciting
time looking forward to what God will
use them for, and what they will grow
into. During the harvest, we get to see
the culmination of Gods plan in our lives
and in the lives of others. But when we
are tending to the crops, its not always so
clear.
We may not know if the months of hard
work will be spoiled by poor weather, or
if everything worked perfectly to yield
the crops that we had planned for. So
what can we do when we dont have the
excitement of planting or harvesting?
1: Know that God is faithful.
2 Chronicles 6:14: He prayed, O Lord,
God of Israel, there is no God like you
in all of heaven and earth. You keep your
covenant and show unfailing love to all
who walk before you in wholehearted de-
Kevin Siddle
facebook.com/kevin.siddle.12
votion.
If God has called you to a ministry or to
be a disciple, know that He will provide
everything you need and every opportunity necessary in order to best help His
kingdom. We dont know what miracles
and blessing are in store, and we need to
trust in his perfect purpose.
2. Know that you were chosen for a
reason.
1 Corinthians 7:17: Nevertheless, each
person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to
them, just as God has called them.
Continue to follow the path that God has
laid out for you. We are each perfectly
suited for the purpose God has designed
us. Your testimony, your successes and
even your failures make you the effective
witness God needs.

3. Know that the harvest is coming.
Mark 4:26-29: He also said, This is what
the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day,
whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed
sprouts and grows, though he does not
know how. All by itself the soil produces grain first the stalk, then the head,
then the full kernel in the head. As soon
as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it,
because the harvest has come.
As a believer of Jesus Christ, you will be
called into service. Your ministry, testimony and witness will be used by God to
further His kingdom. However, when you
are waiting, prepare yourself by studying

scripture, maintaining a devotional life,
fasting and staying in dedicated prayer.
That way, when the harvest is ripe, you
are ready to be used like never before.
As you and your family prepare for the
coming of fall, ask yourself where you are
in your walk. Are you planting, tending
or harvesting? If you have already sown
the seeds of faith but are waiting for the
harvest to come, I pray that you will find
joy in knowing that God will provide you
with all of the tools you need.
Nevertheless,
each person should
live as a believer in
whatever situation
the Lord has
assigned to them,
just as God has
called them.
1 Corinthians 7:17
Health & Fitness Corner
THE
ZONE
BY KELLI TOBIN & LYNDSAY CROXFORD
An excerpt from The 30 Day Refresh, An

ebook and available in the Christ Church
bookstore
If I go up to the heavens, you are there.
If I make my bed in the depths, you are
there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea, even
there your hand will guide me, your right
hand will hold me fast. Psalm 139:8-10
Lyndsay: I used to be a runner. In college,
my sister and I would run mile after mile,
training for all kinds of distance races
through the daunting hills of southeast
Missouri. Running became as necessary
for my soul as my breathing is for the
body. Except for the rhythm of my feet
pounding on pavement, the world was
quiet.
Sometimes after 10 or 15 miles, Id stop

hearing the music of my iPod because I
was in the zone. In the zone, I feel God.
I feel his love wash over me and I rest in
his presence. Nothing else matters except
love and acceptance.
These days, Im in the zone when Im
alone reading or writing, and especially
when sipping a mug of hot milk tea and
spending time with friends. The zone
doesnt have to be quiet for everyone, but
it is for me most of the time. And I love
that God will always have a way for me to
connect with him, no matter what stage
of life Im in or what my capabilities are.
-- Lyndsay
Kelli: How do you get in the zone? We
all have a way to regularly connect with
God, whether its through a traditional

quiet time, in the car, waiting in line or
while we exercise. I love to talk to God as
I run. Just like Lyndsay wrote, I can forget about the miles and I can focus on my
Savior. It is during that time that I am refreshed, rejuvenated and prepared for the
day. Nothing can replace that time with
God. I am often not a sit-in-a-quietplace type of person, but I can move and
pray and I truly believe that God meets
us in our zone. -- Kelli
Be encouraged to go for a walk or jog
this week, take note of the environment
youre in and thank God for it. Ask him
for whats been on your heart, and listen
as he speaks and breathes life into you.
Available in the
Christ Church
Bookstore
or online at
MyFitFinish.com
This devotional book for women offers daily readings,

encouraging scriptures, inspiring ideas, strengthening exercises
and tasty recipes as you refresh your mind, body and spirit. We
pray this book helps you develop the habit of making time to
breathe and enjoy the life God has called you to live.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU

Rev. Zack Dunlap
Job Title
Resident Pastor
Job Description
Im here for one year, sponsored by the Detroit Annual Conference
and Path 1 (the church planting arm of the UMC). After being a part of
what God is doing at Christ Church, I will return to the Metro Detroit
area to launch a second campus out of an existing large church.
What made you decide to attend

this church?
Of all the United Methodist churches in
the country, this one seemed like it would
be the best fit for my year of mentoring/
learning. God is so clearly at work at
Christ Church and its an honor to train
under Rev. Shane and Larry Weber.
What extremely difficult life situation have you overcome and how
did you do it?
My wife Rachael had a miscarriage and
nearly died in the ER. Doctors said if
we had gotten there 20 minutes later, she
wouldnt have made it. Through that experience, Ive come to realize that God is
good in every situation. This is a fallen
world, where things happen that are not
in Gods perfect will. But, even then,
God is present, showering us with his
love, grace, and goodness. I believe, as
David said, that though the child we lost
will not come to me, I will go to him (see
2 Samuel 12:23).
When is it most difficult to trust
God? What about trusting other
people?
Its hard trusting God when we focus on
our own inadequacies rather than on
Gods surpassing greatness. Trusting other people is hard if youve been hurt repeatedly before.
What would you do if you didnt
have to work?
I would still be involved in the church
preaching, teaching, and equipping the
saints for the work of ministry. Id probably spend a little more time out in the
woods hunting and fishing, though. I
might even start up a hobby farm with a
dozen chickens and a couple of goats.
Does your faith show while driving?
I think my driving increases the faith of
my passengers. Ill just leave it at that.
How would your life be different if

you knew Jesus was returning later
today?
I would probably spend less time in front
of the computer and more time face-toface with people, sharing the good news
of Jesus Christ.
signment store. I also served in youth

ministry and did a stint in international
missions before transitioning into pastoral ministry.
Would you sing Karaoke in front of

co-workers?
I love Karaoke! Just name the time and
place.
Who do you respect the most?

I have the highest respect for my parents
and grandparents. They are Jesus with
skin on taking in foster children, supporting missionaries, working well into
their golden years, and bringing about
the Kingdom of God in everyday ways.
They are humble, generous, and full of
love.
Name one thing you miss about being a kid.

Nap time. Nap time was the best.
Which souls of our society do you

think need the most help?
I think those who need the most help are
those who think theyve got it all under
control. Unless you wake up to the need
for a Savior, youll never really walk in
relationship with God. We cant do life
alone; we need Christ and we need one
another.
Whats the strangest food youve

eaten?
While living in the Middle East, I ate
sheep intestine stuffed with rice and
herbs. Ive also had haggis in Scotland.
Where are you from?

Im from Michigan Metro Detroit born
and raised. Ive lived in Canton, Ypsilanti, and Allen Park. When we return to
Michigan in June, well be living in Berkley.
What frightens you?
Nobody sets out to be mediocre, it just
happens as they become complacent over
time. I dont want that to be me. I fear
failure and mediocrity. Im also not the
biggest fan of being alone in the dark.
What jobs have you done?
I had a paper route as a kid. I babysat. I
started up my own eBay business, bought
and sold antiques, and worked in a con-
When did you last have the heartiest laugh?

My wife and I are board game people,
and we usually laugh a lot playing Carcassonne. Were pretty competitive!
Have you ever come face to face

with a dangerous animal?
When I was 10 or 12, I saw a black bear
in the woods. My friend Kevin and I
were alone at the time, and we jumped
back into the minivan, said our prayers,
and ate an entire container of Fudge
Stripe cookies.
What world problem would you like
to see resolved this year?
Id love to see world hunger resolved.
Theres enough food on the planet for everyone, but greed and distribution get in
the way while millions go hungry.
What attracted you to your spouse?
I was attracted to her servant spirit, her
heart for Christ, and her hospitality to
strangers. The fact that shes absolutely
gorgeous was simply a bonus!
GETTING TO KNOW YOU

Rev. Zack Funk
Job Title
Student Ministries Director
Job Description
Oversee all aspects of Junior and Senior High Ministries
If you could change places with a

Bible Character, who would you
choose? Why?
Moses. Not to give a typical Sunday
School answer, but I relate to this fella.
I tried to run away from Gods plan for
my life just like Moses did. I, too, needed
a literal mountain top experience for God
to convince me to follow Him. It would
have been pretty awesome to see God
split the Red Sea, meet with God faceto-face, lead Gods chosen people. Moses
was set apart, chosen and led by God.
Then at the end of Moses time, God
took him home. It would behoove me to
see what unwavering faith looks like. To
stand with an army to my back and a sea
in front of me and say, Alright, God, lets
do this!
What do you think delights God
above all else?
Seeing one of His children proudly proclaiming His message and bringing another child of God into the family.
Does your faith show while driving?
This is a work in progress! I used to be
pretty bad about informing those on
the highway that the left lane is a PASSING LANE! I decided to keep myself in
check, so I put a Jesus fish and JoyFM
sticker on my car. Now I feel like I need
to behave myself!
What drives you crazy?
People who drive in the left lane that arent passing. Also, when you go to McDonalds and their ice cream machine is
not working.
What ice cream flavor would you in-
vent?
Mashed potatoes and gravy.
What have you learned recently
from another Christian?
Ive learned to trust God with my whole
life! Dive straight in and watch God work
through me! Its pretty awesome!
What is the first thing you notice

about someone?
What color shirt they are wearing. No
joke.
How did you come to know God?
I came to know God through an amazing
Christian choir that I was a part of in Alton called Encounter. One night during
our tour, all the words of the songs we
were singing started making sense. I was
no longer just singing a song, I was singing about my Saviour. My whole world
changed after that night!
Are you a Cubs or Cardinals fan?
Is this a real question? Better question:
Who are the Cubs? (Uh-oh!, says the
editor)
What jobs have you done?
Furniture Assembler, Snack Shack dude,
Busboy, TV Salesman, Referee, Lawn
Boy, Waiter, Worship Leader, Youth Pastor.
What were you like as a kid?
I was mischievous, always laughing and
in a lot of trouble.
Would you rather visit the zoo or
tour a museum?
Museum. I can promise you this: if you

go to the zoo with Zack Funk, the animals will not be out that day. However, I
am trying a new trick that a friend taught
me. If you dress like a zookeeper, the animals will come out to see you.
Would you like to be president of

the United States?
Only if I could be president and still hold
God as number one in everything we decide.
Have you ever come face-to-face
with a dangerous animal?
No, but once I caught a deer with my bare
hands. True story. Ask the wife.
What store in the mall would we
see you in the most?
Toy Store. Checking out the remote control cars. I dont own one, but I am hopeful every year that my wife will make my
dreams come true and buy one for my
birthday. Im a giant child sometimes.
What do you think the secret to the
good life is?
Truly learning that you are a child of
God. Surrender yourself to Gods plan
and know that you are second. When you
learn that Christ is #1 and fully submit to
Him, you have found the secret to life.
What drives you every day?
Knowing that I work for the Lord and
that I am to do all that I can to the best
of my abilities for Him. Also, the fact that
Shane Bishop is my boss, and I better do
a good job!
GOD AT WORK
NEW MEMBERS
JUNE 2015
Alecia M. Christ
Jesse P. Crotser
Ryan Gillam
Jason Grau
Karen Lynn
Jennifer Meridith
Rachel Stock
Matt Tomanovich
Melanie Tomanovich
Patti Hudak
Chelsea Mattea
Jane Chastain Mercer
AUGUST 2015
Roberta L. Bobbie Costello
Konnie S. Gordon
Patricia Malina
Elizabeth Ann Winchester
Eric Ahlander
Kelly Ahlander
Kyle Bendick
Maribeth Bendick
Kendra Dhaene
Donald B. Douglas
Rachelle Douglas
Nicholas Emerson
James Fickinger
Rick Hansen
Becca Lindley
Dennis McDonald
Patricia McDonald
Kimberley Malloy
Sasha Niemaczek
Kevin M. Nowak
Vicki Nowak
Lowell Sensintaffar
Diana Jean Sensintaffar
Matthew Thompson
Stephanie Thompson
Gary J. Wuebbels
Carman J. Wuebbels
Zachary Funk
Jenny McDonald
BAPTISMS
AUGUST 2015
Avery Sonnenberg
Weston Maschhoff
Jaxson Susic
August Baker
Charlie Dahm
Sasha Niemaczek
MEMBERS
PASSING
Maenon (Mae) Baugh June 14
Harlan Dulaney July 24
Judith L. Shull July 29
Gerald (Jerry) Dortch August 1
Allison L. Remick August 24
WEDDINGS
Martel Mann and Kacee Aldridge
June 6
Jeffrey Abel and Laura Steinke
June 12
Carolyn Schwebke and Jarrod Winder
June 13
ATTENDANCE
2015
June Worship Avg = 1,864
June Connection Avg = 189
July Worship Avg = 1,962
July Connection Avg = 543
August Worship Avg = 2,140
August Connection Avg = 401
INTEGRITY
The highest compliment

I can receive is the referral
of friends, family,
& business partners,
Providing Our Community

and Military/VA with Options
~ Thank You ~
Carie Bradshaw
(618) 593-3258
carie@cariebradshaw.com
Steve White
Steve.White@strano.com
Providing Our Community
and Military/VA with Options
Carie Bradshaw
(618) 593-3258
carie@cariebradshaw.com
Mobile: (618) 407-9110

www.strano.com/stevewhite
CHRIST CHURCH BUSINESS OWNERS

You can help Christ Church produce the Flame magazine by
becoming a sponsor. Call us at 618-277-4659 for details.
Text 2 Give
Coming Soon!
Christ Church will soon launch a text 2 give program that will make tithing
and donations simple and easy! You simply text a keyword to our church
Text2Give number (coming soon) and your donation amount. No paperwork,
no money exchanging hands. It is incredibly fast and easy.
Learn more about Christ Church at www.myChristChurch.com. 618-2774659. 339 Frank Scott Parkway East, Fairview Heights, IL 62208.

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THE MAGAZINE OF CHRIST CHURCH

19 DEVOTION FROM YOUNG TO

5 WHERE DID YOU LEARN THAT

6 RAISE THE ROOF UPDATE

21 NEW HOPE AND RENEWED

by Rev. Michael Wooton

7 CAN I AFFORD TO TITHE?

8 GODS PROVISION FOR HONDURAS...

9 LIVING INTO EXCELLENCE

24 WAITING FOR THE HARVEST

10 THE DAILY DEVOTIONAL ACTS...

by Dr. Steve Heitkamp

22 GODS PROVIDED BEFORE

by Brend Alexander & Robb Hass

by Kelli Tobin & Lyndsay Croxford

11 COULD YOU DO BETTER?

12 REPRESENTING YOUR FAITH...

13 WHEN HE ISNT IN THE WIND...

14 STONES AND ECHOES

16 YOU CANT BEAT GOD GIVING

17 WHEN DAD FEARS

18 THE BEAUTY OF THE SECRET...

The Flame Magazine is a quarterly magazine published by Christ Church.

FROM THE EDITOR

Mission Of The Flame

Be inspirational through biblical articles

of Him, my eyes are open to see His hand

The Flame Online:

Get The Flame Magazine online. Sign

Questions about the Flame?

Contact the Editor, Carrie Gaxiola, at:

THE FLAME // FALL 2015

I am the way, the truth and the life.

Rev. Shane Bishop, Senior Pastor

FALL 2015 // THE FLAME

universal truth or is there not? Jesus said

I am the way. The Greek word odos

poached egg--or he would be the devil

WHO DID YOU

for busy people, but it can be dangerous

Rev. Michael Wooton

THE FLAME // FALL 2015

RAISE THE ROOF

Alan Prass, Executive Director

How many campaigns have you

FALL 2015 // THE FLAME

When is the projected groundbreaking to Raise the Roof?

Raise the Roof is just over $2.9M. By the

To reinstate the goal for our newest

Can people still pledge even though

After all God has done for me, how can

THE FLAME // FALL 2015

GODS PROVISION FOR HONDURAS

One day, I had a vision and saw a rock

1,941 people received free medical

FALL 2015 // THE FLAME

could participate in the Awana program

When I was a boy, there were two men

We are called to Excellence

You and I are children of the Most High

Movement toward deepened discipleship has no short cuts. It takes

God prunes and redirects my plans

Growth has many obstacles, but God