Verum Venatus Article

Indiana Gazette Article on Verum

Gaming event offered as party alternative: By BILL ZIMMERMAN, billz@indianagazette.net
Published: Monday, November 30, 2009 11:33 AM EST

When Alan Seymour set out to offer students a safe and fun alternative to the late-night party scene, he looked for an activity that could draw a diverse crowd.Seymour, of Indiana, thinks he found that unifier: video games.

In October, Seymour's nonprofit program, Verum Venatus, held its first gaming event in the University Square atrium, and on Friday and Saturday, gamers will come together again. For Seymour, who is a jock and who is in the band matters little when it's time to mash buttons.

``It transcends all those labels because everybody plays them,'' he said.Verum Venatus' mission statement is ``To give the 18- to 30-year-old population an alternative to alcohol and drugs by utilizing all technological avenues (gaming systems in particular), personal mentoring, tutoring and conversational evangelism.''

However, Seymour, a therapist who practices out of his home church, Calvary Evangelical Free Church in White Township, said college and high students who attend won't be ``hit over the head'' with religion.But if they want some mentoring on matters both spiritual and otherwise, it will be available.Seymour, 37, said he began thinking about Verum Venatus years ago, and recently found a partner, Kyle Bruno, who's in his early 20s and gave him a primer on gaming.

``I'm not in the gaming circle,'' he said. ``I'm just tying to give kids things do to.''Verum Venatus is Latin for Truth Game, and Seymour, who is also an ordained minister, said it's his style to ``tell it like it is'' and deliver the truth about mental, physical and spiritual health.

An Elderton High School graduate, he has a doctorate in biblical psychology from Pillsbury College and Seminary in St. Louis and said his training is ``kind of like combining theology with psychology.''Seymour, a father of three, said he's able to treat both Christians and non-Christians and has worked extensively with at-risk youth in Florida, where he and his wife opened their home to as many as eight teens at a time, and North Carolina, where he worked with gang members.

He moved back to the area a few years ago before heading to India, where he taught for a year at a seminary in Bangalore, and returned to Indiana in May.As he secures more funding and gauges public interest from the gaming events, Seymour plans to open Verum Venatus' own center in a vacant office space in the bottom of University Square.

He envisions students coming to play until about 11 p.m. on weekdays and later into the night on Fridays and Saturdays. The center would also have room for gatherings such as Bible studies as well as space to rent out for other events such as parties. He said it's too early to set an opening date, but that he's still looking for donations and volunteers. He has an eight-member board of directors in place and hopes to have 10 people guide the organization soon.

On Oct. 23, about 18 kids played a ``Halo 3'' tournament competing for prizes, including T-shirts and video games donated by Back Street Records. Rent-A-Center donated four big-screen TVs for the event, and a Nintendo Wii was set up for those wanting a more casual gaming experience. On Oct. 24, members of the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Video Games Club stopped by and games were played outside of the tournament structure.

``Halo 3'' is rated M for gamers 17 or older, and Seymour said no one outside of the Entertainment Software Rating Board guidelines would be able to play games with that rating. He also said Verum Venatus would not offer any bloody games such as those from the popular ``Grand Theft Auto'' series.

His work with troubled youngsters helped influence Verum Venatus' behavioral guidelines, which include no swearing, no horseplay, no tobacco or alcohol and no skipping class to attend gaming events.``My philosophy is you have to set the bar high and kids will generally rise to it,'' he said.

If you go ...What: Verum Venatus gaming eventWhen: Registration for ``Halo 3'' double-elimination tournament begins at 4 p.m. Friday with play going from 6 to about 10 p.m.; tournament will continue Saturday afternoon. Cost is $10.

Where: University Square atrium, Grant StreetWeb site: http://www.verumvenatus.org/

Copyright © 2009 - Indiana Gazette

MAN UP!

Matt. 16:23, “But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

I think one of my biggest frustrations within the Christian faith today is with men who call themselves Christians and yet walk like little children; those men who are timid in their faith. They think in only social reforms, or a more feminized (no offense ladies) form of the Gospel. I gotta tell you, it is getting old and it is hurting the church. It is also one of the biggest complaints I hear from women nowadays. Where are all the strong Christian men? Men who are not afraid to stand up for the faith, not only in doing “good,” but in holding each other accountable. I was going to call this blog, “Where are all the men,” but instead I think “Man Up” fits better.

I have read Ghandi, and Christians try to use him all the time, saying that he almost became Christian and the reason he did not is because of Christians themselves, or that the only ones that do not see Jesus as non-violent are Christians. I have heard this from other new age Christians. Many emergent leaders, neo-orthodox, and liberal Christians are always talking about this and love to make Jesus a pacifist, but that is far from the truth. In Matthew 10:34-39 Jesus says, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” This does not sound non-violent. Why do we insist at only looking at certain verses and not all the verses, as these are certainly not pacifist verses. This is Jesus telling it like it is.

I went through the Epistles, Gospels and the letters to the churches in Revelation, and if I put up all the verses that are in your face, hard, judgmental, and holding men and women accountable in a very strict way, this blog would be over 10 pages just in verses. Jesus was by no means a person that let others walk all over Him without reason, or someone that just sat back and did nothing. He was in your face and very frank much of the time.

Just look at these examples:

Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”

Matt. 10:14-15, “And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”

Matt. 11:23-24, “And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”

John 4:17, “The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.” – doesn’t seem too nice to call out the sin of someone you just met.

Matt. 16:3, “Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.”

John 3:18, “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

1 Corinthians 1:14-16, “I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas.”

1 Cor. 4:18-21, “Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?”

1 Cor. 5:6-7, “Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.”

Gal. 1:6, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,”

Gal. 1:10, “For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.”

Gal. 2:11, “Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed;”

Titus 1:10, “there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.”

This is just a smattering of verses, as there are many, many, many more that could be listed. Don’t get me wrong, I am not negating the love that Jesus showed, or at least the love that many like to talk about, all the emotional, feeling based emotions. Love sometimes meaning saying the hard things so people learn and grow in Christ, and not because we are worried about what people may think of you. It is not man you will stand before, but God.

I am not going to spend too much time on talking about what all the verses already say, as it says it, but men better start standing up and taking point in the Christian faith. It is time to Man Up within the church and start holding one another accountable and not be afraid to debate and call out those that are teaching heresy, poor theology and doing things that are not on par with Scripture, especially from the pulpit. There is a difference between talking to a non-Christian about issues and Christians. 1 Cor. 5:13-15, “For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore put away from yourselves the evil person.”

I think the men of the faith need to start making a stand. Enough with groups and gatherings, as those are well and good in and of themselves, but we also need men to be outside and being the men Jesus, Peter, Paul and all the other apostles were. They did not cower because of feelings, or because someone might be mad, but when a Christian was teaching, preaching or acting foolishly, they called them out.

John 2:14-17, “And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”

If you see a Christian man watching shows like Family Guy, Girls Next Door, or many others, then they need to be told they are sinning, as those shows denounce the name of Christ all the time and to give it your time is to participate. If a Christian man is teaching Emergent Church teachings (Rob Bell & Brian McClaren), Word of Faith Teaching (Benny Hinn & Kenneth Copeland), Liberal teachings (Bishop Spong & Clark Pinnock) or any other heretical movements then they need pulled off the pulpit, out of Sunday schools or Bible studies, unless they are teaching why these movements are wrong and heretical, and they should not be allowed back in those positions until they understand clearly the errors. If a Christian man is not loving his wife like the church, or is not treating women in general as they should, then they need told. Who cares if they are mad at you? Would you rather have God or man mad at you for those He put in your path? Just like I said, it is for Christian men to hold other Christian men accountable that God has put in your path. The time has come to Man Up and be strong for Christ. John 5:22-23, “For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.” Read Matthew 23:13-39 and then read the letters to the churches in Revelation, almost every church is called out on some sin or another.

John 7:24, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

Blastoff Network--Cool Applications.

Well, it's finally here! After 3.5 long years of waiting, I am privileged to introduce you to --> The Blastoff Network.Check it out --> http://my.blastoffnetwork.com/aleris"




It will change the way people use the internet." ~ Google

Blastoff is the next big evolution on the internet." ~ Time Magazine

So what is it? Think Facebook meets Amazon meets YouTube -- all in one! It launched a week ago!Just like when Gmail came out, you must be invited to join the network.

So here's your invitation- http://my.blastoffnetwork.com/alerisYou are now one of the first in the world to know. Yes, you're welcome. And I hope you enjoy it!-- Alan

PS: You can raise a lot of money for an organization or a charity or maybe just for you! And it's

Why Ask Why? Read The Word

Romans 10:17, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Through this time in my life it would not shock anyone if I went through a time of asking “Why me?” The problem is up to this point I have been counseling and teaching, and many times about sin, discipline, and struggles even the righteous go through in their walks with God. I kept saying to those I taught and those in discussion, instead of saying “Why me?,” shouldn’t we be saying, “Why not me?” Seriously, I start to wonder where we came up with the right to ask such questions as we go through trials, tribulations and whatever God deems necessary at the time.

Now, don’t get me wrong, as I fail at this all the time. I would love to have the answers as to why God sees it necessary to have me go through my current struggle, as it not only impacts me, it impacts my family and friends as well. I see and watch my wife go through hurt and shock. I watch my mother try to be strong, though I can see the hurt in her eyes. My father tries not to cry on the phone, and even friends have no idea what to say. What can be said? I may not remember anyway in a few years if the doctors are correct. Of course, like my senior pastor, Gino, has said many times, they have all been wrong before.

When the doctor first told me that I might have early onset Alzheimer’s or Frontal Lobe Dimentia, I did not know what to say. I walked to the parking garage trying not to break down in front of anyone. As you read I lost control of my emotions and cried, but what I did not tell you was that I asked why. I called my wife and asked, why would God take away the one thing that I used the most in my life, the one thing many times I of course took to much pride in, which is my mind. God has gifted me over the years in my studies and application of them and now I am looking at losing that, and I asked why.

But, did I have the right, was it “natural” or was it sin. For me God was showing me in one way something I held way too high, which was my intellect, so in part it was sin. If I completely belong to God, then He has control even over that, and I think we try to hold onto this aspect too much at times, whether it is intellect, looks, or whatever. We tend to have this “one” thing that we do not want God to touch, but if we are His, then He can touch what He wants.

Romans 9:15-16 says, “For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.” If God is in complete control, and He chooses/allows this course for my life then that is what it is; God’s. Not mine, my wife’s or any other family member, but His. If He heals me through His mercy, or takes me home, I will follow, because He is in control. This earth is going away and a new one is coming. We all are going to leave this planet one day, either through death or rapture. We all have to carry our cross till that time, some have different ones to bear. But the one thing we cannot do, is try to tell God He is wrong, or waste too much time in the “Why,” but move forward and continue on until He takes us all home.

For me, God has shown me through Romans that it is not my place to ask why, but to serve Him. If He heals, praise Him, if He allows dementia, praise Him. Reminds me of a song: Praise Him in the morning; Praise Him in the noon time; Praise Him, Praise Him, Praise Him when the sun goes down down down!!!! That is my goal. To Praise Him!!!

Romans 9:18-20, “Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”

JUST ANOTHER DAY!

Philippians 1:21, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

As many of you know who read this, I had to return from India due to medical issues and have been going through tests to figure out what is wrong. It has been an interesting journey to say the least. Many of you also know that I was going for more testing, though many do not know what kind, and I am still going to keep you in the dark on that one for now.

I was in a good mood, as church was great, as the church I am attending, Calvary Evangelical Free, is an awesome church and the pastor really preaches to challenge and help us grow as believers. This past Sunday was a great sermon on how to live it out daily in our lives. Then I had the pleasure of being part of a great discussion with an awesome bunch of college students and young adults. Sunday was a blessed day, and typically is one of my favorite days because of the above mentioned.

On the way down to my next round of testing in Pittsburgh, I was listening to a sermon that was talking about Philippians and how our joy is not based on circumstance, but on Christ the object, and happiness is based on circumstance. The pastor was talking about complaining in our circumstances, and then comparing them to Paul’s situation he was in while writing Philippians. Paul was in jail and soon would die while writing this great letter. It would turn out to be quite an interesting sermon to listen to for what I was about to hear shortly.

Going into my appointment I had these two sermons in my head: living out my faith intellectually, as well as testimonial, as I believe one can’t really have a testimony without knowing who Jesus Christ is anyway. Anyone can just be nice, but I digress. Either way, I had heard two great sermons that were about to challenge me in so many ways that I did not realize.

After my testing, I asked the doctor what he thought, as I already knew I was crazy, I was looking for more substantial answers. What he told me was something I was not expecting, as the main two he mentioned would ultimately take my life and though there is medicine to shorten it, it still would not stop the ultimate end, death. Not what I expected to hear!! A literal shock to my system.

I made it down to my car and called my wife right away, and as soon as I heard her beautiful voice, I lost control of my emotions and cried for quite a while. How could this be the cause? If true, I may not see my youngest graduate high school. Again, it is not absolute yet, but they are testing for them. It makes you think of those things. After I gained composure, I left and put on some worship music, as I needed comfort from the One true source, Jesus Christ. I listened to Casting Crowns and just let myself think upon God.

I asked why. Who wouldn’t, right? He actually answered in a whisper, or bringing to mind different things, but either way God just brought to mind a few things.

He brought to mind all the things He has allowed to be done through me and my wife. He told me how I was used to work with nearly a hundred at-risk youth, and even to the point of some living with us. He spoke to me how I was allowed to work in the church and mentor and disciple many men and women of God. He sent me to India many times, and even for a year to teach church planters who will go into communities where the Bible has yet to be taught. Where churches do not exist yet, and will someday, because God allowed me to be part of His plan. How Awesome is that? Then He even allows me to counsel those that are hurting and help to heal their relationship with Jesus and those they love.

I have been blessed. What can I complain about, as God has used me in huge ways. Ways that I never thought I could be used, or even dreamed of, or could imagine. My mother told me from a young age that God was going to use me in great ways by God. He showed me today that He has done that already. Maybe there is more yet, but if not, I know that what my mother said has already come true.

God has been so gracious to me and has allowed me to be part of His plan in so many ways. If the diagnosis is the worst earthly diagnosis, I can live it out and continue to be the witness of His Grace, Truth and Love. I pray they are wrong, as they have been many times before, but as stated above, “to live is Christ, and die is gain.”

Philippians 2:14-16, “Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.”

Not Just Anyone!

2 Timothy 4:3-4, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”

If you walked into a Neurosurgeon’s office and on the wall you saw that her degree was a Master’s in Computer Science, what would you do? But what if they told you they did a lot of reading on medical stuff about the brain and they have gained a lot of knowledge and stayed at a Motel 6 last night as well. Would that make it better? Probably not, right? You would be out of there in no time flat, because they have not been trained properly for what they are doing.

What if you walk into a church and the Senior Pastor has an education degree, or a political science degree, but no Biblical training whatsoever? What would you do then? They tell you they also read a lot and study hard, and maybe even they have stayed at a Motel 6. What would you do? Would you stay if the sermons were entertaining and sounded great? Why would you run from the Neurosurgeon who holds temporary life in your hand and not the other who holds eternal truths in his hands? One just messes with your brain, while the other messes with your eternal soul and what is taught from Scripture.

Sometimes I wonder how seriously we take the men who are preaching from the pulpit and what they have been taught. What are their credentials for being able to stand up there and teach the church as a whole the Word of God? How many of you have asked your pastors what they believe about the Bible, and whether or not it is inerrant? How many have asked their Christian leaders to defend the faith they propagate? I am even talking about youth leaders training up a new generation. This should not be a training ground for pastors, as the youth can be molded much easier and slid into heresy much quicker by their leader than many adults.

Lately, I have been talking with many students, both college and high school, and it is amazing to me what they say about their youth groups as a whole in our churches. There are kids who do not understand the resurrection, yet claim to be Christians. How is that possible when that is part of salvation; that He died and resurrected for us to be saved? They tell me when they ask the tough questions they do not get answers, but redirection, why? They are told to just live it out and be an example, but how can they do that if they do not believe it, nor have faith that it is true because their questions go unanswered and ignored by leadership.

My charge to you teenagers and college students is challenge your leaders with the tough questions about the resurrection, the validity of Scripture, atonement, and Jesus Christ and all that it pertains to and if they cannot give you answers then find a church that can. I can suggest one if you want, just contact me, but if all you are being taught is “fluff” and playing games then run, and run fast and find a Biblical solid church. Don’t sell your faith short, nor let anyone make you believe your questions don’t have answers, because Christianity is an intellectual faith and there are answers.

Please if your pastors, youth pastors, elders, or leaders cannot, do not, or will not give you answers regarding the questions above then move to a church that will give you those answers, as they are out there. It is our responsibility to ask the tough questions and make sure that our leaders are accountable and that they are qualified to be teaching what they are teaching.

You would not let a Verizon salesman operate on your baby, so why would you let an untrained Pastor, Youth Pastor or Leader tell you about eternal truth. A perfect example is Brian McClaren and the heresy he has now taught at his church and written in his books, and those not trained to ask questions have fallen into his snare.

Just a Note for Lay Leaders: Make sure you are under the leadership of some type of church and person above, as they will help you as you teach Bible Studies and Sunday Schools, but you are also responsible for what you teach, so make sure you are preparing to the best of your ability.

Here are some areas to make sure your leaders (not lay leaders necessarily) can answer:
1. The resurrection
2. The substitutionary atonement
3. Jesus Christ’s death
4. The role of the church and its importance within the body
5. The role of discipline
6. Be able to give the reason why they believe in Jesus Christ themselves
7. What is faith and how it fits within our walk with Christ
8. Their belief about Scripture, whether or not it is inerrant

If they cannot answer these questions or answer them in a fashion that does not line up with Scripture then you need to find another church home. To stay is to sit under sin and is wrong.

Zechariah 7:11-12, “But they refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear. Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Thus great wrath came from the Lord of hosts.”

Verum Venatus Website Is Up!!

The Verum Venatus (Truth Game) website is up. Please check it out. We will be adding more information and products in the week ahead. All the proceeds will go to support gaming events, and outreach events through out the collegiate and young career (18-30) community. www.verumvenatus.org