Christian Lifestyle - #4 2017 by CLM Publishing

Inside this issue of Christian Lifestyle, we welcome you, our dear readers, to some wonderful articles which deal with eating habits, fishing for men, a very interesting and different look at Rahab the harlot, and so many other of the topics of why Jesus dies for us. We hope the information and articles will inspire and encourage you to good works as the bible declares in Hebrews 10:24. We are pleased to know of so many of you who read the magazine and look forward to the issues. And on that note, please send us a line or two via email (editor@cstylemagazine.com) or regular mail (mailing address to the right column) on how the magazine has touched your life, and what are the stories you most enjoy from these pages. Feel free to let us know how you think we are doing. We appreciate encouragement and critique to help us grow and to best please you, our readers. It is summer! School break, beach and camps are all that are in store at this glorious time. Parents and guardians, as much as you are planning these activities and picking your favorite camp, be vigilant in your arrangements. Also, be cognizant of the time frame to prepare for these events. Get your teen’s opinion. You may want to send the child to soccer camp and he or she may want to try out for the swim camp or for their first summer job; even to volunteer at a camp. Additionally, during this time, take every opportunity to bond with your child/ children. Meaning, while some parents may have visited the classroom and probably stuck around for a while during a lesson, at summertime and some summer camps you have the option to stay with your child an entire day. So, whatever activity your child/children are signed up for this summer, take a day off and join them. Providing this is okay with the camp leaders, of course. We want to also encourage you to put at the top of your list, Vacation Bible School (VBS) which is offered by many local churches. Be sure to give your children a strong foundation which can truly be found in Christ. This will teach them to be a good steward over what God has given them and good neighbors to their fellow human beings. So, sign them up for VBS! We celebrate the accomplishment of our recent graduates. Congratulations to all of you! We welcome the addition to the role of future bosses and coworkers and hope that what you have learned in school, college or university, will be honed into a good gift to make something great with your life. It is your choice. “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” (Hebrew 10:24). Have a great and wonderful summer! Karen E. Chin

MANAGING EDITOR Karen E. Chin CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Ravella Melville CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ewart (Junior) Forde Glaister Bell Krystyna Chin Ralph F. Wilson (Dr.) Teneisha Johnson Special contribution Brooke Obie Elizabeth Carter FOCUS ON THE FAMILY GIS Harrison Tanojo Holly Lebowitz Rossi Linda Ranson Jacobs Mark Altrogge Rosalie “Rosie” Ellis Sean McDowell Shana Schutte GRAPHIC PRODUCTION IDEAS SALES DEPARTMENT Email: clmsales7@gmail.com Christian Lifestyle Magazine Building D4, Suite 5, Countryside Shopping Village Savannah, Grand Cayman CAYMAN ISLANDS +(345) 926 2507 or +(345) 946 1737 E: karen.chin@cstylemagazine.com www.cstylemagazine.com To contact the editor If you have questions, wish to comment, or participate, or be a contributor; please contact The Editor, c/o Christian Lifestyle Magazine, Box 1217 KY1-1108 Grand Cayman, CAYMAN ISLANDS BWI. Send email to editor@cstylemagazine.com. Website www.cstylemagazine.com

C o n t e n t s Prophet Dr. Kofi Danso and Miracle Arena

You’re Israelites, Aren’t You?

Beat Summer Learning Loss

COVER STORY

5 Ways to Invigorate Your Prayer Life 6 School’s Out! Now What? 8 Finding True Love in a Hook-up World

12-17 Teen Vibez

• Life: Expectations vs. Reality • A Christian Response to #Fitspiration

5 Easy Ways to Have a Happy, Healthy Summer 20 The Strangeness of the Faith 28 When God Doesn’t Give You a Mate 30 It’s Just a Thought: A Higher Standard and Bread and Butter

31 32

40 42 43 44

3 Quick Ways to Boost 10 Poor Eating Habits that Could Make you Die Young 34 Fishing for Men (and Women) Online 37 Summer’s Here! Oops! It’s Over and It’s Back To School Again! 38 Hand of Hope Mission Trip PUZZLE Wordsearch Something To Think About Puzzles Answers

5 Ways to Invigorate Your Prayer Life

by Mark Altrogge

don’t know about you, but I can be easily distracted when I’m praying. But over the years I’ve picked up some great ways to focus my prayers. Here are 5 more ways I’ve learned to help me sharpen my prayers:

1) Write out your prayers

2) Pray specific Bible verses

Often I will begin my prayer time by writing out things I’m thankful for. I write them to the Lord, almost like a letter, beginning with something like this: “Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Thank you for….” or “Lord Jesus, Thank you for…” and I go on to write things I’m grateful for. Writing my thanks keeps me focused. Sometimes I begin a time of prayer by reading past thanksgivings I’ve written. I’ve also found that writing out other prayers has been very helpful as well... As I pray the prayers I have written, I don’t restrict myself to reading them word for word, but use them as reminders.

In my “family” section of my prayers, I have several Scriptures that are promises for parents about their children, like the following:

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And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:31 “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says

the Lord, “from this time forth and forevermore.” Is 59:21

5) Pray in response to your Bible reading

I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing. Psalm 37:25–26

Some have found praying in response to their Bible reading to be most effective for them. In your daily bible reading, stop and pray as God’s word speaks to you. For example, if you read, James 1:22, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves,” pray, “Lord Jesus, please help me to obey your word. Help me to “do” it, to put it into practice.” If you read Lamentations 3:21–23 “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness,” pray, “Lord Jesus, thank you for your unceasing steadfast love. Thank you for your mercies that are new this morning. Praise you for your great faithfulness and unceasing love for me. Please give me more and more hope.”

Often I will read these Bible verses aloud, then ask the Lord to please do what the verses say he will do. Using Scripture when we pray builds our faith, for we can know we are asking according to God’s will. I often quote Ps 32:8 when asking for wisdom. I pray something like this, “Father you have said in your word, ‘I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you’; so, I ask that you would please counsel me with your eye upon me. Please show me the way I should go in this situation.” Lately I have been quoting Matthew 7:11 in my prayers: If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! I’ll pray something like this, “Father, you’ve told me that you give good things to those who ask you. So, I ask that you would please heal (insert name). Healing and health are good things, so I am asking that you give them this, according to your will.”

How about you? What are some ways you have found that help you focus your prayers? Mark Altrogge has been senior pastor of Sovereign Grace Church of Indiana, Pennsylvania, since 1982. He has written hundreds of songs for worship, including “I Stand in Awe” and “I’m Forever Grateful.” Mark and his wife, Kristi, have four sons and one daughter. Find out more on his blog, The Blazing Center.

3) Make lists In addition to writing out specific prayers, I have found lists to be helpful. I have a list of people I am asking Jesus to save. I have a list of “current needs” of family and friends. Lists help me stay on track when I’m praying. I don’t pray through every list every day, and I don’t always pray through a whole list. But at least I have it written down to remind me from time to time.

4) Pray through the Our Father pattern Use each phrase to trigger a “theme”; for example: “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be your name.” Praise you that you are my Father. I praise you that you are in heaven, sovereign over all. Hallowed be your name—holy is you name. Praise you for your holiness and perfect purity and glory. “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Father, please save multitudes in every nation. Please save my children and grandchildren. Please bring your kingdom rule into my neighbors’ lives, etc. “Give us this day our daily bread.” Father, please provide for my children. Please provide for us. Father, if it would be your will, please provide for me.

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School’s Out! Now What? By Linda Ranson Jacobs

“I’m old enough for camp this summer. Can I go? I

can save my allowance, and the church is doing a car wash to help earn money.” I had this conversation with my son many years ago, and even though he was offering to help, I clearly remember the panic I felt in realizing that summer

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would soon be here.

As a struggling single mom, I dreaded the stress of summers. Summertime simply meant school was out, evenings were longer, I’d need extra funds, and I’d be worried about how to keep my kids entertained while I was at work. But I learned a few things about parenting alone while school is out. These tips might help you, too:

Check with extended family members, even friends and neighbors, to see if they can help

Make summer special by planning evening and weekend activities you can do with your children

They may not be aware of your struggle to provide quality care for your kids. In appreciation for their help, you and your kids can bake cookies to share. Your children can also express gratitude by doing odd jobs, like watering plants or walking dogs, for friends and family.

Many cities have free summer concerts in the park or free outdoor movies. Consider the local zoo and see when it has reduced rates. Develop a chore schedule so your kids are done early in the evening, and you’ll have more time to do things together in the community.

Find a good summer camp

Don’t forget to plan things to do at home

Discuss day camp and sleepover options with friends and neighbors, and talk to your children’s teachers about reputable summer programs. Research each program until you find one that best meets your kids’ needs and fits your budget. Check camp ratings, state licensure and safety standards — and make sure day camps have procedures in place for dealing with restraining orders and unplanned visits from the other parent.

Make the most of activities like vacation Bible school and missions activities

You can do crafts, explore in the backyard and enjoy cooking projects together. One summer I took my kids to the paint store and told them they could pick any bedroom color they wanted. We had a blast! Linda Ranson Jacobs created and developed DivorceCare for Kids (DC4K) and currently serves as its ambassador.

Ask your children’s minister to connect you with a stay-athome mom who could help with transportation.

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By Sean McDowell

Finding true love in a hook-up world od created sex to be enjoyed, but that’s not all he made it for.

If you were like King Solomon in the Bible and God said he would give you whatever you wanted, what would you ask for? When I pose this question to my students, they often say things like, “to be rich”, “to be famous” or “to find the perfect mate”. But of all the responses I have heard, the words of Ashley, an 18-year-old high school senior, stand out most vividly in my mind. After I spoke on sexual purity at a Tuesday-night youth group, she came up to me with tears in her eyes and said: If I could have one wish in life, it would be to go back four years ago and hear this same message. I might not have ruined my life. Ashley simply said thanks and then walked away. I have often wondered what decisions Ashley made that caused such deep scars in her life. Was she struggling with guilt or depression from a seemingly “harmless” hook-up? Did she get a sexually transmitted disease? Did she have an abortion? My heart went out to Ashley because I could see the pain on her face as she so deeply regretted her past choices. Somewhere she bought a false idea about sex, acted on it and now she is paying a heavy price. Ashley learned a painful, yet powerful lesson: ideas have consequences. 8

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What you believe about sex will affect your choices and your choices will shape the direction of your life. Misunderstanding the purpose and nature of sex can have disastrous consequences. So, what is the purpose of sex? And how can we find true love in a hook-up world?

What is the purpose of sex? The Bible makes it clear that God has designed sex between a husband and wife for 3 primary reasons: 1. Procreation: It hardly comes as a surprise to hear that one of the primary purposes of sex is to make babies. Genesis 1:28 says, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth”. 2. Unity: One of the most powerful aspects of sex is its ability to bond people together. The writer of Genesis says, “This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one” (2:24, NLT). 3. Pleasure: Believe it or not, God made sex for pleasure! Many scripture references make this clear (Proverbs 5:18-19; Song of Solomon). God designed sex between a husband and a wife to be enjoyable but, sadly today, so many young people are settling for a second-rate experience rather than holding out for God’s best in marriage.

What’s the problem with the hook-up lifestyle? One of the greatest deceptions of our hook-up culture is the idea that sex is only about pleasure. This is why comparisons are often made between sex and food. Eating is certainly one of life’s greatest pleasures (no one can beat my wife’s incredible spaghetti!). However, does it follow from this that anyone can eat anything he wants with a guarantee that he will never gain weight, get heart disease or high blood pressure? Of course not! One purpose of eating is for pleasure but, like sex, it has other purposes and boundaries in which it is designed for. If you think sex is just for pleasure or individual fulfillment, you will most likely encounter disappointment, heartache and negative consequences in your life, just like if you think eating is merely for pleasure. The “hook-up” phenomenon ignores a crucial truth about sex - it’s not merely about pleasure but also about procreation and unity. The attempt of young people today to get around the unity aspect of sex is what troubles me so greatly about the “hookup” phenomenon. The idea of hooking-up is that two people can enjoy sexual acts without having any more ties to their partner. Some hook-up for intercourse, while others hook-up for oral sex. One young girl said: People just get really weirded out by each other. Neither of the people are willing at all to talk about their feelings. That’s why it’s easier to hook-up with someone as opposed to talking to him. Hooking-up seems to be a way to avoid commitment and painful break-up. The reality is that many young people report

feelings of loneliness and regret after such encounters. The reason young people often feel empty after a hook-up is that they ignore the fact that sex creates a bond between partners. The sexual act creates a “we” out of two “I’s”. The sexual story becomes “our” story. And this is the way God designed it to be. When two people have sex they are uniting themselves in body, soul and spirit. This is why I so often hear young people who were sexually active say, “After we broke up, I felt like I left a piece of myself behind”. The bonding created by sex is the glue that helps two spouses stick together for life.

Don’t buy the lie Don’t buy the lie that a hook-up encounter will fill up your heart. The Bible offers a much more fulfilling view of human relationships. Don’t allow one moment of “pleasure” to spoil a lifetime of real pleasure with your future spouse. Imagine yourself a few years down the road when you are married to the one you love: Do you want to have to tell him/ her about your past sexual encounters? Do you want images of other people you have slept with creeping in on your intimacy with your spouse? Probably not. We are most fulfilled when we follow God’s plan for sexuality. After all, he created sex in the first place and knows what’s best for us.

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Getting to Know

Prophet Dr. Kofi Danso and Miracle Arena F

rom holding church services in a rented basement, to hotel conference rooms and other spaces, to now having a thriving, a thousand-plus member church, Prophet Kofi and Rev. JoAnne Danso, Founders and Senior Pastors of Miracle Arena For All Nations; have captivated many with their notable success in Toronto, across Canada, and more recently, in other nations of the world. Beyond the supernatural miracles, large crowds, and a charismatic prophet as its leader, there lies a strong history that has catapulted this ministry to become a global, renowned powerhouse. Dr. Kofi Danso, known for his prophetic anointing, is a native of Ghana. He relocated from his ministry in Amsterdam Europe, co live in Toronto, after marrying Rev. JoAnne, a native of Kitchener, and former Pastor at World Outreach Ministries. It was during this shift in 2011 chat they founded Miracle Arena, with a vision co open up a church co preach the gospel and demonstrate the power of God with miracles, signs, and wonders. They held services on Eddystone Avenue in Toronto, in a small lower level basement space. In no time, news about a man in Toronto that was operating under a strange prophetic anointing spread like wildfire. During those early days, Miracle Arena would hold outreach events in rented hotel conference rooms, soon, services were packed

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out, with people of various nationalities, desperate for God’s power to touch their lives. Regina Quainoo, a current usher, said, “I knew the man of God in Ghana. He was young, but hearing him preach, I knew he was going to be great. When I moved to Canada I lost track of his ministry. I was always searching for him.” When she found out that the prophet was in Canada, she did not hesitate to join his unique ministry in 2011. “Miracle Arena For All Nations is a five-fold ministry. It has apostolic, prophetic, evangelic, pastoral and teaching gifts. I consider our ministry blessed”, she said. As the church continued to grow, the authoritative teachings of Prophet Kofi and Rev. JoAnne Danso, the accurate prophesies, with signs, wonders and miracles, were evident. In less than a year, Miracle Arena moved from Eddystone to their second location on Oakdale Road. As congregants cultivated quickly, Dr. Danso trained new members on how to navigate the media, worship and undertake other ministry essentials for continued growth. Nicole Harris, a current Miracle Arena For All Nations member, says, “You can go to certain churches, but they had no movement. This church have movement; it have the anointing.” She attributes the change in her prior secular lifestyle to the church’s teachings, and she does not take that lightly. “It’s not the man himself, but the anointing on the man of God. The mandate of Miracle Arena is clear, that is, to

essentially train and equip Christians to fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus Christ actively; to make disciples and to demonstrate the power of God. The church is now located at 20 Milvan Drive, Toronto, and has been established here since 2013. It now has seven branches across Canada and the Bahamas. New branches to follow soon. There are certainly no limits when the impossible is your objective, and the Living God is on your side. Miracle Arena now has a Bible Institute. It is heard and seen on multiple radio and television stations, broadcasting to and touching millions of lives around the world. Prophet Danso has authored a plethora of insightful books and has also hosted influential preachers on his pulpit, including Eastwood Anaba, Prophet Brian Carn, Bishop Noel Jones, Dr. Jamal Bryant, and Dr. Richard Roberts, just to name a few. The power of God continues to manifest and the church continues to grow exponentially. There are many testimonies, from those experiencing difficulties to miracles of God’s provisions and favour. Many have testified about healing from all types of sicknesses and diseases. Those oppressed by spiritual darkness are being delivered and set free. In just five years, Dr. Kofi Danso and Rev. JoAnne have by God’s grace, ignited a fire in Toronto, that is now spreading across the nation and to other parts of the world. Miracle Arena continues to grow from glory to glory.

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teen vibez

Beat Summer Learning Loss By various authors

chool is out, and summer has begun! In the midst of lazy days and family together time, consider fun ways you can help keep your kids’ brains from losing what they’ve already learned. Here are a handful of educational games and motivational ideas from other parents to help your children beat summer learning loss this year: Begin With Vocabulary A good game can be fun and educational. Download a free set of 48 playing cards from the game FrankenWords. Use this fast-paced matching game to help your kids experiment with compound words and strengthen their vocabulary. —Michael Ridgeway 12

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Capitalize on Reading Get four practical, hands-on ways to encourage your kids to read more in “4 Ways to Motivate Kids to Read More” on the PluggedIn Blog. After all, reading books during the summer can drastically stop the summer learning slide. —Sheila Seifert

Creativity Challenges To encourage creativity, I’ve challenged my family with the following projects: Tiger treads. With white canvas shoes, fabric paint, permanent markers and a picture of a tiger, they needed to make a pair of shoes inspired by the photo. Cake construction. With a pre-made sheet cake, frosting and decorations, they had to create structures, such as a pyramid or a zoo. Do the robot. They were given boxes, duct tape and access to things in the garage to turn one person into a robot. It’s all Greek to me. They had to make a video about Greece using a recording device, bedsheets and a book about ancient Greece.

Make research fun: Going on vacation? Research your destination. Challenge the kids to find one fun fact about local history or animal life and gather information on possible places to explore. Take advantage of library reading programs: Many libraries have fun incentives. Our library sponsors prize giveaways and social events for tweens. Start a book club: Choose a popular title, and invite your kids and their friends to read along. Organize a gettogether close to summer’s end that includes food, fun and discussion. —Shannon Hale • Enjoy a free Summer Adventure Kit to help your family grow closer together as you learn more about God.

After each challenge, we posted photos or videos online and invited family and friends to vote for the ones they liked best. The winners earned prizes, such as getting out of a regular chore or choosing a favorite dinner on Friday.

“Beat Summer Learning Loss,” the compiled article, first appeared on FocusOnTheFamily.com in May 2016. “Creativity Challenges” first appeared in the June/July 2016 issue of Focus on the Family magazine. “Prevent the Summer Slide” first appeared in the Summer 2012 issue —Becky Tidberg of Thriving Family magazine and was titled “Beat Summer Learning Loss.” “Geography Detective,” “Math Adventures” Geography Detective and “Vocabulary Game” first appeared in the June/July 2015 issue of Thriving Family magazine. “Capitalize on I give my children a fun or surprising fact about a Reading” and “Resources for Faith and Fun” first appeared continent, country or state each morning, and then give on FocusOnTheFamily.com in June 2016. additional facts as the day progresses. By not letting them guess until I’d given them three facts, I eliminate random guessing. The clues later in the day make the geographic location more obvious. —Naomi Cassata

Math Adventures To practice math skills over the summer, my family and I have gone bowling and let our kids score our games manually. We’ve also cooked together, increasing or decreasing recipe sizes so our kids have to add, multiply and divide fractions. But our game of “shopping without money” has provided more than just basic math practice. It’s also taught a life skill. I give my kids an amount of imaginary money, perhaps $100, along with the weekly ads. Then I have them simulate shopping for a specific need, such as that week’s meals or a party for their friends. The exercise requires rounding, estimating, completing other basic math functions, figuring out the sales tax and making wise decisions about how to spend their money. —Marcy Lytle Prevent the Summer Slide Students lose an average of one month of academic learning over the summer break, according to research from the RAND Corporation. To prevent this “summer slide,” make reading a part of your family’s summer fun. Read together: My husband and I each choose one book in our kids’ favorite series and read alongside them. Reading from their area of interest gives us a glimpse into their world and leads to great discussions. christian lifestyle >> Issue No. 4 - 2017

Life: Expectations vs. Reality Remember this lesson from God’s Word when life isn’t going as well as you hoped. BY HARRISON TANOJO

teen vibez

t’s true what they say ... life doesn’t always turn out as we expect.

As Christians, we might expect our lives to become like a smooth road, with no pain or problems – just full of happiness. But in reality, we find life is often more like a dirty and bumpy road, packed with trouble and pain. Sometimes we feel like God is not there when we are in distress. We hope to be the popular person, to have a lot of friends who understand us, to look cool at school … but it turns out instead we’re bullied and betrayed by friends. I remembered when I moved to a new junior high school. I tried to search for new friends, but things didn’t work out as I expected. In fact, it got so bad I started to think about moving to yet another school. Of course, at the time I was angry with God, asking him, “Why did you put me here?” Through this time of questioning, I started to think more deeply about why I was getting so much trouble from other kids. And it turns out a lot of the problem was 14

God knows what you’re going through and He has a plan to use it to make your more like Jesus. me, not other people. I was selfrighteousness, selfish and loved to provoke conflict. And so, I gradually started to change myself with God’s help, and things began to improve. Now, when I look back, I feel like I finally understand God’s plan for me during that painful time. He was using it for a wonderful purpose, to shape my attitude to be more like Christ.

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As I thought about the difference between expectation and reality in my life, I was reminded of what happened to God’s people, the Israelites, when Jesus arrived on the scene. People in Israel were expecting freedom from the Roman Empire, hoping that the Messiah would save them from their oppressors. But the reality turned out quite differently—Jesus did not come to destroy the Roman Empire so Israel would be free, he came to destroy death so the whole world would be set free! By his death on the cross, we who believe in Him will have eternal life. “But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ” —1 Corinthians 15:57 If you feel like you’re always suffering and facing tough situations in your life, don’t worry, be strong. God knows what you’re going through and He has a plan to use it to make your more like Jesus. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”— Romans 8:28

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teen vibez

A Christian Response to #Fitspiration

Why God wants you to love the body he gave you BY ELISABETH CARTER

ne of the most popular hashtags on Instagram is #fitspiration. If you search this hashtag, you’ll find millions and millions of photos of fit, tanned and toned men and women, working out, sitting by the pool or lying on the beach.

#Fitspiration is a word that means “content (words, pictures etc) that inspires you to get fit”. But so often, these images don’t inspire people to get out and be active, or eat more veggies. They cause people to hate their own bodies, to go on extreme diets, to push 16

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themselves while exercising to the point of injury and to even consider things like plastic surgery or liposuction to get that ideal body. Even though we might know that Photoshop and Instagram filters do a lot to make people look far more perfect than they actually are, when you look at photos that show the “ideal” man or woman, it can be so difficult not to be disappointed in the body God chose for you. But as Christians, we know that Instagram is not supposed to be our source of wisdom, and it’s certainly

not where we get our standards of living from! So what does the Bible say about fitness, getting healthy and achieving the “perfect” body?

anything else. Training your body so you’re fit and healthy is important, but something else is much more important: training yourself in godliness.

God made wonderful creatures

Ultimately, what is going to bring more glory to God: being able to lift 50 kilos or spending time loving others, reading the Bible and preaching the word? Never let your desire for a fit and strong body overcome your desire to glorify God.

In Psalm 139:14, the Psalmist reflects on the fact that he was created by the amazing God of the universe, and he praises God for that fact: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Even if you hate your cellulite or despise your muffin top, there is no denying that God created a wonderful thing when he made humans. We can communicate with one another. Many of our organs work without us even thinking about it, and two humans can get together and produce more humans! We really are wonderful, and we should never forget it. Because we are wonderfully made, and made in the image of God, we can be grateful for the bodies that God has given us, even though we aren’t perfect. This is a very freeing thing to remember when your flaws are getting you down!

Our bodies are temples In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Paul talks about how Christians must not sleep with prostitutes or commit other sexual sin because… “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.” English Standard Version (ESV)

At the end of your life, I bet you’ll be more thankful for the time you spent worshipping God and enjoying fellowship with other Christians than the time you spent in the gym.

Three things to remember Next time you’re scrolling through #fitspiration pics, here are three important messages you can tell yourself: 1. I am already wonderfully made, because God made me 2. I should treat my body with respect, eat healthy and get fit, to bring glory to God (not myself) 3. Being godly is more important than having the perfect body And maybe you should consider not looking at #fitspiration too much – inspire yourself with the word of God instead!

This same idea can be extended to other things we do with our bodies, including what we eat and how we stay healthy. But here’s an important clarification. What is a temple for? It’s a place for worshipping something. The temple itself isn’t to be worshipped! We should take care of our bodies because we use them to worship God, but we shouldn’t worship our bodies or the idea of having a perfect body. And we should take care of and respect our bodies because we are not ultimately their owners – as we belong to God because Jesus bought us with his blood. So we should eat healthily and get exercise, yes, but we should do those things to bring glory to God, not to bring glory to ourselves.

It’s better to be godly than fit Here’s one of my favourite verses on this topic. Paul writes to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:7-8, “Train yourself in godliness, for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” Notice Paul’s important caveat: physical training is of SOME value, not COMPLETE value or MORE value than christian lifestyle >> Issue No. 4 - 2017

5 E a s y Wa y s t o H a v e a

Happy, Healthy Summer F

or many kids, summer signals carefree living, vacations to the beach, joining sports leagues, and otherwise having fun. For too many adults, and parents, in particular, however, summertime can be hectic. Balancing the hectic pace of summer recreation with work and parenting responsibilities can be challenging, and can lead to stress and, in extreme cases, illness. Here are a few tips to keep the fun going while maintaining 18

by Brooke Obie

health and happiness. — C. Bernard Obie

hydrated – drink 1)Stay lots of water! The high temps during summer can really add to the amount of water we need to consume. Add in moderate physical activity, and the usually required 64 oz. per day can double. Adequate water consumption benefits the body and the mind, improving physical performance and endurance, as well

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as improving thinking, concentration, and cognition. Water helps to keep the body cool, and is a major component of the elimination process. Some folks consume alcoholic beverages as a way of staying hydrated, but this has obvious undesirable side-effects, and undermines both health and happiness. Use of soda pop, soft drinks, iced-tea, lemonade, coffee and other sugary and caffeinated drinks should be regulated, especially during the summer. Clean, fresh water, God’s gift to hydration, is still the best choice.

Exercise moderately

If you feel you’re out of shape, start exercising slowly and work your way up to higher impact workouts. Many folks are in a hurry when it comes to their work-out goals. They want to lose those extra few pounds or inches quickly, or achieve a certain goal that is reminiscent of past ability in younger years. Sometimes this approach can lead to soreness or injury – and an end to the exercise effort. Starting slow and gradually improving is a sure way to enjoy the workout while receiving the benefits of exercising. Beyond the physical and physiological benefits of exercise, our minds also improve. Richly oxygenated blood nourishes our brain, awakening our mental faculties, and sharpening our thinking and reasoning abilities.

possible, put yourself on a schedule and make it a habit. Avoid working and eating and talking late; turn off the television and avoid stimulating movies and/or music; end the day with quiet reflection, deep breathing, and mild stretching to cool down body and mind, and to signal that it’s time to sleep. Get eight hours of sleep per night, if possible.

5)Pray and/or meditate

Taking time to acknowledge God’s role in your life and well-being and giving thanks to God for the blessings

of life are powerful ways of deepening our relationship with the Almighty. This is the foundation for stronger, healthier relationships with family, friends, neighbors and associates. We all need each other; “no man is an island…” God is the most profound belief that we all have in common, and love is the tie that binds. Through God’s love for us we can choose to learn to love each other. We become better, and the world becomes a better, more enjoyable place. Amen. C. Bernard Obie is the steward of Abanitu Organics farm in Roxboro, North

fresh, local, seasonal 3)Eat produce Summer foods are healthy, naturally!

Watermelon, cantaloupes, tomatoes, summer squash, cucumbers, berries, etc. are delicious foods that are abundant during the summer, and all are filled with nourishing juices and healing nutrition. Watermelon, for example, is high in lycopene, a compound that has strong anti-oxidant properties and protects the body from inflammation and aging. Tomatoes have an even larger lycopene composition. These fruits of summer are full of vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin C and magnesium, which are insufficient in the diets of many Americans. And to top it all off, these foods require little or no preparation, thereby limiting time in the kitchen. Of course, organically grown food is the wise choice.

4)Get adequate sleep

“I’m getting my beauty rest” the old folks used to say. They understood the necessity of resting and sleeping to balance out the active side of life, and to give the body time to rejuvenate and renew. The more mentally and physically active you are, the more rest your body requires - generally speaking. Medical experts estimate that 40% of Americans have trouble sleeping and suffer from sleep deprivation, a condition that predicts medical trouble later in life. If

christian lifestyle >> Issue No. 4 - 2017

The Strangeness of the Faith

Teneisha Johnson

he Strangeness of the faith- a virgin mother, a man who is God, a God who is simultaneously one and three. Trying to escape from the “calculated mind” into the spiritual realm. Those doctrines- the nature of Christ, the Trinity, which really means the flowing nature of God, those are spiritual insights. Once you pull them into the logical mind, you’ll get overwhelmed. God refuses to let Himself be just a thought. God can only be experienced. You can’t think God, you can only be present to God. Living a Christian life is not about assembling a laundry list of good deeds and ticking them off in order to get into heaven. It’s the sharp realization that we cannot possibly be good on our own and our only chance is surrendering to God, the one who can transform us. I believe that Jesus may even be saying to us, “I’m going to use your sin, your shame, whatever condemnation you may be feeling, to bring you to me”. Most of us can relate to an event or time in our life when someone did something that was destructive, or inconsiderate, and we asked them to stop what they were doing. They may/ may not have agreed to stop when confronted to change their behavior but it didn’t last long. Some people are great, they really do try, and we can understand when they slip up. We can easily forgive authentic backsliding or mistakes. However, there are those who, of their own accord, consciously decide to be malicious, or stubborn, and indulge in passive aggressive behavior. They decide they are going to continue just to be spiteful or to be aggravating. I believe at the core of their problem are pride, insecurity, selfishness, and unforgiveness. They don’t like being told they cannot do something and they’re showing you - who checked their behavior - that they are not listening to you, and they 20

continue on with their self-satisfied attitude, holding their grudge. They are not exercising moral discipline and doing the right thing; instead they feel a certain satisfaction in taking revenge. All one has to do today is look around and one can see there is a huge lack of discipline in our society today. What people don’t realize I, they are hurting

It takes maturity and humility to admit when we are wrong, and to accept discipline or correction. themselves in the long run. The Bible says it best in Proverbs 12:1 – “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid”. It takes maturity and humility to admit when we are wrong, and to accept discipline or correction. However, the person who is open to the correction of others can also be open to learning from their mistakes, instead of being harmed by them or repeating them. The Bible also reminds us to be careful in the things we do because we will reap what we sow. It says in Job 4:8, “According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble harvest it”. It also teaches us to respect each other as in Matthew 7:12, “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets”. (See more at: http://faithreel. com) God is at work through our lives and our stories. In our stories, there is always something to learn, some mystery, some

christian lifestyle >> Issue No. 4 - 2017

miracle. When we enter into the process of writing that life story and we open to that mystery, it’s amazing what kind of journey that can put us on. I’m a life-long student and in everything thing I do Cayman has to be the center for me. Caymanian history states that in 1912, some 335 Caymanian parents campaigned for enhanced rights to education for their children. Following a seven-year battle, the Education Law of 1920, which provided for free compulsory education for all children between 7 and 14 years of age was finally passed. This helped to pave the way for the future generations to come. {Please also note that education is not only done in a classroom, but can be done anywhere at any time --i.e. Children’s Church, Vacation Bible school, all the existing summer programs etc). Captain Paul Hurlston, a retired seaman, like many older Caymanians, says he misses the old days. He does, however, see the benefits of today – better health care, better schooling and financially, Cayman is stronger than ever. He tells us how men would be gone at sea for months or even years at a time, leaving their wives to raise the children, run the farms and businesses, and in general keep things afloat until their husbands returned. Children, he said, attended school from the time they were seven up to the age of fourteen (Cayman, a Photographic Journey through the Islands). Captain Paul states, “If I had to come up with a symbol for the Cayman Islands, it would be a woman. Those Cayman women, they held this place together.” The Church was at the center of island life. Church suppers, prayer meetings, picnics - all social activities revolved around a spiritual center. I still believe the church should be the focus, not necessarily the organized church as we know it, but our personal relationship as individuals with Christ as His body.

christian lifestyle >> Issue No. 4 - 2017

cover story

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re Israelite

christian lifestyle >> Issue No. 4 - 2017

es, Aren’t You? A Fictional Retelling of the Story of Rahab the Harlot By Dr. Ralph F. Wilson

You may have thought prostitutes weren’t believers. Here’s one who was.... The knock at the door this evening was soft but persistent. Rahab looked up. Out the window she could see the silhouettes of two men. Customers. She was used to furtive nighttime visits by the townsmen. Hers was a business, pure and simple — and legal, too. Oh, the wives in town shunned her, and her father had been deeply disappointed, she knew. But prostitution had brought her a good living, a house of her own, and an established place in Jericho society, albeit a less-than-respectable one. The knock sounded again. Rahab opened the door and ushered the men inside. “How may I serve you,” she said with a wink in her most seductive voice. Maybe these strangers would become regulars. The taller one spoke in a broken and halting way. “Do you have ... a place where we could stay overnight?” Rahab studied him closely. He was dressed like a man of the desert, but his dialect sounded vaguely like a Canaanite. Then she gasped. “You’re Israelites, aren’t you!” It wasn’t really a question nor an accusation. Just a statement of recognition. The man’s startled expression showed she was right on the mark. Rahab rushed to the windows to shutter the room from prying eyes. What if they had been spotted? She and all Jericho had watched as a million and a half Israelites swarmed up the Jordan and

encamped at Shittim, only a dozen miles across the flat Jordan valley. When the East Jordan kingdoms of Ammon and Bashan fell to their armies, terror spread throughout the region. Jericho’s king had issued a strict command to report all suspicious foreigners. The city was in a panic. But Rahab composed herself and motioned for the men to sit as she brought them something to drink. Gone were all the seductive moves and phrases of the temptress. In their place was earnestness. When she had filled their cups the second time, she sat down across from them. Then she spoke: “They say that your God opened up the Red Sea when He brought you out of Egypt. Is that true?” “Oh, indeed, miss,” the older one named Salmon answered: “I was but a small child at the time, but I remember it well. The water seemed to tower above us on the right hand and on the left.” He paused, and passed his hand down one side of his bearded face. “I can still the feel the spray on Cont’d on next page christian lifestyle >> Issue No. 4 - 2017

“Lies had always been easy for Rahab. She was used to keeping men’s secrets from their wives and families. Lying was part of her business and she lied convincingly.” Cont’d from previous page

my cheeks,” he said. “The wind was blowing furiously, but mother took us children by the hand and led us straight into the wind until we were across the sea. I shall never forget it.” “Your God, what is His name?” “Moses told us to call Him Yahweh, miss, which means ‘I Am that I Am.’ He always was, and always is, and always will be.”

Rahab’s latest business venture was to begin a cottage linen factory. Flax grew vigorously in the lush Jericho Valley. She had purchased some of this year’s crop. The fresh cut plants on the rooftop would bake in sun. Then they would be soaked and beaten to loosen the long fibers in the leaves. Finally, the fibers would be combed out, and woven into fine linen cloth. During the day her house could be used for textiles, while at night she would ply her accustomed trade — only until the linen business was established, she told herself.

“Yes, miss.”

Perhaps no one had seen the men, she mused. They would be extremely difficult to find even by day on a roof covered with hundreds of flax bundles. Quietly she descended the stairs and went to bed. Perhaps no one had seen them after all.

Rahab was quiet and the men didn’t intrude upon her silence but sipped at their cups, and whispered to each other.

But shortly after there was a banging on the door. “Open in the name of the king.”

“Can we stay, miss?” Salmon finally asked.

She opened it a crack. “The king desires to see me?” she asked with mock innocence.

“Your Yahweh isn’t some local deity, is He? I think He must be the God of the whole earth, and the heavens, too.”

“Yes, you can stay, but I’ll have to hide you. Everyone’s been watching for Israelite reconnaissance parties, and you’ll be killed if you’re found.” She paused. “I’ll be killed, too, if they knew I’d helped you.” She got up, took their cups and put her finger over her lips. Ever so cautiously she opened the door a crack to see if anyone was in sight. All seemed quiet. Her house was perched high above the city, built across Jericho’s strong inner and outer walls. She had to get the men out the door and around to the side of her house unseen, where they could climb the steps to her flat roof. She pushed open the door and motioned for the men to follow. Around the corner, up the steps. Then she pointed to the tied bundles of flax drying on her roof. “Not my best beds,” she whispered, “but the safest.” The men burrowed under the flax and were invisible.

christian lifestyle >> Issue No. 4 - 2017

“Not you, Rahab, but those men who came to you tonight. They are Israelite spies trying to learn of our defenses. Bring them out!” “Yes, the men came to me,” she said demurely, “but I had no way of knowing they were spies. They ...” she paused for effect, “they got what they were looking for, and left, just at dusk before the city gates were closed. I don’t know where they went, but if you hurry, you’ll probably be able to catch them.” Lies had always been easy for Rahab. She was used to keeping men’s secrets from their wives and families. Lying was part of her business and she lied convincingly. Too convincingly, she thought. Lucrative as it was, she had grown to hate the whole dirty business. If only her textile venture Cont’d on P.26

Cont’d from P. 24

would take off... The king’s men hastened away. Soon she heard the huge city gates creak open to disgorge parties of soldiers rushing east toward the fords of the Jordan to apprehend the Israelites. Rahab smiled. She crept up the stairs to the Israelites hid on the roof and slid under the flax herself so she could talk. “You probably heard,” she whispered, “that you’ve been seen and the king has sent search parties to scour the Jordan for you. You can’t get back across. Not now.” “Why are you helping us?” asked Salmon. “We’ve put your life in danger.” “I know that Yahweh, your God, has given you our land. Our people are terrified. They know how your God brought you across the Red Sea. They know what your soldiers did to Sihon and Og and their armies. “Your Yahweh is God in heaven above and earth below. That’s why I didn’t turn

you in. Your God will prevail, and when He does, swear to me that you will show kindness to me and my family as I have shown kindness to you. You must spare our lives — my father and mother, my sisters and brothers and their spouses and children. You must save us from death.” “Your lives will be spared, if you spare ours,” Salmon assured her. “If you don’t reveal our mission, we’ll treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.” “You must leave tonight,” said Rahab. “Since my house is on the wall, you can climb down by rope. But don’t head for the Jordan. Instead, hide among the caves in the mountains just east of here. After two or three days, when they can’t find you, the king’s search parties will return to the city. Then it’ll be safe for you to cross the Jordan and go back to your camp.” “How will we recognize your house when the city is taken?” asked Salmon. “You’ve seen the scarlet cord that hangs from my window,” said Rahab. “That’s how you knew I was a prostitute, wasn’t

christian lifestyle >> Issue No. 4 - 2017

it? When you surround the city, you’ll see it hanging out the window. Look for it. You must look for it!” “Just be sure you have everyone with you in the house,” said Salmon. “We can’t be responsible for anyone who’s not inside when we take the city. But we give you our word before Yahweh our God that we will protect anyone who remains in the house with the scarlet cord in the window. Just don’t leave the house.” Rahab nodded. “And if you tell the authorities, we are released from our promise.” “Of course,” said Rahab. “You can trust me. Your God Yahweh will prevail. I am doing this for Him — and for my family.” One after the other, the men descended the city wall using a rope. When they reached the bottom, they ran for the cover a few hundred feet from the wall. In the light of the early dawn they could see Rahab in the window, pulling the heavy rope back up into her house, hand over hand. Then she disappeared. But in a moment she was back, and as they

watched, she tied her scarlet cord in the window high above the ground. They saw her lift a hand in final greeting, and Salmon, too waved, before he and his companion turned and ran for the hills. The scarlet cord was the symbol of her profession, but as it hung there it became something more: the hope of deliverance — from war and bloodshed, but also from a life Rahab had come to hate. The scarlet cord that blew in the early morning breeze now bespoke her faith — and her salvation.

Notes While the story as told is fictional, it is based on the account in Joshua 2:1-24. At the Battle of Jericho, the spies were true to their word. Joshua sent them to bring Rahab out, her father and mother, brothers and all of her family. “Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho — and she lives among the

Israelites to this day” (Joshua 6:25).

different direction?” (James 2:25)

Rahab apparently married an Israelite named Salmon (Matthew 1:5), settled in Bethlehem, and passed on her strong faith in the Lord to her son Boaz, who married Ruth the Moabitess (Ruth 2:1ff). The Scripture doesn’t give the names of the two spies. I just thought it might be “romantic” to make her future husband one of the spies. Rahab is listed in the family tree of Jesus Christ himself (Matthew 1:5), one of only five mothers mentioned for their prominence in Bible history. (The others were Tamar, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary.) Prostitutes and tax collectors were attracted to Jesus’ message of forgiveness, and many came to strong faith (Matthew 21:31-32), though Jesus was roundly criticized by the pious Pharisees for not shunning these “sinners.”

She is also found in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11. “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient” (Hebrews 11:31).

Rahab is remarkable for her faith. Though not an Israelite by birth, she saw God more clearly than most, and acted on her faith at great personal risk. “Was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a

Notice that it was not her lie but her welcome and assistance to the spies which is spoken of approvingly. I found the following references helpful in understanding Rahab better: 1. D. W. Wead, “Harlot,” ISBE 2:616-617. 2. F.A. Spina, “Rahab,” ISBE 4:33-34. 3. R.A. Coughenour, “Jericho,” ISBE 2:992-996. 4. R.K. Harrison, “Flax,” ISBE 2:313. Flax is produced from the herbaceous plant Linum usitatissimum L. which grows up to 4 feet in height. 5. Madeleine S. and J. Lane Miller (revised by Boyce M. Bennett, Jr. and David H. Scott), Harper’s Encyclopedia of Bible Life (Harper & Row, 1978), pp. 377-378.

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christian lifestyle >> Issue No. 4 - 2017

When God Doesn’t Give You a Mate By Shana Schutte

ecause mankind has been B created by God for intimacy, it’s no surprise most singles long

for marital love. But like all of our deepest longings and desires, it has the potential to carry us to heights in God—when we allow Him to be in charge of it—or to places of desperation when it becomes more important than our love affair with Him. The latter was my story. My desire to marry a particular man was so important to me that when God didn’t say yes, I became offended by how I felt He’d handled my life. Without even realizing it, I ran from Christ, stopped trusting Him with my personal life, and ceased to acknowledge His authority, which resulted in a three-year-long depression. I was certain ‘Todd’ was “the one.” One evening, however, Todd came to my house and unexpectedly announced that he didn’t want to see me anymore. After he left, I ran to my bedroom and screamed. “God, I hate You!” Tears fell like rain in a Texas thunderstorm as I pounded my bed repeatedly with a clenched fist. A tornado of disappointment ripped through the landscape of my heart leaving a wasteland of questions I could not answer. Years later, after the rain cleared and the debris settled, God gently pointed to my heart and showed me that my desire for a mate was greater than my desire for Him. “That is why you experienced so much heartache. I want to give you a hope outside of your desire to have a husband. Child, just surrender it to Me. I want to give you Myself.”

christian lifestyle >> Issue No. 4 - 2017

From then on, God began to show me the joy I can have in Him while I wait for a husband. He also revealed some of the lies I believed that kept me trapped in a place of emotional pain and depression after my heart was broken.

I believed it was impossible to experience abundant life as a single person One of my girlfriends called me last year, lonely and frustrated that God hadn’t delivered her a husband. Never married and 40 years old, she was tired of praying and waiting and waiting and waiting, but most of all, she was convinced that her life was somehow — less-than. “Being single is not the abundant life,” she stated emphatically. Boy, could I relate! Believing that same lie is what made me feel like God had betrayed me. Our conversation sent me running for my Bible where I found John 10:10. “The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (NIV)” The word life jumped off the page. I had to look up its meaning. In the definition, I found the prescription for myself and my friend’s sickness of heart: God Himself is the abundant life we seek. The word life is the Greek word zoe (the original language) and means: “Life, referring to the principle of life in the spirit and the soul (emphasis mine). [Zoe is] all the highest and best that Christ is, which He gives to the Saints. The highest blessedness of the creature.” This life is inside of me, inside of you, in the spirit, in the soul and it is God-given. To top it off, it is the highest blessing that we can have this side of heaven—it’s Christ Himself.

While brokenhearted, Asaph asks in Psalm 77:8, “Has His unfailing love vanished forever? (NIV)” Finally, accepting that God’s love for me has nothing to do with my marital status has allowed me to relax and rest in Him. As a result, He’s put a new song in my mouth and gratitude in my heart.

I negatively measured God’s justice when He said ‘no’ to my relationship One of my co-workers sent me a true story of a Romanian prisoner who sued God. I wasn’t sure if I should laugh or cry, but I was certainly struck by its irony. The man believed his imprisonment was proof that God had acted unjustly. After all, since he was baptized as a child, God owed him something, right? He demanded that the Romanian Orthodox Church, which he considered to be God’s earthly representative, compensate him for “Godinflicted damage.” When I read that the lawsuit was thrown out because God is “not subject to a civil court of law’s jurisdiction”, there was an ornery part of me that wanted to yell, “Well, duh!”

“It’s okay to ache for a mate—it’s even normal. However, God wants to be enough while you wait; He wants to meet you in the middle of your emotional longing.”

How often do we think the abundant life God promises is out there somewhere in a man or woman we will someday marry, when Christ is saying, “This abundant life that you’re looking for—it’s inside of you and it’s who I am. I am the abundance you need to fill up the deepest ache of your heart. I’m greater than any hope, dream or desire—even the desire for a mate.”

It’s a comfort to know that the abundant life is not about what happens outside of me, or if I’m married or single, because I have little control over that anyway. Praise Him—life is no farther away than the depth of my soul, because that’s where He is.

I doubted God’s love when He didn’t give me the gift of marriage Our most desperate times of emotional brokenness tend to bring to the surface what we really believe about God and ourselves. If we are not convinced of God’s love before a romantic crisis, we may negatively measure His love for us during or afterward.

Taking God to court sounds absurd, but think about it. Have you heard anyone define God’s justice by their single status? Even if not verbalized, we may think, If God is just, He will give me a mate. Sometimes, we have absolutely no idea how we have defined justice until something goes wrong in our romantic lives. I doubt that this prisoner sat around thinking that if he ever went to jail, he would blame God. But when he was looking out between two bars, his beliefs about God’s justice became evident and a lawsuit followed. This human behavior is nothing new to God. In Job 40:8 God asks Job, “Would you condemn me to justify yourself?” (NIV)

The problem with condemning God and putting Him “on trial” is that you suffer double. You experience grief from relational pain, but you also suffer because judging God falsely keeps you from being able to receive the comfort and peace from Christ that you so desperately need when your heart is broken. It’s okay to ache for a mate—it’s even normal. However, God wants to be enough while you wait; He wants to meet you in the middle of your emotional longing. If you are willing, any disappointments you have about your marital status can be the very reason you experience your greatest redemption of heart. Your most devastating relational losses can push you into a deeper relationship with God; you can cry out to Him and He can hold you in His bosom of grace. Shana Schutte is a freelance writer, author and speaker living in Colorado Springs, Colo.

christian lifestyle >> Issue No. 4 - 2017

A Higher Standard and Bread and Butter

here is a critical issue facing Christendom in the modern age, especially here in the West. On the one hand there is a restoration of the offices and ministry gifts of the Church as revealed in the New Testament. On the other hand, the more titles we bestow on each other, the less deserving we are of them. The result is that in the face of more and more issues of localized, national, International importance, the Church has been unable to give prophetic insight before, or effective response after. More and more people are confused on what the basic Christian response to the culture should be. While this is reflective of the departure from the establishment, teaching and enforcement of sound doctrine, it is also reflective of a broken fellowship between the Church and the Lordship of Christ and leadership of the Holy Spirit. Take these two issues which caused some difficulty for us, and to which I want to put in my two cents, the presidential election and the tensions between the police and the black community. In a democracy there are few things which evoke passions as elections. They not only allow people to elect leaders they deem capable, but allow them to express their worldview, values, and beliefs. However, the greatest motivation people have in elections are “bread and butter issues”. In other words, “what’s in it for me and mine?”

of injustice among the African American community, and acts of rage and violence in some segments occurred, people of goodwill wondered if these issues of justice and race would ever be resolved. Again, we as the body of Christ who should be leading in the areas of reconciliation, find that we are perhaps the most segregated major subculture in the United States. Further, not only do we not have answers; even if we did, it is doubtful that the nation regards us as having the credibility to listen to our message. Within the body itself many have asked why African Americans who seem indifferent to black on black crimes; especially in cities like Chicago where over three thousand people have been shot this year, and over three hundred and fifty have perished, only seem to express such outrage at the police. There is an emotion conviction to that statement, however the factual answer is really simple. There are black thugs and there are white thugs, we expect them to kill each other in ever increasing measure. The Police however are expected to protect and serve. While blood thirsty and violent youth slaughter each other, the police are expected to be held to a higher standard. But just as the church knows that there is a higher standard for those who are defenders and upholders of the law, we should also know that the highest standards should be expected of the custodians of God’s word and Kingdom on the earth. This means we not only lead in our quest for the

But should this be the motivation for those who are in covenant with God, and whose stated Kingdom purposes are to be Ambassadors of Christ, workers together with God, salt of the earth, and light of the world? The nature and suitability of political candidates do not change who we are and what our obligations are to the Kingdom of God. Candidates reflect the state of the nation, and challenge one’s perception of what God is doing. We often need to be reminded that we have already made our choice, and that choice is the Lordship of Christ.

truth and justice, but we also lead in modeling peace and forgiveness. So even as we are confused about a lot of things, at lease let us be clear that the highest standards will always be expected of us. In the end others may be motivated by their “bread and butter”, but for us the words Christ quoted in his hours of temptation in Matthew 4:4 still holds:

Secondly, as more more black men lost their lives, evoking passions and a sense

“It’s just a thought!

“ But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God”. Ewart (Junior) Forde

christian lifestyle >> Issue No. 4 - 2017

It’s Just a Thought

3 Quick Ways to Boost Your Confidence By Holly Lebowitz Rossi

It doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming to believe in yourself Self-confidence is a lifelong pursuit for many of us. Traveling through our days, we may encounter selfdoubt, fear of failure or other obstacles to the positive outlook we are trying to cultivate. There is no reason to feel stuck in a self-deprecating rut, though. Social science research has identified a number of simple behavioral changes that can have a significant impact on how others see us, and more importantly, how we see ourselves.

1. Sit Up Straight Posture and mood are intimately connected, as a 2009 Ohio State University study found. The study found that sitting up straight in a chair boosts self-confidence. Participants were college students who were more likely to agree with written statements about their qualifications for a job if they were sitting up straight. “If you sit up straight, you end up convincing yourself by the posture you’re in,” said psychology professor, Richard Petty, who was the study’s co-author.

2. Nod Your Head Nodding is a positive listening behavior that can make someone feel heard and valued. But research shows that the person nodding gets a self-esteem boost as well. In research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Petty and his colleagues found that people who nodded affirmatively while listening to messages had more confidence in their thoughts about what they were hearing than those who nodded in a side-to-side “no” direction. “If we are nodding our heads up and down, we gain confidence in what we are thinking. But when we shake our heads from side to side, we lose confidence in our own thoughts,” he said.

3. Dress the Part

Management, found in a 2014 study that negotiators who were dressed in formal, professional clothing were more confident and successful than those dressed in sweatpants or “neutral” clothing. Dressing in clothing that fits your lifestyle and embodies your goals can help you be more productive and confident every day.

“Dress for success” is certainly a cliché, but there is a body of research that shows a connection between business attire and a person’s feelings of confidence and power. Michael W. Kraus, an assistant professor of organizational behavior at the Yale School of

The journey toward confidence might be a long one, but it is certainly worthwhile. As the Poet, E. E. Cummings put it, “Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit.” christian lifestyle >> Issue No. 4 - 2017

10 Poor Eating Habits That Could Make You Die Young Let’s face it: It’s hard to say no to the occasional doughnut or double cheeseburger. But as it turns out, the foods we eat can have pretty dire consequences for how long we live. About 45.4 percent of deaths caused by heart disease, stroke or type 2 diabetes — the leading causes of death in the U.S. — are associated with eating either too much or too little of certain foods, reveals a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Read on to find out which dietary habits have the greatest impact on your longevity.

TOO MUCH RED MEAT

High meat intake led to 4.2 percent of diabetes-related deaths in 2012. But it’s not all bad. Red meat actually accounted for less than 1 percent of diet-related deaths. And on top of being packed with protein, red meat also provides a variety of nutrients, such as B vitamins, iron and zinc. Although there’s no hard and fast rule for how much red meat you should eat, the American Institute for Cancer Research suggests limiting your intake to less than 18 ounces a week. Some basic guidelines, according to Shape, include choosing lean cuts of grass-fed red meat, avoiding meat raised in factory farms and skipping processed meats (the dangers of which you’ll hear more about later in this slideshow).

more saturated fats and trans fats than oils, according to MyPlate.gov. Because of that, they can raise your bad (LDL) cholesterol and increase your risk for heart disease. Opt instead for heart-healthy oils, such as avocado or olive oil.

3 TOO MANY REFINED GRAINS

Not eating enough whole grains and eating too many refined grains caused 5.9 percent of the deaths studied. Whole grains, like whole-wheat flour, bulgur, oatmeal and brown rice, contain the entire grain kernel. Refined grains, like pasta, white rice and white bread, have been processed to remove the bran and germ, which gives the grains a finer texture and improved shelf life. While much of the B vitamins and iron that are stripped during the milling process are added back into refined grains, the fiber is gone for good. MyPlate.gov recommends that you should eat at least 3 ounce equivalents of grains every day, and that whole grains should make up at least half of all the grains you eat.

TOO MANY SOLID FATS

The habit of eating too many solid fats caused 2.3 percent of the diet-related deaths brought about by cardio metabolic causes — stroke, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Solid fats are fats that are solid at room temperature, such as beef fat, butter, shortening, coconut oil and palm oil. They contain

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4 TOO MANY SUGARY BEVERAGES

For people aged 25 to 64, sodas and other sugary beverages were associated with more early deaths than any other dietary factor, according to CNN. Overall, 7.4 percent of deaths were associated with sugary drinks, impacting more men than women. Sugary drinks are associated with tooth decay, metabolic syndrome and obesity, and the Boston Public Health

Commission writes that women who drink one or more sugary beverages a day are almost twice as likely to develop diabetes as women who have one or less. According to the U.S. government’s dietary guidelines, less than 10 percent of your calories every day should come from added sugars. Try replacing soda and other sweetened drinks with seltzer water, flavored water, tea or fresh vegetable juices.

5 NOT ENOUGH FRUIT

Fruits are rich in many essential nutrients that are often under-consumed, including potassium, vitamin C, folic acid and dietary fiber, according to MyPlate.gov. Skipping your daily recommended fruit intake accounted for 7.5 percent of the diet-related cardio-metabolic deaths studied. MyPlate.gov recommends eating about 1 1/2 to 2 cups of fruit every day.

8 TOO MUCH PROCESSED MEAT

Eating too much processed meat accounted for 8.2 percent of all the diet-related deaths studied. Processed meats are preserved by smoking, curing, salting or adding preservatives, according to the American Heart Association, and include cold cuts, sausage, bacon and hot dogs. Alicja Wolk, D.M.SC., professor in the Division of Nutritional Epidemiology at the Institute of Environmental Medicine, tells the association that additives like sodium, nitrates and phosphates in processed meats are the culprits behind consumers’ increased risk of heart failure.

9 NOT ENOUGH NUTS AND SEEDS

Interestingly, not eating enough nuts and seeds contributed to 8.5 percent of the deaths analyzed. Nuts and seeds are part of the protein food group, and are incredibly nutrient dense. They contain fiber, magnesium and polyunsaturated fats. A study published in the medical journal BMC Medicine found that eating about a handful of nuts (or 20 grams) a day can cut your risk of heart disease by 30 percent and your risk of diabetes by nearly 40 percent. But because they’re high in calories, try to limit your intake, and use them to replace other protein-rich foods, like meat. The American Heart Association recommends eating four 1.5-ounce servings of nuts per week.

10 TOO MUCH SODIUM 6 NOT ENOUGH VEGETABLES

It turns out that our parents were right about eating our veggies. Not including enough vegetables caused 7.6 percent of the deaths studied. Like fruits, vegetables are low in fat and calories, and no vegetables have cholesterol. They’re packed with important nutrients like potassium, fiber, folic acid, vitamin A and vitamin C, according to MyPlate.gov. The agency recommends eating about 2 1/2 cups of vegetables a day.

The leading cause of diet-related cardio-metabolic death in 2012 was high sodium, a habit that accounted for about 9.5 percent of the 318,656 deaths studied. People over age 65 had the highest proportion of sodium-related deaths. Sodium causes your body to retain water, and according to the American Heart Association, too much water can put a strain on your heart and blood vessels. The AHA sets the ideal limit at no more than 1,500 milligrams (or one teaspoon) daily. To lower your sodium intake, avoid processed foods, cheeses, packaged snacks and frozen dinners. Reach for fresh foods and use herbs, spices, vinegar or citrus juices to add flavor to your meals. Sourced from the Internet

7 NOT ENOUGH SEAFOOD

MyPlate.gov recommends that you eat around 5 1/2 ounce equivalents a day of foods in the protein group. Interestingly, the agency specifically suggests eating 8 ounces of cooked fish every week, which makes sense when you take into account that not eating enough seafood caused 7.8 percent of dietrelated cardio-metabolic deaths. Fish is loaded with hearthealthy omega-3 fatty acids, which play a crucial role in brain function, reduce inflammation and can lower your risk of heart disease. Aim to eat fish that are high in omega-3s and low in mercury, such as salmon, anchovies, sardines, herring, Pacific Oysters, trout and Atlantic and Pacific mackerel.

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Fishing for Men (and Women) Online By Shana Schutte

’ve heard many times that there are a lot of fish in the sea, or numerous men to date in the world. Certainly, there are innumerable “fish” in cyberspace, where millions of singles converge to meet daily. Have you ever wondered if there are rules for catching “fish” online? There certainly are. And, I like to think they are similar to the rules for fishing with a worm and a pole. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you travel the ocean of online dating and start fishing for men—or women—online.

Don’t Use Bad Bait “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue…” (Proverbs 6:17) Last summer as I climbed into my girlfriend’s SUV, she announced, “You have to listen to this song. It will make you laugh.” She popped in a country music CD and I giggled my way through Cooler Online, a song about a guy who works at Pizza Hut, drives a Hyundai, lives with his mom and dad and is 5’3”. But when he’s dating online, his life 34

is another story. Behind the computer, he’s smooth, cool, works in Hollywood, drives a Maserati, has a black belt in karate and probably earns at least six figures. From a fiction standpoint, this song is hilarious, but from a nonfiction view, it’s not funny at all. How many men—or women—have fallen prey to someone on the Internet who has lied about their identity? This is the first rule for online fishing: Don’t use bad bait. Bad bait is anything that fish don’t like or goes against God’s principles of integrity. The first type of bad bait is lying: lying about your age, height, marital status or anything else. Think about it. Would you want to date someone who is dishonest? A second kind of bad bait is posting pictures that are immodest or using a distasteful screen name. Remember, if you want to catch a date with high morals, you’ve got to exemplify what you want. A third type is communicating poorly. Following the ABCs of good grammar and spelling will get you everywhere.

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Make Sure You Have a License to Fish “You shall not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14) As a kid, my dad took me to the sporting goods store to purchase my fishing license. I had no idea that I needed permission to put my pole in the water, even if I didn’t catch anything. Dad told me that if I fished without a license, he could receive a fine. Fishing online is much the same—you need permission. And, if you’re married or separated, you don’t have a license from God. Some people believe that if they are separated, that they are free to date. But if they’re not divorced, guess what? They’re still married. Some others may think, Well, I’ll just get online and look. Remember, that’s the way many affairs start—with just one look.

Make Sure Your Tackle Box is in Order “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33) My sister, who loves to fish, has spent considerable time organizing her fishing

gear. Why? Because she knows that if her box is a mess, she won’t have what she needs to fish well.

to predators who have lured them into a dangerous sexual situation?

In the same way, before you head out to the open ocean of online dating, make sure that your emotional and spiritual “toolbox” is in order. If you’ve had problems with rage, seek counseling before you look for a date or mate. If you have struggled with an addiction that has caused problems in past relationships, ask God and seek a professional for help. Get healthy, then get serious about dating. It’s the best thing for you and for others.

Additionally, the secret to turning any relationship (including an Internet one) into one that lasts, is to take your time. Unfortunately, dating sites can create an environment in which it’s easy to become emotionally intimate too fast, which can cause you to drown in relational waters later.

When You Catch a Fish You Don’t Want, Throw it Back “My dear brothers, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.” (James 2:1) During a fishing trip to Texas with my father years ago, we caught more than 100 fish. There was only one problem—only a few of them met the required length for keeping, so we had to throw most of them back. When you’re fishing for men or women online, you obviously won’t want to keep every fish because some won’t interest you. Your job is to maintain a Christ-like attitude and treat everyone who approaches you with respect. If you don’t share their enthusiasm to connect, simply write back and say, “I appreciate your note, but you live too far away,” or “I’d like to meet someone closer to my age,” or “I already have children and I noticed that you don’t want to be a stepparent.” Short, but polite responses while you’re “throwing someone back” are often appreciated. One of my male friends has made it a goal to respond to everyone who writes him, even if it’s just to say, “No thanks.” At first he was uncomfortable telling women that he didn’t want to correspond, but now he is amazed at how many appreciate his thoughtfulness. After all, everyone who has dated online has been ignored and no one likes it.

One day while I visited a Christian dating site, a man wrote me and said “Hello,” then immediately typed, “Give me your phone number. I’ll call you.” Because I didn’t know anything about him other than what he’d written in his profile, I responded, “I’m sorry, I don’t give my phone number out to people I don’t know.” Immediately, he became angry and retorted, “Fine! Forget it! Why would I want to date someone who doesn’t trust me?” Rather than being shocked, I was humored. Didn’t his mother tell him that wise girls use discernment in making companions? Of course, I was thankful that I hadn’t shared too much too soon. His explosive response and pushy demeanor revealed that he could be a shark in the sea of online dating.

Remember That God is in Control “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.” (Job 42:2) Most of all, remember that God is ultimately in control of bringing you a mate. This means that you don’t need to panic or become obsessed with dating online. Keep your eyes on Him and determine to trust Him with your personal life, no matter what.

When You Throw a Fish Back, Be Gentle “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” (Luke 6:31) When I was fishing with my dad, he was as gentle as possible when he removed the hook from the fish’s mouth so that it wouldn’t be permanently injured after he threw it back. In the online dating ocean, use courtesy when you’re telling someone you’re not interested. After all, you don’t want to wrongfully wound them or cause them to have problems in future relationships. That means that it’s not OK to insult them or to treat them unkindly. Remember, there is a real person, with real emotions on the other side of the screen.

Don’t Run Into the Water, and Don’t Go Too Deep “…for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of the faithful ones.” (Proverbs 2:8) My friend, Tim, loves to fly fish. He’s a wise fisherman because he knows not to run into the water when he first steps into a stream, or to go too deep because he could drown. Again, these rules apply to fishing online. It’s unwise to rush into a relationship with someone you don’t know or to share too much too soon. How many young women have fallen prey christian lifestyle >> Issue No. 4 - 2017

social scene National Council for Persons with Disabilities (Courtesy GIS)

Fire Service & Police Receive New Equipment for Search and Rescue (Courtesy GIS) 36

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Summer’s Here! Oops! It’s Over and It’s Back To School Again! Dr. Glaister Bell

t’s summer, and for all my school friends, it’s the long summer holidays that loom on their minds. The late night studies, the constant yelling sounds of parents’ voices nudging, “It’s time to get up!” and the early morning risings will soon temporarily be things of the past. Really? Only for 8 short weeks! Oh how those weeks fly by so quickly. At the start of the summer holidays, the prospects of those long and idle summer days are intriguing: staying up late at nights, (conveniently tucked away in their bedrooms watching television, on the sets, on the internet or smart phones); sleeping in until late mornings; drearily coming out of bed and heading to the refrigerator to snack on some energy-rich foods; donning the latest denim jeans for a party in the evenings, and hanging out with friends, etc.

Don’t we all at times wish we could relive those “good old days”? But, like a slithering snake, the time of return to school creeps up surreptitiously and alas, “it’s ‘back to school’ again!” Then it’s the return of the annoying 5 o’clock alarm, the bellowing voice of mother calling, the early morning baths, the laborious lectures, the tons of assignments, the recurring tests and exams, and the everincreasing demands to score well on these. I remember those days well. They were “like yesterday.” I too reveled in the thoughts of having the long summer breaks, away from the maddening demands of school life. I even longed for “growing up” into adulthood, mistakenly thinking that life’s demands would lessen and that I would not have the incessant encumbrances of rising early, meeting deadlines for assignments, and voices yelling at me. Now, in adulthood, I look back, and sure do salivate for those earlier years of going to school. Those were prime days! Those were the proverbial “good, old days”. Summer would certainly come around, albeit slowly, but it would certainly come.

I’d have my well-deserved holiday break from the hectic school year, and yes, I’d feel recharged (or so I thought) for the next school year. In reality, these are the niceties of growing up! It certainly does not get better than this.

general. He encourages “Remember also your Creator” in the early phase of one’s life cycle. In saying this, he seems to suggest that this act of remembering is easier in youthful years than in later years of one’s existence.

I once preached a sermon entitled, “Loneliness sucks. It certainly sucks!” I know some would criticize me but I dare say, adulthood sucks even greater! The best years of life are those of childhood and adolescence by far! Does adulthood offer no appeal? Sure it does. My

Simultaneously, the NASB uses the word “also” for its readers to understand that this act of remembering the Creator is not the sole object for remembrance. He is implying that among other activities of youthful age and exuberance, one should engage the mind in acceptance of and service for the Creator. In fact, Solomon urges us to enjoy our youthful years for it is the time of life given by our Creator for us to appreciate the wonders of creation, nature, others around us and ourselves (Ecclesiastes 11:9). But, on a cautionary note, and in concert with what is implied in both these verses, life should be lived in such a way that there are no regrets in the end; that is, God would have been glorified by our activities, and our lives would have been enriched with the splendor and wonders of His creation.

I encourage our youths to take advantage of this phase of their lives. “There is an appointed time for everything. guesstimate is that, for all the nuances of adulthood, were it possible, most adults would unwind time’s clock and cause it to remain locked into the time of childhood or adolescence. Again, “Alas!” An improbable task! Time marches on. Summers come, and summers go. Childhood marches on into adolescence; adolescence advances swiftly into adulthood. The words of the wisest man who ever lived are germane here. Those words, recorded in antiquity, are inscribed in the Bible in Ecclesiastes 12, verse 1: “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no delight in them” (New American Standard Bible, NASB). Solomon, the author, draws our attention to some important points. Firstly, he reminds us of the ‘transitoriness’ of the phases of life and the brevity of life in

I encourage our youths to take advantage of this phase of their lives. “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven,” writes the sagacious Solomon (Ecclesiastes 3:1). This is your appointed time to discover the talents and gifts that our Heavenly Father has endowed upon you. To each of you, He has lavished such expressed abundance of His love for you to discover, cultivate, hone and apply for the betterment of others, yourselves and society. This summer is definitely a great time for you to embark on this thrilling endeavor of your life. It does not have to be labor-intensive. Of course, summer is also the time to relax and recharge. It would be improper for parents to burden their youths with tons of school-related assignments. Take it easy on them! The same Solomon admonished, “And excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body” (Ecclesiastes 12: 12). Let youths play, hang out with their peers, engage in camps,

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Cont’d on P.41 |

Hand of Hope Mission Trip G

oing on the Missions field should be every Christian desire as it is one of our commissions from God, the Father. Some of us have travelled the world and then some, and others do travel the world but have also used that time to do mission work. One such person is Registered Nurse, Rosalie “Rosie” Ellis. She has traveled to more countries in a year than some of us do in our lifetime, but while she loves to vacation in new places, her heart’s desire has always been about mission. Recently, May 2017, Rosie signed up and went with the Joyce Meyer’s Ministries, Hand of Hope, to Africa and Zambia. She has kindly given us the opportunity to see the Missions fields of Africa. It is her prayer that by sharing these photos, “others will be encouraged to be a “hand of hope” to those in need.” Hand of Hope, operated by the Joyce Meyer Ministries, has been serving locally in the United States of America, however since 2009 it has extended to overseas with Medical/ Dental missions trips and so far have served in 33 countries. The ministry operates school feeding programs as well as digging water wells for clean water in many countries.

Rosie and children in the village.

This trip to Zambia via South Africa from May 18-28,2017 was Hand of Hope 88th overseas’ mission trip. There were 25 volunteers, comprising from the US, the Caribbean and Zambia. There saw well over 2000 patients during that week, with over a thousand receiving the gift of salvation. Nothing breaks the heart more, than to learn that some persons walked 3-5 days to get to the clinic. Our comfort zone is really a handicap for God’s able-bodied people.

christian lifestyle >> Issue No. 4 - 2017

One of the volunteered (mission) nurses

christian lifestyle >> Issue No. 4 - 2017

ACROSS 1So Moses brought their ___ before the LORD (Num 27:5) 5 Fasten ___ ___ cord to it (1,4) (Ex 28:37) 10 fifth book of the New Testament 14 Like men condemned to die in the ___ (1 Cor 4:9) 16 Speak now in the ____ of the people (Exodus 11:2) 17 In that day the mountains will ___ new wine (Joel 3:18) 18 seems right to a man, but in the end it ___ to death (Prov 16:25) 19 Then they ___ in his face and struck him with their fists (Matt 26:67) 20 Son of man, record this ____ (Ezek 24:2) 21 because the midwives feared God, he gave them ___ of their own (Ex 1:21) 23 Elijah’s successor (2 Kings 2:9) 25 Like a bird that strays from its ___ is a man who strays (Prov 27:8) 26 A student is not above his ___ , nor a servant above his master (Matt 10:24) 27 and remove all its vile ___ and detestable idols (Ezek 11:18) 30 they always heap up their sins to the ___ (1Thes 2:16) 31 clump of earth and grass 32 Her Nazarites were ___ than snow, they were whiter than (Lam 4:7) KJV 34 Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have ___ (Matt 8:20) 38 The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the ___ (Gen 48:16) KJV 40 from foundation to ___, were made of blocks of high-grade (1 Kings 7:9) 42 throwing stones at him and showering him with ___ (2 Sam 16:13) 43 let him seek peace, and ___ it (1 Pet 3:11) (KJV) 45 Like a ___ of Lebanon he will send down his roots (Hosea 14:5) 47 till he should pay all that was ___ unto him (Matt 18:34) 48 The tower of ____ (Gen 11:9) 50 To ____ them that were under the law (Gal 4:5) 52 I ___ silver and gold for myself, and the treasure (Eccl 2:8) 55 he that wavereth is like a ____ of the sea. (James 1:6) 56 What he trusts in is fragile; what he ___ on is a spider’s web. (Job 8:14) 57 whosoever of you will be the ___, shall be servant of all (Mark 10:44) KJV 61There is ___ ___ here, which hath five barley loaves (1,3) (John 6:9) 62 if his hands are ___, the house leaks (Eccl 10:18) 64 sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great ____ Euphrates (Rev 16:12) 65 away, absent (Rev 18:14) 66 which is gone down in the sun ___ of Ahaz (Isa 38:8) KJV 67 She gave herself as a prostitute to all the ____ of the Assyrians (Ezek 23:7) 68 thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ____ of the earth (Acts 13:47) KJV 69 said through the prophet: “Out of ___ I called my son (Matt 2:15) 70 Salvation is found in no one ___, for there is no other name (Acts 4:12)

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DOWN 1 the woman had a fat ___ in the house (1 Sam 28:24) KJV 2 a Levite who lived in a remote ___ in the hill country (Judg 19:1) 3 the ephod, close to the ___ just above the waistband (Ex 39:20) 4 beginning with the oldest and ___ with the youngest (Gen 44:12) 6 Fear and trembling have ___ me; horror has overwhelmed me (Ps 55:5) 7 I will measure into their ___ the full payment for (Isa 65:7) 8 See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel son of ___ (Ex.35:30) 9 let each ____ other better than themselves (Phil 2:3) 10 not to be slanderers or ___ to much wine (Titus 2:3) 11 beat against that house, and it fell with a great ___ (Matt 7:27) 12 Thou shalt truly ____ all the increase of thy seed (Deut 14:22) 13 His ___ shaft was like a weaver’s rod (1 Sam 17:7) 15 Lazarus has fallen ___; but I am going there to wake him (John 11:11) 22 married a wife, deceased, and, having no ____ (Matt 22:25) 24 Saul and Abner son of Ner had ___ down (1 Sam 26:5) 26 The people have become hungry and ___ and thirsty (2 Sam 17:29) 27 was in the ____ that is called Patmos (Rev 1:9) 28 We all growl like bears; we ___ mournfully like doves (Isa 59:11) 29 If anyone ___ anything to them, God will add to him (Rev 22:18) 30 My feet stand on ___ ground (Ps 26:12) 33 you have ___ with men on foot and they have worn you out (Jer 12:5) 35 I will give him rest from all his enemies on every ____. (1 Chr 22:9) 36 the darkness is passing and the ____ light is already shining (I Jn 2:8) 37 there shall come forth a rod out of the ___ of Jesse (Isa 11:1) KJV 39 Stay with him for a while until your brother’s fury ___ (Gen 27:44) 41 no longer to call her ___; her name will be Sarah.(Gen 17:15) 44 listens to me will live in safety and be at ___ (Prov 1:33) 46 the LORD; let all the people of the world ___ him (Ps 33:8) 49 Jesus was walking ___ the Sea of Galilee (Matt 4:18) 51 Do not ___ yourselves by any of these creatures (Lev 11:43) 52 The king got up in ___ ___ left his wine (1,4) (Est 7:7) 53 Like a scarecrow in a ___ patch, their idols cannot speak (Jer 10:5) 54 ___ ___ flowing with milk and honey (1,4) (Deut 26:10) 55 Dan is a lion’s ___: he shall leap from Bashan (Deut 33:22) KJV 57 what Adam was made from (Job 33:6) 58 Do not those who plot ___ go astray? (Prov 14:22) 59 silver in two bags, with two ___ of clothing (2 Kings 5:23) 60 every man under his vine and under his fig ____ (1 King 4:25) 63 I’ll ___ around it and fertilize it.( Luke 13:8) Answers on Page 44

How to Add More Prayer to Your Daily Routine By Bob Hostetler A “pairing” technique that can help anyone who wants to improve their daily habit of prayer. Lots of people want to pray more regularly, but they struggle to make a habit of prayer. The technique of “pairing” may change that. Among my adult children’s most vivid memories of me involves our dishwashing routine when they were in grade school and middle school. When we all finished our meal, I would spring up from the table and announce, “It’s time to rock and roll.” I would crank up the music and sing along loudly while washing dishes. The kids would mostly tolerate the music (and sometimes participate) while they dried and put away the dishes. By pairing my love for music with the chore of doing dishes, I not only turned a daily task into a fun habit but also created a memory. That “pairing” technique can help anyone who wants to pray more regularly but struggles to make it a habit. The key is pairing prayer with some other routine that is either already a regular part of your schedule or a particularly enjoyable treat. For example, my friend, Lynn, drives 45 minutes to and from work every day. So she turns off the radio and pairs her morning commute with prayer, since it is already–and unavoidably–part of her daily routine.

Another friend, Scott, has followed the same morning routine for decades, which he used to do in groggy silence. But he recently downloaded an app to his phone that provides a short series of hymns and prayers that pairs perfectly with his existing routine. Angie loves coffee and used to dash through her favorite coffee shop’s drive-thru twice a week after dropping her children off at dance practice. However, by parking and going inside to savor her coffee for just ten minutes or so, she created a new habit of spend a few quiet moments with God while sipping coffee from a mug (instead of gulping a paper cup). John loves to read but seldom has time during the hectic pace of most days to crack a book. But he always keeps a devotional book or spiritual classic by his favorite chair, which entices him to spend time with God before heading off to bed. The specifics of those examples may not work for you, but the chances are good that your life includes some regular activity or pleasure that, paired with prayer, can inject new enthusiasm and regularity into your prayer life. Simply ask yourself, “What routine or pleasure can I pair with prayer that might foster a new habit for me?” It may take a little trial and error, but a richer prayer life will make it all worth it.

Summer’s Here! Oops! It’s Over... Cont’d from P.37

rest, sleep and, most of all, have fun. It’s a part of growing up! One of the sad truths is that a large percentage of adults burn themselves out with the chores of daily living and societal demands of this postmodern world, forgetting how integral rest and relaxation are to the rejuvenation of the body, soul and mind. Wouldn’t it also be a great time to reach out and do some community service, or lend a helping hand to neighbors? Serving others is indeed meritorious and rewarding. Don’t just do it to obtain a reward here though, because life does not necessarily reimburse us for the efforts we put in or the energies expended, neither should we think that the rewards are monetary or similar to that which were

exerted. Our Heavenly Father, who is omniscient and also beneficent, knows exactly what we need and will repay us justly. A deed done in kindness and from a cheerful heart opens the floodgates of God’s limitless and inestimable grace and blessings. As the summer nears its end and time approaches for the return to school again, take some time to give thanks for the blessings of your life, and begin to reflect on the new school year ahead. Yes. Much will be expected from you as children and adolescents: from parents, family, friends, and society and from your inward self. Do not panic or think yourself incapable of meeting these expectations. The key: Ask the Savior (our Lord Jesus Christ) to help you; devote enough time to study, sleep and relaxation; pace yourself

appropriately throughout the school year, and dream BIG! Do enjoy your summer break, my school friends. Dr. Glaister Bell is a Family Physician (General Practitioner) working for the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority (HSA). He is a Christian and actively serves in his church. He holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc. Hons.) degree in General Chemistry, a medical degree (MB;BS) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Family Medicine, from the University of the West Indies, Mona campus. He obtained his theological training from Trinity Theological Seminary in Indiana, earning a Master of Arts (MA degree} with high distinction in Pastoral Ministry in 2015.

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Answers on Page 44

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Don’t Live with Guilt - You Are Forgiven By Pablo Diaz

e are forgiven the instant we turn to God. If we confess our sins, there is no need to punish ourselves.

Many of us believe in God’s amazing grace, yet we carry the guilt of our past actions. We live with shame, an unnecessary emotional and spiritual burden. The weight of this on our shoulders causes us to forget that once we pray and ask for forgiveness, we are forgiven. Guilt can inhibit our relationship with God. It seeks to take away our inner peace. Why do we continue to live with guilt even though we are forgiven the moment we confess our sins to God? How we deal with our guilt tends to reflect on our childhood. As children, we may have been punished for doing wrong or felt shame when we upset our parents. We carry these emotions throughout life, causing us to feel that same shame when we do wrong in adulthood.

Though we should always try to do the right thing, we must remember that when we make mistakes, we are forgiven the instant we turn to God. If we confess our sins, there is no need to punish ourselves. People also carry shame when they have not yet asked for forgiveness from the person they hurt. But it is never too late to make things right. Although God forgives us, we owe it to the person to let them know that we regret our actions. If the person is unwilling to forgive, free yourself from the stress and continue to pray for them. God’s forgiveness is instant; a human’s takes time. We can’t let our emotions and thoughts undo God’s forgiveness. If you are troubled by something you have done in the past, pray. And if others can’t forgive you, pray for them as well, but move forward with grace. Lord, teach me to live in the freedom and joy of Your forgiveness.

christian lifestyle >> Issue No. 4 - 2017

sudoku

All Nations United Pentecostal Church (UPC)

Instructions: Solve the 16x16 Sudoku so the numbers 1 to 9 appear once in each row, column and 4x4 box.

23A Woodlake Drive George Town Grand Cayman Tel: (345) 949 9533

Puzzle and wordsearch answers

christian lifestyle >> Issue No. 4 - 2017