The Underground -- Question of the week: Under pressure — Christians and stress |
- Question of the week: Under pressure — Christians and stress
- Evangelical family in Mexico, expelled for faith, stays strong in gospel
- Historic luxury vehicle fitted for Pope Paul VI, Apollo astronauts, on the auction block
- Christian writers conference slated to build skills, provide opportunities
| Question of the week: Under pressure — Christians and stress Posted: 08 Aug 2011 11:08 AM PDT
Question: “What does the Bible say about stress?” Answer:While most major translations of the Bible don’t specifically use the word “stress,” Scripture does speak to things such as anxiety, worry and trouble and gives us clear answers on how we should deal with them. The dictionary defines stress as physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension. Everyone suffers from stress at one time or another. In fact, research indicates that children who live in a stressful home environment are at greater risk to become highly stressed by life’s challenges. Stress can cause us to do things we would not normally do or cause us to shut down completely. Anything that causes stress is called a “stressor.” Stress can be caused by either processive stressors or systemic stressors. Processive stressors are those that elicit what is called the “fight or flight” reaction. Systemic stressors are our bodies’ automatic physiological responses to stress. Stress takes its toll on all of us to varying degrees, and how we deal with it depends in large part on who we are. It is no wonder that many days we struggle trying to cope with the distresses that come from our jobs, our health or family issues. God has created us and knows that, because of our fallen natures, we can sometimes allow stress to rule our lives. Many people become stressed because they don’t trust God to provide the basic necessities of life. Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” (Matthew 6:25, 27). This passage is a classic example of why we get stressed in the first place—we worry about providing for ourselves and our loved ones. We stress over money because we never seem to feel that we have enough.We worry about making ends meet, often living paycheck to paycheck. Or we become consumed by materialism and in turn, stressed out about maintaining our lifestyle. Materialism inevitably leads to stress because when we seek the world’s goods, we have fallen for the “deceitfulness of wealth” (Mark 4:19), the lie that such things relieve stress and lead to happiness, contentment and joy. They do not. The starting point for dealing with stress is Jesus Christ. Jesus offers us great encouragement in John 14:1: “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.” We desperately need Him in our lives. We need Him because He is the only one who can give us the strength to cope with the troubles in our lives. Believing in Him does not mean that we will have a trouble-free life or that we will not succumb to stress in our lives. It simply means that a life without Jesus Christ makes coping with stress an impossible and often debilitating task. Believing leads to trusting. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to “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.” Leaning on “our own understanding” often means adopting the world’s ways of relieving stress—things like alcohol or drugs or mindless entertainment. Instead, we are to trust His Word as our ultimate guide to a stress-reduced life. David says, “I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4). David knew that by seeking the Lord and sharing his troubles with Him that perhaps he would find favor with Him. The Lord in turn answered him and calmed him down. Perhaps no passage in Scripture better captures how to handle stress than Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” The Lord tells us not to be anxious about anything, but rather to turn everything over to Him in prayer. Lifting our burdens and concerns to a holy and righteous God daily will mitigate or eliminate the stress in our lives. Psalm 55:22 tells us to cast all our cares on Him because He will sustain us and never fail us. Jesus Christ offers peace if we come to Him with our worries and concerns. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). Stress of all kinds is a natural part of life (Job 5:7, 14:1; 1 Peter 4:12; 1 Corinthians 10:13). But how we deal with it is up to us. If we choose to try to do it on our own we face a long, uphill battle that will not end well. The only way we can deal with stress is with Jesus Christ, first by believing in Him. Without believing in Him we are our on our own, and success in coping with stress is almost impossible. Second, we need to trust Him and obey Him. We should trust Him to do what is right because His ways are always best for us. Disobedience and sin can produce stress and cut us off from the only means of peace and joy. By obeying His commandments we reap the blessings of true contentment from a loving God. Finally, we need to seek His peace daily by filling our minds with His Word, lifting all things to Him in prayer, and sitting at His feet in awe and reverence. It is only by His grace, mercy and love that the stress in our lives can be managed. Recommended Resource: Anger & Stress Management, God’s Way by Dr. Wayne A. Mack        |
| Evangelical family in Mexico, expelled for faith, stays strong in gospel Posted: 08 Aug 2011 11:03 AM PDT
A Christian family that was expelled from their home village in Mexico—because of their evangelical faith–continues to stand firm in their beliefs. The family of Sebastian Hernandez, which total 11 people (including children and grandchildren), lost their home, a tiny farm and its produce in Chilil, Huixtan because they refused to renounce their evangelical Christian beliefs.  A Christian family that was expelled from their home village in Mexico—because of their evangelical faith--continues to stand firm in their beliefs.
Hernandez, in sharing his experience, told Voice of the Martyrs,Canada, “There was a meeting of the local authorities, and they had finally had us come in and talk to them. [They] told us that we had to renounce our faith if we were to stay there, and people who did not practice the majority religion were not welcome there. But we said no, we were following the word of God.” Experiences like that of the Hernandez family have been growing in numbers, with 21 expelled from Chilil, another 45 from the village of San Gregorio and 31 from Los Llanos. There have also been incidents of attacks upon evangelicals in Zapatista zones in Ocosingo, Las Margaritas and the Chiapas Highlands. In the case of the Hernandez family, they and other Christian families were asked by local leaders to renounce their evangelical faith or they would be expelled. Two families recanted and were allowed to stay in the community. Three families, including the Hernandezes, refused. Julia Maria Hernandez, Sebastian’s wife, had been dragged bodily the distance of 15 meters into the meeting. Her 20-year-old daughter, also named Julia, tried to defend her. Mother and daughter were threatened and manhandled. The elder Julia Maria Hernandez told VOM Canada, “The police were pushing and shoving me, grabbed my arm and pulled it around and shouted at me and told me to get my things and get out.” Evangelical Christians face great persecution in these villages, which can include vandalizing buildings where they meet, disconnecting water supply to evangelical Christian homes, beatings and death. Last year, Mexico’s Commission of Human Rights denounced the violence in Chiapas state and issued recommendations to local authorities urging them to coexist with evangelicals in peace, and to respect their human rights. Although the recommendations are not mandatory, it did set a precedent for other areas within the country where similar situations may arise. The younger Julia Hernandez, 20, a single parent to two young children aged three and one, told VOM Canada, “I was physically threatened by the political representative here. He said that if he saw my face in San Cristobal that I would be sorry. I felt very bad because we met all of the obligations that were asked of us. The community service, we paid the fees and we did nothing wrong. We are hoping for justice from the community, and from the state authorities.” Still, Julia echoes the stance of the rest of the family. She told VOM Canada, “I am very firm in my faith and I know Jesus saved me. And that is what I will continue with. Our God is great and I’m peaceful in trusting him.”    |
| Historic luxury vehicle fitted for Pope Paul VI, Apollo astronauts, on the auction block Posted: 08 Aug 2011 10:57 AM PDT
A custom-built stretch limousine that was made for Pope Paul VI by Ford Motor Company will be up for auction in California on Aug. 19. The 1964 Lincoln Continental Parade Limousine will be auctioned at ‘Exceptional Motorcars and Motorcycles’ at Quail Lodge, Carmel, California. It was built upon the special request of the Vatican. The Lincoln was used by the pope to participate in the United Nations on World Peace, where he delivered a special address. It is much more elegant than the current pope mobiles which have been used by popes of late. The 1964 Lincoln, which was hurriedly built in less than two weeks after the Vatican’s request was made, has also been used to ferry US astronauts through the streets after a successful voyage through space. The vehicle, which some speculate may sell for up to $350,000, has an overall length of some 21 ft. It includes exterior handrails and step plates. There is additional seating plus a raised seat which was used by the pope. Included, too, is a public address system, added interior lighting, backup power from seven batteries, a removable roof, a transparent laudalet roof at the rear, and a roof-mounted backup windshield that protected the pope as the car paraded down the streets. The Lincoln was later loaned to Chicago city, where it was sometimes used as a parade car and to transport visiting dignitaries. In 1968 the Vatican borrowed the vehicle for the 39th Eucharistic Congress in Bogota, Columbia. The car had to be up-cycled to accommodate Bogota’s high altitude (8,600 ft. above sea level). Changes included engine modifications, climate control systems, the provision of aviation gasoline by the Colombian Air force, additional rear-facing backup seats and a complete set of spare parts and tools. On December 27 of that same year Apollo 8, the first manned space flight to travel around the moon, touched down. Commander Frank Borman, Lunar Module Pilot William Anders and Command Module Pilot James Lovell were paraded through Chicago’s streets in the Lincoln. The Lincoln Continental also transported the astronauts of Apollo 15 (Worden, Scott and Irwin), Apollo 13 (Lovell, Haise, Mattingly), and Apollo 11 (Armstrong, Aldrin, Collins). The Lincoln was no longer used after the early 1970s. For its historical value as well as its stature as a luxury vehicle for special use, the Lincoln is expected to be sold for up to $350,000. It is being auctioned by Bonhams, a market leader among auctioneers of antiques and fine art relics, with offices and regional representatives operating in some 25 nations.    |
| Christian writers conference slated to build skills, provide opportunities Posted: 08 Aug 2011 10:56 AM PDT
Hundreds of Christian writers will congregate at Langhorne, Penn to attend the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference from Wednesday to Saturday to learn from the experts about Christian writing. The conference will cover a wide range of aspects of Christian writing, from faith and the writer to writing that can spell a real difference in the world, including writing about the persecuted church. Included, too, will be a one-on-one opportunity for all fully registered participants to pitch their work to agents, editors and representatives of publishers. Many of the sessions in the conference, which is themed Write His Answer (culled from Habakkuk 2:2), will also be open, free of charge, to the general public. “We live in a time when we need to be both encouraged and challenged,” Marlene Bagnull, conference director, told ASSIST News Service. “The sessions open to the public address issues of transforming our culture for the better, reaching out to impact the world for the better, and sobering reports of Christian persecution worldwide.” Over 65 professional agents, editors and authors will be participating at GPCWC 2011. The conference will strengthen the writing and marketing abilities of participants, provide a means for them to get constructive feedback on their writing, enable them to talk individually about their work with professionals in the industry, and deepen their faith walk. Speakers in the conference include MOVIEGUIDE magazine publisher Dr. Ted Baehr, who will give the keynote address, You Can Help Transform the Culture, on its opening day. Other speakers are Liz Babbs of the U.K., who will discuss new ways to impact one’s culture through writing; Cec Murphey, bestselling author of some 100 books including 90 Minutes in Heaven; and Dan Wooding, ASSIST News Service founder, who will talk about Christian persecution and writing. Steven Lawson, senior editor, Regal Publishing Group, will lead the seminar Who Is My Neighbor?, which will deal with issues such as abortion, human trafficking, orphans, racism, the poor, the learning impaired, the hungry and the handicapped. Rick Marschall, author/editor of some 60 books and ANS columnist will give a seminar entitled Help Save Our Nation which will challenge and equip participants to defend the country’s spiritual and cultural heritage. There will also be an interview by Wooding of C. Hope Flinchbaugh for Front Page Radio on the subject of North Korea, the country that ranks No. 1 in Christian persecution by Open Doors in its World Watch List. GPCWC has, for 28 years, been giving intensive Christian writers workshops. This year, attendees will have choices on various aspects of Christian writing including skills building, getting published, marketing, fiction writing and nonfiction for children and adults. There are also Earlybird Workshops on how to create a website (attendees will leave the session with a ready-to-use website of their own), earning through blogging, ethics in writing nonfiction, E-publishing and tips on how to maximize on a meeting with editors and publishers in the conference. For full details, go to www.writehisanswer.com/Philadelphia.    |
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